Liam Neeson’s 2021 film, The Ice Road, has arrived on Netflix, and viewers are talking about the film’s ending.
As per a synopsis from Netflix, the film centres around the collapse of a “remote diamond mine…in far northern Canada.”
A “‘big-rig’ ice road driver,” played by Neeson, must “lead an impossible rescue mission over a frozen ocean to save the trapped miners,” the synopsis adds.
Neeson’s character must “contend with thawing waters and a massive storm, they discover the real threat is one they never saw coming.”
Directed by Jonathan Hensleigh, the film’s life-or-death mission has captured audiences once more, with the film creeping up the streaming platform’s streaming charts in recent days.
Here’s the ending to the film explained – warning: spoilers ahead!
Why did the rescue mission become so dangerous?
Initially Neeson’s character, Mike – an ice truck driver – and his mechanic brother Gurty (Marcus Thomas) think they’re simply on a mission to rescue some trapped miners from a collapsed Manitoba diamond mine. They were hired by Jim Goldenrod (Laurence Fishburne) who tells them a methane explosion left the miners in mortal danger.
Together with Goldenrod, Gurty, Tantoo (Amber Midthunder), and Varnay (Benjamin Walker), the small group must drive three heavy trucks across miles of frozen water that’s already starting to melt. While that in itself is dangerous enough, they hadn’t banked on some other dubious characters showing up who have some ulterior motives to thwart the rescue attempt.
It turns out the disaster wasn’t an accident but one caused by man-made actions after the mine’s owners paid off workers to close off some gas sensors in the mine in order to continue to mine diamonds despite knowing it was dangerous to do so. After the explosion, the owners rush to send Varnay on the road with the truckers to oversee the rescue. While they think he’s an insurance man, he has an ulterior motive.
Who was Varney really working for?
Varney wasn’t an insurance man as he initially claimed: he was instead a traitor working for the owners of the mine.
A phone conversation later in the film revealed that Varnay was taking orders from Katka executive George Sickle (Matt McCoy). Varnay and his team of armed killers were hired to kill Mike, Tantoo and Gurty because saving the miners would mean Sickle and his associated at Katka were in danger of the truth coming out about the diamonds if the miners live.
How does Mike beat Varney on the ice road?
Initially, Mike is seeing ramming Varney’s vehicle off a hillside leading us to think the heroes could be left to do their jobs and rescue the miners. However, he later returns after surviving the crash.
Next, Varney triggers some explosives and causes more disruption to their journey – but not stopping them, as Varney hoped.
He then rams Mike’s truck and a fight ensues before Mike drives his truck straight into the ice. While he has time to escape, Varney does not and submerges into the water beneath the ice completely.
Does anyone else die in the rescue mission?
Sadly, yes. Gurty and an injured Tantoo were driving ahead of Mike in order to get to the miners quickly when the bridge they were driving over crippled under the weight of the truck.
The truck began to slide back and the suspension cables on the bridge break, leading to a collapse. Seeing the truck sliding back and understanding what was about to happen, Gurty tried to close a gate to stop the truck from moving back any further. Unfortunately, in saving Tantoo and the truck, Gurty was crushed.
Do the miners survive?
Thanks to Gurty’s sacrifice, yes. They are able to get to the rescuers in time where Sickle’s role in everything was also finally exposed. He was eventually arrested for his crimes. Just before, Mike manages to get one punch in to Sickle for the death of his brother.
What does the license plate at the end of the movie mean?
In the closing seconds of the film, we see the words “Trk Trk Trk” on Mike’s license plate. This is a nod to “Truck Truck Truck”, a name used for the group mentioned in the movie’s first half and served as a tribute to those closest to Mike who died.
Will there be a follow up to The Ice Road?
Yes! Neeson began filming a follow up to the film in early 2024. As per IMDB, the film’s sequel was reportedly snapped up at Cannes 2023 by Amazon Prime for $17 million (£13.41 million).
The film’s initial ending paved the way for a sequel when it’s shown that while Mike and Tantoo both have new jobs, the pair have decided to remain in contact. Tantoo told Mike he could call her if he needed her, leaving the door open for a reunion.
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