The Death of Bunny Munro ending explained: Does Bunny go to hell?

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The Death of Bunny Munro is a wild and unpredictable film, shifting between hilarious and deeply unsettling scenes. It keeps you guessing about whether the main character will actually meet the fate suggested by the title.

The season concludes with Bunny (Matt Smith) and his son (Rafael Mathé) reaching their destination: a beauty convention. However, they quickly discover there’s far more going on than just skincare.

Bunny has been acting more and more dangerously lately, and to make things worse, a mysterious killer with devil-like horns has been getting closer and closer, appearing over the last few chapters.

Wondering how ‘The Death of Bunny Munro’ ends? We’ve got a full explanation and analysis for you. Or, if you’d prefer to avoid spoilers, you can watch all the episodes on Sky Atlantic or NOW.

The Death of Bunny Munro ending explained: Does Bunny go to hell?

As the name suggests, ‘The Death of Bunny Munro’ ends with a tragic and violent death for Matt Smith’s character. However, the finale also offers a glimmer of hope for the future of his son.

Bunny took his nine-year-old son, Bunny Jr., on a wild road trip through Sussex, telling him it was to learn how to be a door-to-door salesman – though it was a pretty weak excuse.

The sudden trip was actually incredibly damaging, as Bunny gave in to his habits of sex, drugs, and alcohol, and didn’t care who got hurt in the process.

At first, Bunny Jr. admired his father and overlooked his flaws. But as his father’s behavior became increasingly irresponsible, it became clear he couldn’t parent Bunny Jr. on his own.

I was completely gripped by the news reports throughout the show – this terrifying killer dressed as the devil was building towards a confrontation with Bunny and his son. It was heartbreaking to watch, and ultimately, old man Munro was tragically killed when the killer ran him down with his truck. It was a really shocking moment.

The show then takes a strange and unsettling turn as Bunny finds himself in a peculiar music lounge. He’s surrounded by people from his past, including his deceased wife, Libby (played by Sarah Greene).

Honestly, it was heartbreaking. He tries to make amends for how badly he treated her by singing “You Were Always on My Mind,” but it just felt…too late. It was a nice gesture, sure, but after everything, it didn’t feel like enough to earn him the forgiveness he was clearly hoping for. He was desperate for redemption, but it just wasn’t happening.

While everyone else, including Libby, went upstairs for a party, Bunny was told he wasn’t welcome. He was left alone in the now-empty space, where a comforting, yet sinister, presence enveloped him.

The “horned killer” isn’t meant to be understood literally. Instead, it symbolizes Bunny’s damaging behaviors – his drug use and how he mistreats the people around him, even those he cares about.

He could have avoided disaster if he’d listened to the warnings and changed his behavior, but his focus on pleasure and personal gain ultimately led to his downfall.

In an interview with GQ, author Nick Cave discussed the novel’s ending, clarifying that he wasn’t advocating for repentance. He believes the inner struggles of his character, Bunny Munro, reflect a universal aspect of the male experience.

We’re all born with basic instincts, including a natural drive for connection and even aggression. These aren’t learned behaviors, but fundamental parts of who we are. However, qualities like empathy and the ability to form close relationships are things we develop over time, and they help us navigate life in a positive way.

Cave explained that he specifically didn’t want to write a story where the monster realizes he’s wrong and tries to make amends, as that’s a common trope in these kinds of books. He doesn’t believe that admitting mistakes automatically leads to a positive outcome or forgiveness.

Even after death, Bunny becomes aware of his own flaws and sees potential in his son. However, this realization doesn’t excuse the deeply immoral things he did while he was alive.

Whether he ends up in hell, as many traditionally believe, likely depends on your personal beliefs and worldview.

That’s one way to understand the unsettling image of Bunny dancing with the devil. But the next scene hints at a fate that’s more about a difficult, temporary state than eternal punishment.

Bunny has a final conversation, likely in his mind, with his son. It takes place at the same vacation spot where he originally developed the harmful patterns that would haunt him throughout his life.

He picked up these behaviors from his father, Bunny Sr. (David Threlfall), and unconsciously copies him – even down to the way he uses his hands when talking to girls, a gesture reminiscent of a rabbit’s ears.

Following their honest conversation, Bunny Jr. confidently walks towards a hopeful future, while his father sadly returns to the pool, a place that represents the moment his life took its current course.

This could symbolize Bunny’s fall into a difficult or painful situation, like hell, or perhaps a state of limbo where he’s stuck and unable to improve, suggesting he didn’t learn or develop while he was alive.

Finally, the pattern of hardship stops, and Bunny Jr. gets a fresh start. He’s placed with a loving foster family who help him return to school after being out for a while.

The Death of Bunny Munro is available on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

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2025-11-26 18:35