The ending of Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass on Netflix brings a fiery conclusion to the story of Crockett Island. The final sunrise acts as a cleansing fire, destroying the vampire-like creatures and the corruption that consumed the community. Almost every resident perishes, finding peace in their final moments after a night of terror. The series ends by answering its biggest questions about faith, sacrifice, and what happens after we die.
How the Island Meets Its End
The finale, titled “Revelation,” sees the plan of Bev Keane unfold after she takes control of the transformed congregation. Believing the vampire to be an angel ushering in the end times, she aims to create a holy army. She sets the island ablaze, leaving only the church and recreation center as safe shelters from the sun for her followers.
In response, the small group of remaining human survivors realizes they must stop the horror from spreading to the mainland. Erin Greene, Dr. Sarah Gunning, and Sheriff Hassan work to sabotage the escape routes. They burn the town’s boats and, in a critical move, set fire to the church and rec center, eliminating the last refuges from sunlight. With the sun rising and nowhere to hide, the vampire congregation is doomed.
The Meaning of the Sunrise
The rising sun is far more than just a new day; it serves as a final, purifying judgment. For the creatures, it means a painful and definitive death. For the original human residents who transformed, it offers a release from their monstrous existence and a chance to atone.
As daylight approaches, the community gathers on the beach. Led by Ed and Annie Flynn, they sing the hymn “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” This moment shows their acceptance of fate and a return to the community’s true spirit. In contrast, Bev Keane, who had preached faith and conviction, meets her end in terror, desperately clawing at the sand to escape the light. The sunrise brings a final, absolute end to the nightmare that Monsignor Pruitt brought to the island.
The Fate of the Main Characters
Most characters on Crockett Island meet their end in the sunlight, but their final moments are filled with meaning.
Erin Greene is attacked by the “angel” while helping to burn the rec center. As it feeds on her, she uses her last moments to slash its wings with a knife, crippling its ability to fly. This selfless act likely prevents the creature from reaching the mainland and dooms it to the coming sun.
Sheriff Hassan and his son, Ali, share a poignant final prayer together on the shore. Though the Sheriff is mortally wounded and Ali has been turned, they reunite in their Muslim faith, finding peace and acceptance before the light consumes them.
Monsignor Pruitt and Mildred Gunning finally acknowledge their love and their daughter, Sarah. After Sarah is killed and refuses the vampire blood, they carry her body to her favorite bridge. They die together in the sunlight, having found a tragic family reunion.
Dr. Sarah Gunning, the voice of science and reason, is shot by one of Bev’s followers. As she dies in her parents’ arms, she spits out Pruitt’s blood, consciously choosing a true death over a monstrous immortality.
Leeza and Warren’s Survival and Its Significance
The only two survivors are teenagers Leeza Scarborough and Warren Flynn. They escape the island in a small boat that Bev’s followers did not know about. From the safety of the water, they watch as Crockett Island burns.
In the final scene, Leeza tells Warren, “I can’t feel my legs.” This line is hugely significant. Leeza had been paralyzed before drinking the communion wine tainted with the creature’s blood, which had miraculously allowed her to walk. The return of her paralysis suggests that the creature’s influence has ended. According to series creator Mike Flanagan, this indicates that the concentration of the foreign blood in her system has dropped, and her body is healing. He clarified that this does not necessarily mean the creature is dead, but that Leeza herself is going to be okay.
The Fate of the Creature
The show leaves the ultimate fate of the vampire, or “angel,” somewhat open. After Erin damages its wings, it is seen flying erratically away from the island, racing against the sunrise. It is unclear if it can find shelter in time.
Mike Flanagan intentionally left this ambiguous. He explained that the creature represents corrupting fanaticism, an idea that can be chased away for a time but never truly killed. It will always find a way to return. Therefore, showing its definitive death would have gone against this core theme.
The Core Message of the Ending
Midnight Mass uses its horror premise to explore deep questions about belief, community, and sacrifice. The ending argues that true goodness is found in selfless acts for others, not in blind faith or false miracles. The residents who choose to face the sunrise, thereby preventing the spread of evil, demonstrate “no greater love” than to die for people they have never met.
The series suggests that salvation is not found in an external monster disguised as an angel, but within ourselves and our capacity for love and sacrifice. The final sunrise brings a tragic but peaceful end to a community that lost its way, while offering a sliver of hope for the next generation.
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