What Dreams May Come/Headscratchers

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


  • In an alternate ending (among the deleted scenes collected on the DVD), Chris and Annie are forced to reincarnate as a kind of atonement. In the ending as it appeared in the theatrical release, though, they choose to reincarnate 'cause, hey, it sounds like a fun time. The problem I have is this: It was already established that anyone who commits suicide goes to Hell. We know that Annie is capable of suicide. So why take the chance of that happening again? Why reincarnate, and risk the very real possibility that you'll wind up in Hell for the rest of eternity? If you've both made it to Heaven, why not stay in Heaven?
    • Annie lost her children and husband in a span of four years. Suicidal is not a default condition for her.
    • I will use the movie since this is what you refer to.
      • First, if they admit their sin/suicide they can escape their Hell. Simply, it's not permanent, just damn near impossible to escape.
      • Second, suicide isn't natural for anyone. It was the stress of first her children and then her husband being killed that lead her to kill herself. And with a second chance, it would not be likely to happen again.
      • Third, in the deleted ending Annie is forced to reincarnate because she must prove herself worthy. It's a test. Chris just joins her because he loves her.
      • Fourth, in the theatrical ending Annie wants to prove herself. Chris, meanwhile, just wants to be with her.
  • The alternate ending also brings up a niggling question of predestination. They know, before they are even reborn, exactly how many years they'll live before they die the next time around. If the future is predetermined like that, doesn't that mean that Annie's original suicide was also predetermined? And if so, claiming that suicide "violates the order" of the Cosmos is disingenuous at best and downright evil at worst.
    • I imagine it "violates the order" because it's not predetermined.
    • There's nothing about the future being preordained in there, you've kind of conjured that one up in your own head. Annie and Chris believe they'll get together not because it's destiny that they do so, but because they're soulmates. Them being soulmates is the part they think will lead them to be together, not the fact that the entire future is written in stone.
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