The Last Supper

Main Plot

"The Last Supper," directed by Stacy Title, is a dark comedy that explores themes of morality, justice, and the consequences of ideological extremism. The film centers around a group of liberal graduate students who regularly host dinner parties. During one such gathering, an unexpected confrontation with a guest leads to a fatal incident. This event sparks a radical idea among the group: they decide to invite individuals with opposing political views to dinner, with the intention of debating them. However, if they find the guest's beliefs to be morally reprehensible, they take lethal action, justifying it as a means to rid the world of harmful ideologies. As the dinners continue, the group becomes increasingly desensitized to the violence, and their moral compass begins to waver. The film uses satire to critique the dangers of self-righteousness and the slippery slope of taking justice into one's own hands. It raises questions about the limits of tolerance and the ethical implications of imposing one's beliefs on others. The narrative builds tension as the group's actions spiral out of control, leading to unforeseen consequences and forcing them to confront the true cost of their radical decisions.

Characters

• Cameron Diaz plays Jude, a liberal graduate student who participates in a series of morally complex dinner parties with her friends, leading to unexpected and dark consequences.
• Ron Eldard plays Pete, a charming but dangerous guest whose radical views challenge the group, sparking a series of moral dilemmas and escalating tensions among the friends.
• Annabeth Gish plays Paulie, a liberal graduate student who participates in a dinner party where guests debate and confront extreme political views, leading to unexpected consequences.

Ending Explained

In the film's climax, the group of liberal graduate students, who have been inviting conservative guests to dinner with the intention of poisoning those they deem morally reprehensible, face a moral reckoning. The final dinner guest is Norman Arbuthnot, a charismatic and influential conservative pundit. As the dinner progresses, Arbuthnot skillfully turns the conversation, exposing the students' hypocrisy and challenging their self-righteousness. He argues that their actions are no different from the intolerance they claim to oppose. The tension escalates when Arbuthnot reveals he is aware of their murderous activities, having been tipped off by one of the students. This revelation forces the group to confront the consequences of their actions. As the evening unfolds, Arbuthnot's manipulation leads to a breakdown in the group's unity, with members turning on each other in paranoia and guilt. In the end, Arbuthnot leaves the dinner unharmed, having successfully dismantled the group's ideology and leaving them to grapple with their moral failures. The film concludes with the students' realization that their attempt to rid the world of perceived evil has only perpetuated the cycle of violence and intolerance they sought to eliminate. This ending underscores the dangers of extremism and the complexity of moral judgment.