Opus Ending Explained: How Happened to Ayo Edebiri’s Character?

A24’s Opus delivers a haunting take on artistic obsession, cult influence, and media sensationalism. Starring Ayo Edebiri as journalist Ariel Ecton, the film follows her as she navigates a disturbing night at a secluded estate hosted by music icon Alfred Moretti (John Malkovich). 

What starts as an exclusive listening party spirals into a violent and sinister encounter with Moretti’s devoted followers, the Levelists. But Opus doesn’t just end with Ariel’s survival—it takes a chilling turn that forces her to question her own role in the cult’s legacy.

The Cult’s Deadly Agenda

Ariel and her boss, Stan, are among a group of guests invited to Moretti’s Utah compound. The gang also involves a talk show host, an influencer, a paparazzi photographer, and a shock jock radio host. It doesn’t take long for Ariel to realize that they are all critics—people who have shaped public opinion about artists. 

As the night progresses, members of the group start disappearing, and Ariel uncovers the Levelists' true intentions. Moretti, fueled by his hatred for criticism, has orchestrated a gruesome performance in which his followers exact revenge on those who have judged their art.

The cult begins eliminating the guests one by one—Bill is brutally hacked to death, Emily is poisoned, and Stan and Bianca are stabbed. Ariel soon discovers that Moretti’s grand plan culminates in a mass suicide with his followers willingly drinking poisoned champagne.

They believe that it is the ultimate act of artistic expression. Moretti sees himself as a visionary, claiming that true art should be unrestrained and unchallenged.

Ayo Edebiri's Ariel Escapes and Finds Out Moretti’s Master plan

As chaos erupts, Ariel makes a desperate escape. Moretti is set on fire, and she manages to flee, believing that the cultists have all perished. In the aftermath, she becomes a media sensation, writing a best-selling book about her harrowing experience. Her success is met with widespread acclaim, positioning her as a leading voice in investigative journalism. 

However, two years later, a shocking revelation upends everything she thought she knew. In a Silence of the Lambs-style prison visit, Moretti reveals that Ariel’s rise to fame was part of his plan all along. He admits that she was meant to escape and spread the Levelists’ ideology through her storytelling. 

The bodies of the cultists were never found because they were never there—Moretti’s disciples survived and returned to society, continuing to push his artistic philosophy from the shadows. Ariel, unknowingly, has been their greatest asset, turning the Levelists into a phenomenon rather than exposing them as a dangerous cult.

The Chilling Final Scene

The film’s final moments leave Ayo Edebiri's Ariel shaken. During a television interview, she notices the host wearing a pearl necklace identical to those worn by the Levelists. This signals that their influence has only grown. She now understands that Moretti’s teachings have embedded themselves in the cultural landscape, and she played a key role in their expansion.

Ariel’s story is a critique of both cult fanaticism and media sensationalism. While she believes she was exposing the horrors of the Levelists, her work ultimately gives them more power. Her escape was never a victory—it was a carefully orchestrated piece of Moretti’s Opus.

Opus is now playing in theaters.