Phantom Thread Ending, Explained: Does Alma Poison Woodcock?

‘Phantom Thread’ is a 2017 romantic drama about what it’s to be in love with an artist. Set in Fifties London, the movie follows acclaimed and eccentric dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his unlikely muse, Alma, who he meets at a diner and finally marries. The shifting moods, peculiar habits, and fixed obsession together with his work make loving Reynolds an advanced and demanding activity — one which Alma takes on extra gallantly than most others.

The fragile and tenuous relationship between the creative dressmaker and his muse stays fragile till Alma takes drastic steps to make her place in Reynolds’ life extra important. A really baffling ending crowns the masterpiece with a message of deep love — too deep, maybe. There are such a lot of layers to ‘Phantom Thread,’ and discovering them requires a more in-depth take a look at the movie’s climax. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Phantom Thread Plot Synopsis

The movie opens with Alma sitting by a hearth, chatting with an unseen individual about her relationship with Reynolds. She claims to have given him all the things, and her companion describes the dressmaker as a demanding man. We’re then taken to a typical morning at acclaimed dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock’s residence, the place issues proceed like clockwork. After just a few tense days of delivering attire to a high-profile clientele that features a Countess, he heads to the countryside the place he meets Alma, a waitress at a diner.

The connection between Reynolds and Alma is instantaneous and powerful, with each enchanted by the opposite for utterly completely different causes. In Alma, the dressmaker finds his muse who evokes him and lends the proper type to his creations. Alma has thus far had a comparatively unfavorable view of herself till she appears to be like via Reynolds’ eyes and discovers her personal magnificence. Their connection however, Reynolds’ foremost preoccupation stays his work, and shortly, Alma feels uncared for because the busy dressmaker’s life goes on in a flurry.

Reynolds’ sporadic shows of affection, mixed together with his nitpicking of Alma’s habits (like an excessive amount of “motion” at breakfast), lead to a battle over a meal initially meant to be a shock. The argument ends with Reynolds telling Alma to depart, after which the latter secretly slips floor up toxic mushrooms into the previous’s tea. Later, whereas engaged on a gown for the Princess, Reynolds collapses. He spends the following few days in a delirious fever, and Alma watches over him continuously. When he recovers, the so-far indifferent dressmaker realizes how vital his muse is to him and asks her to marry him, to which she agrees.

Phantom Thread Ending: Does Alma Poison Reynolds Woodcock?

As soon as married, Reynolds reacts much more strongly to what he views as distractions to his work that stem from Alma. Other than being irritated by small issues just like the noises she makes whereas buttering her toast, he now finds it arduous to give attention to work and complains as a lot to Cyril. Not figuring out that Alma is within the room, Reynolds goes on a tirade about how her presence has turned issues the other way up and him inside out. The movie’s climax then slowly unfolds as Alma cooks Reynolds an omelet for dinner.

This time, the toxic mushrooms are chopped up and fried in butter, and Reynolds watches thoughtfully as Alma makes the omelet. As he takes the primary chew, she says that she desires him helpless and on his again in order that she could care for him. The dressmaker continues to chew after which asks Alma to kiss him earlier than he will get sick once more. The movie closes with scenes of a future during which the couple has a baby and grows previous collectively earlier than coming again to the current the place Reynolds, saying he’s “hungry,” begins to suit one other gown on his keen muse, Alma.

And so, Alma poisons Reynolds not as soon as however twice over the course of the movie. What is maybe most exceptional is how the dynamic between the artist and his muse is ready to embody him being poisoned by her and nonetheless not break their relationship however as an alternative make it arguably stronger. For her plot, Alma makes use of toxic native mushrooms, which she picks within the countryside after referring to a guide on recognizing completely different sorts of fungi.

Although Alma poisons him, it’s not her intention to kill Reynolds. As she makes clear within the movie’s climax, she merely desires him to be helpless and tender in order that she will take care of him. Via expertise, Alma has discovered that Reynolds is mostly too engrossed in his work for them to have a significant connection. Nonetheless, when he’s sick (or depressed, as he will get after a not quite perfect style present), his “robust” persona drops, and the tireless dressmaker turns into extra amenable to emotional connection.

After all, not eager to kill Reynolds is effectively and good, however Alma’s confidence in him not dying after consuming her toxic mushroom-laced preparations appears a bit misplaced. She doesn’t know for certain that he won’t die and admits as a lot — saying that if he does die, she is going to simply have to stay affected person (as she has earlier than) till they meet once more. Alma is satisfied that her persistence and dedication to Reynolds will hold them collectively, even when he dies alongside the best way.

Does Reynolds Know Alma is Poisoning Him? Why Does He Eat the Omelet?

The primary time he’s poisoned, Reynolds has no thought what has occurred to him and claims to really feel sick like he has by no means felt earlier than. He refuses to see a physician and spends a few nights in delirious fever earlier than recovering. The second time Alma poisons him, nonetheless, Reynolds appears to know what’s going on and turns into a keen participant in his personal poisoning. As Alma prepares his omelet, Reynolds watches her thoughtfully, clearly conscious of the truth that she overheard him complaining about how Alma has hindered his life and inventive course of.

It looks like he slowly begins placing the items collectively as he watches her make a mushroom omelet and is aware of even earlier than taking the primary chew that each one is just not regular with the dish. After all, as quickly as Reynolds takes the primary chew, Alma basically admits to poisoning him, saying that she desires him to be helpless and that he’s going to get very sick however not die.

Reynolds and Alma additionally share an attention-grabbing dynamic with meals, which is evenly hinted at when Alma cooks a romantic dinner — sans toxic mushrooms — for the dressmaker. Regardless of figuring out his dislike of extreme butter, she serves him asparagus in butter sauce, angering Reynolds and prompting him to query why she is making him eat one thing she is aware of he doesn’t like. Nonetheless, Reynolds “gallantly” eats just a few bites of the asparagus. It looks like consuming the poisoned omelet is an extension of the theme, and Reynolds accepts the eccentric (and probably murderous) approach his muse expresses her personal model of affection for him via meals.

Who’s Alma Speaking To within the Movie?

Within the movie’s opening sequence after which sporadically all through, we see Alma sitting by a hearth, describing her relationship with Reynolds to an unseen particular person. She recollects her husband’s strict facade and emotionally tender episodes, speaking freely even about poisoning him. On the finish of the movie, it’s revealed that Alma is chatting with Dr. Robert Hardy (Brian Gleeson), who sits throughout from her by the fireplace.

The context of their dialog is just not elaborated on, however just a few hints will be gleaned from the interplay. Contemplating Alma describes poisoning Reynolds and its aftermath, the dialog clearly takes place after the occasions of the movie. Additionally, contemplating Reynolds is described within the current tense, it looks like he’s nonetheless alive and, going by Alma’s look, not an excessive amount of time has handed because the omelet incident.

Although it isn’t clear what makes Alma discuss to Dr. Hardy so candidly — having solely met him on just a few events — it looks like there isn’t anybody else she will focus on her relationship with. Dr. Hardy is somebody of the identical age, and simply as he convinces her to exit on New Yr’s Eve, he seemingly makes a compelling companion discuss to. It’s fairly obvious that there are not any romantic emotions between Dr. Hardy and Alma. Nonetheless, the previous is intrigued by the latter, and Alma, residing within the solemn Woodcock family, is simply too completely happy to have somebody to speak to.

What Does Reynolds Sew into the Costume?

One of many first (and most intimate) issues Reynolds shares about himself with Alma is his behavior of stitching an “artifact” or blessing into his creations — one thing he refers to as a phantom thread. After he falls in poor health and is unable to assist end the Princess’ gown, Alma helps the dressmaker’s subordinates full the essential challenge. Whereas engaged on the skirt, she finds a small tag sewn into its hem with the phrases “By no means Cursed” embroidered on it.

The importance of the phrases takes us again to Reynolds and Alma’s first night collectively, the place the previous describes numerous superstitions that individuals maintain about stitching wedding ceremony attire. The creative dressmaker describes working for months as an adolescent on a gown for his mom as a result of his superstitious nanny (nicknamed “Black Loss of life”) refused to assist. His sister, who did assist, stays single.

Thus it looks like Reynolds himself holds some superstitions about making wedding ceremony attire, which is why he chooses the phrases “By no means Cursed” to be sewn into the Princess’ wedding ceremony gown. It’s value noting that Reynolds does finally get married regardless of having made a number of wedding ceremony attire (which, in keeping with superstition, ends in one not discovering a partner). Nonetheless, his spouse additionally poisons him on a semi-regular foundation, leaving it open for the viewers to mull over whether or not the creative dressmaker is definitely cursed.

Learn Extra: Is Phantom Thread Primarily based on a True Story?