The Hateful Eight’s Original Ending Explained & Why Tarantino Changed It

The conclusion of “The Hateful Eight” is marked by a deluge of blood and betrayal, in line with Quentin Tarantino’s signature style. However, this wasn’t the film’s original ending, and here’s the reason behind the change. Tarantino, known primarily for his crime thrillers like “Reservoir Dogs” and “Pulp Fiction,” has ventured into various genres, including martial arts (“Kill Bill”) and black comedy (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”). Additionally, he’s explored his take on westerns with “Django Unchained” and “The Hateful Eight,” the latter facing challenges and creative alterations even before production began.

Set in 1870, “The Hateful Eight” revolves around eight strangers with concealed agendas seeking shelter from a blizzard in a stagecoach lodge. Among them are Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson), John “The Hangman” Ruth (Kurt Russell), Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh), Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins), Marco the Mexican (Demián Bichir), English Pete Hicox (Tim Roth), Grouch Douglass (Michael Madsen), and Sanford “Sandy” Smithers (Bruce Dern). With each character possessing strong personalities and hidden agendas, tensions escalate, leading to a violent showdown within the confines of the lodge as the film reaches its climax.

In the climax of the film, the audience learns that Hicox, Douglass, and Marco were actually working with Daisy as her accomplices. They had arrived at the lodge beforehand with Daisy’s brother, Jody. Their plan was to orchestrate Daisy’s rescue upon her arrival with Ruth.

Douglass poisoned the coffee, resulting in the deaths of Ruth and O.B., while Warren killed Marco and was then shot by Jody from the basement. Mannix subsequently shot Hicox. Gage met his demise at the hands of Mannix and Warren. Daisy, unable to negotiate with Mannix, is eventually hanged in honor of Ruth. The severely wounded Mannix and Warren are left to their fate. However, it’s worth noting that Quentin Tarantino initially scripted a different ending for “The Hateful Eight,” sparking curiosity among fans about both the original finale and the reasons for its alteration.

What Was the Original Ending of The Hateful Eight?

The production of “The Hateful Eight” faced a setback when the entire script was leaked online in January 2014. Initially hesitant to proceed, Tarantino contemplated turning it into a novel instead. However, he ultimately decided to conduct a live reading of the leaked script and then penned a new one, which became the final version of the film. In the original conclusion, Warren is shot by Jody multiple times from beneath the floor until he collapses. Daisy, freed from captivity, delivers the fatal shots, leaving only Mannix wounded but alive, instead of both Mannix and Warren sharing their final moments while Daisy is hanged.

Why Quentin Tarantino Changed The Hateful Eight?

The initial ending was marked by intense violence, with each character, including Daisy, having their moment of bloodshed. However, the revised ending proved to be a significant improvement. Tarantino’s decision to spread out the killings rather than condense them into a single shootout heightened the tension among the Hateful Eight characters.

This approach also provided Daisy with the opportunity to delve into her gang’s dynamics and manipulate Mannix into turning against Warren. Furthermore, the alterations to the original ending of Quentin Tarantino’s film served a deeper purpose.

As highlighted by IndieWire in a 2016 piece, the original version lacked the space for the exploration of underlying social and racial themes, unlike the dynamic between Mannix and Warren in the revised ending. Tarantino’s adjustments arguably enriched the narrative by transcending the conventional trope of carnage followed by a lone survivor.

Tarantino’s films, despite their graphic violence, are more than mere bloodshed. They are meticulously crafted, with characters and plots that delve into relevant themes. The decision to have characters meet their demise one by one in the final version of The Hateful Eight imbues the film with greater meaning, complexity, and overall value compared to the initial script. Moreover, the altered ending subverts traditional Western film tropes and challenges historical narratives in a manner that resonates powerfully with viewers. Considering the final product beloved by fans, it becomes evident why Tarantino opted to tweak certain aspects of the script before the release of The Hateful Eight.