The Son concludes tragically with Nicholas, a 17-year-old struggling with severe depression, dying by suicide. After moving in with his father Peter and stepmother Kate, Nicholas’ mental health declines despite their efforts to connect with him. In the end, overwhelmed by hopelessness, Nicholas takes his own life with a rifle. The film closes on an imagined scene where Peter teaches a young Nicholas to swim, symbolizing dreams of protecting one’s child from drowning in despair. However, in reality Nicholas succumbs to the depths, believing he can never surface. The heartbreaking ending conveys the immense grief and powerlessness of loved ones losing someone to mental illness. Despite interventions, Nicholas tragically cannot escape his inner anguish. The finale highlights the complexities of adolescent depression and the need for compassion when treatment falls short, as those left behind mourn a life cut devastatingly short.