Outside
This article contains reference to domestic abuse.
In the final act ofOutside, Francis' abuse over his family both escalates and begins to unravel.
So much happened so quickly at the end ofOutsidethat an explanation may be in order.
After the soldier, Corcuera, arrived, he began talking about the outside world.
Almost everything Francis did in Outside was for one reason: to maintain his abusive control over his family.
Francis' lies about the outside world were the main reason his family remained at the house.
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
That, however, was also a desperate bid for control.
Why Did Francis Start Helping His Family Again At The End Of Outside?
So, for a brief moment, Francis prioritized his family’s safety over his need for control.
Set in a remote Philippine province, a family escapes a zombie outbreak by seeking refuge in the father’s fortified childhood farmhouse. Despite their efforts to keep out the undead, they face equal horror and trauma within the ancestral home, revealing that safety is elusive both outside and inside the gates.
There were a few other reasons Francis may have started helping again.
Iris needed Francis to get the van so that they could take Lucas to the hospital.
It didn’t matter what happened tomorrow, as long as he pulled through and got the van today.
The light that shines on Iris' eyes at the end ofOutsideindicates that Josh returned with the van.
Along with showing how generational trauma starts and its effects,Outsidealso shows how abuse is maintained.
Outside holds a harrowing candle to abuse, and exposes how it works.
The name of Francis' family - Abel - is also symbolically significant.
In the Bible, Abel was the first murder victim, after his brother, Cain, killed him.
