Encounter Ending Explained: Why Malik Kidnapped His Sons! Will Malik and His Children Survived? Spoilers!
Encounter is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video! Early on, we see Malik pick up a flashlight and examine his boy’s eyes as he sneaks into the house on a rescue mission. He has been warned that his boys Jay and Bobby are in danger because his ex-wife and husband have been infected with the invading alien race. The worm-like creatures can be seen in the retina of the human host. It’s a disgusting sight.
At least, that’s what the decorated former navy sees. See, he was out there fighting monsters. He was in prison when he was away from his children. He’s now out, and Octavia Spencer is playing the role of his parole office. Malik suffers from a mental health emergency, most likely schizophrenia. The worms in the eyes, the faces of aliens turning into faceless aliens are all imagined. We tell you all about the end of Encounter on Amazon Prime Video!
Encounter Ending Explained: Why Malik Kidnapped His Sons!
At the start of the film, there are three possible reasons why Malik is kidnapping his sons. The first is that there is truly an invasion of alien parasites. The film maintains this mystery until the boys start talking about their mother’s recent poor health, and Malik realizes that Piya is pregnant. The second possible reason is that Malik lied. He was frustrated and angry that he couldn’t see his children often and decided to take them away from their mother to be with him. But as the ending of Encounter proves, that’s not it. So the remaining possible reason, which is sanity, is the truth in this case.
One can guess that he experienced immense tragedies during his ten periods of service as a Marine. The experience with the insects seems to have stuck in her memory and to have significantly affected her sanity. Encounter never mentions the exact nature of his delusions, as Malik’s condition goes undiagnosed. But the movie suggests he’s at least bordering on schizophrenia.
At the end of Encounter and back in the empty house where he left Malik, Jay confronts his father and accuses him of lying. The feeling of betrayal and heartbreak that can be read on his son’s face prompts Malik to recognize the truth about himself: he has serious mental health issues. That’s when Dwight and Kurt show up with weapons, intending to collect the bounty that was issued on Malik. However, the latter overpowered them and left them tied up.
Hattie, who has known Malik for some time, vehemently refutes comments about the danger he poses to his children. She knows how much Malik loves his sons and won’t do anything that could potentially harm them.
Hattie is ultimately right. Confronted with the authorities, Malik ultimately chooses to live for his sons. He hands his gun to Jay, who goes out with it, scaring the law enforcement officer approaching him. Father and son run away from each other, and Malik demonstrates that although he struggles with his mental health issues, the safety of his children is his biggest concern.
