On Swift Horses is a star-studded romance drama with an ambiguous ending that warrants further examination for its themes and hints about the characters’ futures. On Swift Horses’ reviews have seen a mixed reception despite the film’s cast including several of Hollywood’s brightest young stars. Jacob Elordi’s (Julius) best movies include dramas like Saltburn and Priscilla, making him the perfect lead for the moody drama. He’s joined by Daisy Edgar-Jones (Muriel), Will Poulter (Lee), Sasha Calle (Sandra), and Diego Calva (Henry).

The events of On Swift Horses’ ending are spread among the ensemble. Lee catches Muriel having an argument with Sandra and realizes she’s been lying to him, leading to their separation. She leaves behind her money to support Lee in chasing his dream ’50s life and goes in search of Julius, only to meet Henry instead. On her way out, she leaves behind a card, which Henry adds to, providing him with a location to meet at. Julius mounts his horse and visits Lee and Muriel’s old home to find it empty, then rides off before the credits roll.

Did Julius & Henry Reunite?

Julius Took A Chance To Find His Lover

The ending of On Swift Horses sees Julius riding off on his horse, presumably to reunite with Henry, his lover, whom he hadn’t seen since they were caught in Las Vegas. Julius lived his life constantly on the move, playing his luck where he could and experiencing some of the fringe outlets that queer people had in the highly restrictive 1950s. Upon meeting Henry, he experienced comfort and stability for the first time, though Henry still struggled to stay in one place and constantly yearned for more.

Julius’s final action in the movie suggests he’s heading to find Henry, though we don’t know how long it’s been since Henry wrote the location on the card, and whether they reunite is left ambiguous. The bigger question is still whether these two men will be able to contain themselves and live in one place. Taking a beating in Las Vegas might have taught Henry a lesson, but the film suggests that old habits die hard. What’s essential to On Swift Horses isn’t whether they reunite or whether it works out in the end, but the fact that Julius took the chance.

What’s Next For Muriel After Leaving Lee?

Muriel Returns Home To Kansas

There’s a crucial moment in On Swift Horses when Julius leaves Muriel and Lee’s home, taking all their money. Rather than Muriel admitting to her secret horse-racing piggy bank, she decides to keep the money to herself, realizing she understands what Julius had told her about each of them needing their secrets. Her marriage still backfires when Lee catches her with Sandra, and Muriel is forced to admit to Lee and to herself that she’s never been right for the traditional family life.

Lee is highly determined to live an American Dream life, and Muriel was willing to latch on to him, pursuing her Sєxual curiosities and thrills in secret. This led to her being only half-present in her marriage, which was never going to work. After leaving Lee with a parting gift of thousands of dollars, Muriel is now free to pursue her true self. She returns to her mother’s home in Kansas, which she only pretended to sell earlier in the film, and is thereafter left with an open slate.

Were Julius & Muriel Really In Love?

Julius & Muriel Shared A Profound Connection

On Swift Horses’ opening sequences seem to suggest a love triangle between Julius, Muriel, and Lee, with Julius wedging himself in between the couple. The film hints at chemistry between the two and teases the prospect of physical intimacy between them later on when they reunite, but they never end up getting together. Muriel sees Julius in the middle of the night, and they share a kiss, but it’s unclear whether this is a dream or reality. It’s apparent that Muriel is in love with Julius.

Muriel tells Sandra at one point in the movie that she had been in love once, describing the brief time she shared with Julius. However, while she and Lee move to California, Julius continues to follow his own path, as he’s less willing to establish a conforming facade like Muriel does. It could be that Julius doesn’t pursue her because he loves Henry, or simply because he still hasn’t figured himself out.

Lee’s Final Story About Love Explained

Lee Was Heartbroken, But He Understood What Muriel Needed

After discovering Muriel and Sandra, Lee shares an anecdote from his and Julius’s childhood. Julius had a friend who was dating a girl while knowing that this girl was secretly seeing an older man on the side. Lee explains that Julius’s friend didn’t mind her seeing another man as long as she came home to him every night, until the moment that she broke things off with him to marry the old man. Lee and Julius were only bystanders in this scenario, but they had differing views.

Lee says that Julius was angry that the girl had left his friend to be with the older man, but that he understood why she did it. She was pursuing a chance at true love, just as Lee did when he asked Muriel to marry him years earlier. Their ultimate separation will torment him, and no apology can cure that, but he understands her reasoning.

Why Sandra Told Muriel To Leave

Sandra Wanted More Than Muriel Could Offer

Muriel and Sandra leave on poor terms when Muriel states that her husband couldn’t picture her doing “something like this.” Sandra is insulted by the comment, as it reminds her of the reality of the situation. Muriel may enjoy Sandra’s company and physical intimacy in a way that Lee can never provide, but in the end, it’s still just an affair, while it’s all Sandra has. Muriel may desire Sandra more than she does Lee, but she’s still ultimately half-invested.

Just as Muriel is halfway in with Lee, she’s halfway in with Sandra, suggesting that she can’t have it both ways. She can’t play it safe in a traditional marriage to disguise her pᴀssion while also searching for love and meaning in Sandra. Something is going to have to give, and it ends up being both.

The Real Meaning Of On Swift Horses Explained

On Swift Horses Explores The Commonality In Gambling & Love

On Swift Horses is a film following a web of characters, but thematically, it examines addictive behavior (gambling) as a replacement for repressed desire. The period setting is crucial in illustrating how queer people struggled to find love in a time so strictly focused on convention, and how other potentially destructive outlets were often all one was left with to cope with that situation. Gambling and love are juxtaposed as two matters that require tremendous luck. On Swift Horses is deeply sympathetic to its characters and their respective searches for love and belonging.