The following contains spoilers for Love Hurts, now playing in theatersLove Hurts‘ has a surprisingly open-ended and romantic ending, even if the characters to kill their way through a lot of people to reach it. The action-comedy focuses on Ke Huy Quan’s Marvin. The directorial debut of Jonathan Eusebio, Love Hurts follows the perpetually friendly real estate agent as he lives in Milwaukee. Secretly, Marvin is a former ᴀssᴀssin whose body count rivals the likes of John Wick. Having gone into hiding after sparing the life of the woman he loved, Marvin finds himself targeted by his brother and many of Love Hurts‘ other characters after Ariana DeBose’s Rose returns.
Love Hurts is a тιԍнт action-comedy that leans heavily into both aspects of that genre fusion. It’s also a supremely romantic film, with multiple surprising love stories serving as direct contrasts and foils to Marvin’s lingering feelings for Rose. However, the true moral of the movie extends beyond just regular romance, and reinforces why it’s important to fight for the things that inspire pᴀssion. Here is how Love Hurts ends and what it means for Marvin and Rose’s future.
What Happens To Knuckles In Love Hurts’ Ending
Knuckles Doesn’t Get A Happy Ending In Love Hurts
Knuckles is the overarching villain of the action-comedy Love Hurts, making his eventual fate darkly satisfying. Knuckles is a powerful crime boss in the world of Love Hurts, who has risen to power thanks largely to his ruthless approach to potential problems. Knuckles is feared by his gang for his willingness to kill people for any transgression, whether that be perceived disloyalty or even becoming too close to his brother Marvin. While Knuckles used to be able to unleash Marvin on his enemies, Marvin’s decision to leave that violent life has seemingly created a distance between them.
Knuckles is played by Daniel Wu, whose career spans action films in both the United States and in China.
Knuckles eventually lures Marvin back by capturing Rose and only further enrages him by revealing he also killed Marvin’s friend and real estate mentor Cliff. Marvin defeats Knuckes but spares his life, leaving the villain open to be captured by the Russian Mafia that he’s been secretly stealing from. Love Hurts ends with Knuckles being dragged away to face punishment for his actions, his pleas for help falling on deaf ears. Knuckles likely doesn’t survive whatever the Russians have in store for him, but his final fate Is never revealed in the film.
Rose’s Plan In Love Hurts Explained
Rose Wants Revenge, And She’s Got The Perfect Way To Get It
Years before the events of Love Hurts, Rose was a lawyer who worked as Knuckles’ right hand. Coveting her position, Knuckles lieutenant Renny and accountant Kippy conspired to frame her for stealing millions of dollars from Knuckles. The crime boss ordered her death, but Marvin’s unrequited love for her spurred him to spare her life. Rose went into hiding for a time, seemingly finding work as a bartender. However, she also spent her years in hiding investigating Knuckles’ finances to discover what had really happened.
After figuring out not only Renny’s plan but Knuckles’ own theft from the Russian Mafia he worked for, Rose secretly set a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly plan in motion. Capturing Kippy for interrogation and sewing discord by luring Renny around the greater Milwaukee area, Rose also reunites with Marvin and informs the Russians about what Knuckles has been doing. Rose’s apparent deal with the Russians results in her bringing down Knuckles and even receiving the cash stolen by Renny as a “finder’s fee.” This plan also allows Rose to come out of hiding and begin a formal relationship with Marvin.
Marvin’s Backstory In Love Hurts Explained
Marvin Used To Be A “Monster” For His Brother
The full backstory of Marvin is teased throughout Love Hurts, revealing that the seemingly mild-mannered real estate agent is repressing a great deal of dangerous fury. Growing up alongside his brother Alvin, Marvin developed a skill for combat that made him particularly dangerous. Even in a world of ᴅᴇᴀᴅly ᴀssᴀssins and hired guns, Marvin became something of a legend if Raven and King’s surprise at his current personality is any indication. When Alvin became known as Knuckles, he brought along his brother as his chief enforcer.
However, Marvin steadily became disillusioned with being his brother’s “monster,” developing a conscience and reluctance to kill. The final straw was Rose, who Marvin had fallen in love with. Recognizing anyone else would simply follow through on Knuckles’ orders, Marvin took the ᴀssignment specifically so he could spare her life. Marvin subsequently fled into a civilian life, seemingly with Knuckles’ reluctant acceptance. While Marvin spends much of the film trying to hold onto that restraint, the climax of Love Hurts forces him to revert to his full dangerous potential.
What’s Next For Marvin & Rose After Love Hurts?
Marvin And Rose End Love Hurts In A Relationship
The ending of Love Hurts is somewhat open-ended, with the final narration highlighting the happy place that Marvin and Rose will be in together going forward. The ending suggests that the two will remain in a relationship going forward, with Marvin at peace with being his “full self” around her. However, it’s not exactly clear what the future will hold for the pair going forward. Given the death of Cliff and the likelihood that Marvin’s clients report the gunfight they found themselves stuck near, Marvin’s reputation as a realtor may have been ruined.
Love Hurts isn’t too concerned with those elements though, and is far more focused on the connection between Rose and Marvin.
There’s a chance that Marvin and Rose will take the money they’ve received and relocate, which could allow them to make new lives where they don’t fear hiding who they are. All of their enemies in the film are either killed, captured by a greater authority, or have fallen in love with friends of Marvin. No one is going to be coming after them, besides potentially the police if they seek more information about the fall of Knuckles. Love Hurts isn’t too concerned with those elements though, and is far more focused on the connection between Rose and Marvin.
The Real Meaning Of Love Hurts
Love Is Worth Fighting For — Literally
Love Hurts is ultimately a movie about holding onto romantic ideals about life in a ruthless and cold world. The only irredeemable characters in the film are figures like Knuckles and Renny, who never show any affection for anything outside of themselves. By contrast, Marvin is motivated by his love for Rose and his dream of a perfectly innocent life. Rose romanticizes the freedom she’s lost while hiding from Knuckles, and rediscovers it with the help of Marvin. Marvin’s ᴀssistant Ashley is depressed when she’s introduced but finds inspiration through the poetry of the Raven.
The Raven is introduced as a lethal combatant and ᴅᴇᴀᴅly fighter, but his surprisingly tender romance subplot with Ashley leads him to a surprisingly happy ending. Even King and Otis, who are depicted as ruthless killers, find a level of happiness even after being severely wounded because Otis has been able to open up successfully to his wife and fight for their marriage. Love Hurts highlights how anyone and everyone should try to fight for what they want in life, even if the thing they’re fighting is dangerous or uncompromising.
