Amulet: Curse & Ending Explained

Warning! Spoilers for Amulet below

Amulet is a slow burn of a horror film that cleverly turns many conventions on their heads, and it boasts an ending that’s full of many surprises that serve to make the film memorable.

Amulet, released in 2020, marks the directorial debut of Romola Garai, who crafts an emotional and claustrophobic horror film. She expertly plays with familiar ideas, but still finds ways to surprise the audience. The film made a strong impression at Sundance, and was released July 24th, 2020 from Magnolia Pictures. Since its release, the moody horror picture is making an even bigger impression on the horror community.

Amulet looks at a displaced former soldier named Tomaz (Alec Secareanu) who finds shelter in the house of a caring young lady, Magda (Carla Juri). Tomaz slowly becomes enamored with Magda, but the presence of her dying and afflicted mother (Anah Ruddin) adds a curious wrinkle to the situation, which begins to go in some very unexpected and supernatural directions.

What’s Wrong With Magda’s Mother?

When Tomaz initially moves in with Magda and her mother, he’s told that she suffers from a chronic health condition. As Tomaz gets further exposed to Magda’s life, he is let in on a family secret. Magda’s mother is actually possessed with a demon that’s been ravaging her body for years and taking it out on Magda. The demon revelation is pivotal for Tomaz, and it’s what ultimately inspires him to step in and save Magda. The sad truth is that Magda’s mother is technically a demon, but this is all still part of a larger ruse to manipulate Tomaz. Magda’s “mother” isn’t really her mother at all. The “mother” is actually a male tourist that they’ve claimed as one of their victims. Tomaz succeeds in ending the pain of Magda’s “mother”, but in doing so, he sets himself up as her replacement. His interest in Magda turns him into a sponge for this evil, so to speak.

How The Curse Works

Amulet is full of legitimate scares, but the truest horror that Tomaz experiences is the recognition that Magda isn’t a victim in this relationship, but is actually a benevolent demon God who preys on men. The ending of Amulet embraces some cosmic horror aesthetics in a surprising and beautiful way. Tomaz’s commitment to and obsession with Magda only makes him susceptible to becoming her next subject. He may have killed the previous demon, but now Tomaz is infected and becomes Magda’s new host. Similar to Let the Right One In with the young vampire needing a new caretaker, this is a cyclical process which will continue until Tomaz’s disfigured body is eventually used up. After that happens, Magda will have to encounter another suitable sinner to replace him.

The Significance Of The Amulet Statue

One of the first mysteries that shows up in Amulet is a weird relic statue that Tomaz finds buried in the ground; this is the film’s titular amulet. The amulet relic’s significance is never fully explained, but it takes on aspects of ironic tragedy through Tomaz. He gives the amulet to Magda as a symbol of protection to keep her safe from her “mother”. In reality, it appears that the amulet is more of an idol to Magda’s demon God, and a sign of reverence and respect towards it. Magda passes the relic on at the end, as if in an attempt to spread this protective spirit and keep other fragile women safe and confident.

The Real Meaning Of Amulet’s Ending

Amulet broaches demonic possession and grisly murder, but the film’s trajectory and conclusion reveals that this is more a story about loyalty, toxic relationships, and the sad kind of co-dependent dynamic that can form in families, whether it involves a demon or not. Families have a way of being a blessing or a curse in their own ways, and Amulet cleverly taps into that feeling through a frightening story. Amulet even pointedly uses the phrase that Magda has “served her time” in regards to her family.

Additionally, the end of Amulet speaks to Tomaz’s obsession with Magda, which is ultimately what becomes his undoing. Tomaz has pure intentions, but his past is checkered. Even though he appears to have grown in many ways, this family possibly chooses him because they know he’ll fall back on old habits. In fact, this also speaks to another theme that the film explores, which is the slow death of humanity. Tomaz’s humanity is in flux, but even the way in which he’s able to get the upper hand against Magda’s “mother” is to take advantage of her. Tomaz preys upon this vulnerability, and the “demon” adopts its most human act right before Tomaz kills it. Amulet tells a story full of haunting visuals and unbelievable monsters, but it works so well because of the deeper messages that tie it all together.

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