‘Space Oddity’ Ending Explained: Why Does Alex Think He Is Going to Mars?
Welcome to the Ending Explained for Space Oddity, a new film directed by Kyra Sedgwick that also stars a great number of actors in a story that deals with serious issues like mental illness, isolation, and depression. The film stars Kyle Allen, Kevin Bacon, Alexandra Shipp, Madeline Brewer, Simon Helberg, and Carrie Preston. The film serves very much like a calling card for Sedgwick, who has been part of the film industry in many roles throughout the decades. Now she has taken on the director role, and she does a very solid job.
However, the film falls flat in certain areas. These weak aspects make the film a less attractive option for general audiences. You definitely need to be in the right state of mind and mood to enjoy watching this movie. The pacing might be one of the biggest issues. The movie is tender, and the premise is intriguing to some extent, but it moves way too slowly, especially when the film is just an hour and a half. It feels longer than that. The way the movie tackles the mental health subject also feels a bit shallow, and the payoff at the end doesn’t ring as powerfully as it could.
The following paragraphs contain spoilers for Space Oddity. Read at your own risk.
Why Does Alex Think He Is Going To Mars?
The film starts with the introduction of our main character talking over a slideshow regarding Mars. Our main character describes each of the slides and talks about how he will go to Mars. He plans to work, explore, get married, and then die there. He says so in a tone of voice that feels very serious but also hides a certain level of emotion, excitement, to be precise. Our main character is Alex McAllister, a young man living with his parents in a remote and isolated town in the US.
We see the face of Alex, and he is very young and fit. We see him training, and he has his own tent where he is building strange machines. We learn that Alex is living with his parents. They all seem like lovable families, but something is wrong in the air. This something that is dividing the family comes to light when Liz, Alex’s sister, comes to the house and starts talking. She seems to be worried about the family business, which is a flower farm. She lets us know that the
Alex seems convinced that he is part of a space program that will send a man-led mission to Mars. It sounds crazy, but Alex has made it his reality. It sounds even crazier when he tells everyone that the mission is unrelated to NASA. He seems to communicate himself with a person through the internet, who enables his fantasy about the mission. Liz is completely distraught that everyone is enabling her brother’s fantasy, and she believes it can be dangerous.
Alex believes that they will soon start training sessions and that he will go to Mars to die. However, he needs a physical exam. He goes to the doctor, who gives him a standard physical test, which he passes. However, when the doctor suggests that she can send Alex to a psychiatrist to apply for a psychological test, Alex rejects the suggestion. He knows deep inside him that what he is doing is not real, but he is really working hard to lie to himself. Alex’s mother is supportive, but Alex’s father doesn’t want to get involved.
Does Alex End Up Going To Mars?
Alex needs one more step before he begins his journey into isolation. He plans to leave his house and start training for the mission far from here. Before that, he goes to an insurance company. He is there looking to sign up for a life insurance policy. There, he meets a beautiful girl named Daisy. She is an insurance agent but seems completely out of place with the rest of the town. It is inferred that she came from the big city, and there she is here, not out of her own decision. She is quite nice, and Alex gets smitten immediately.
The two of them start dating and go around town talking about their dreams. Daisy was a swimmer, but she now hates the sport. The reasons are unknown. She also supports Alex’s delusion, which is a bit strange. She thinks it is cute that Alex feels so much passion for something. Daisy accompanies him to many of Alex’s training sessions. They end up kissing and having sex with each other. It is all quite cute, but something is lingering in the air.
Alex has a huge discussion with their family, and Liz reveals that she knows that Alex is thinking about killing himself. He goes to get Daisy, and they go to the beach. For a moment, it seems that Alex has something to stay for. They go and visit Alex’s online friend, and there they discover that it is all a game and the mission doesn’t exist. Daisy reveals she cheated on a swimming competition, which is why she is in town. They fight and go their separate ways. Alex ends up talking with Liz and realizes there is something to live for.
The next day, he searches for a job and makes up with Daisy. It is revealed that the source of his trauma for Alex is the death of his older brother, Thomas. Alex feels that he was abandoned and that there is nothing to live for. He believed that if someone as good as his brother was punished, there is nothing else for him. However, talking things through with Liz showed him that he was not the only one who felt sad about Thomas’ death.
Alex’s turn from heavy depression to having something to live for might be too drastic and fast, which takes a bit of realism from a movie that, until that point, was very serious in its depiction of mental issues.
