This article contains spoilers for the ending of The Next 365 Days. You can check out our spoiler-free review by clicking these words.
I’ve joked that these films are essentially review-proof, but it turns out that this one is basically ending explained-proof as well since it barely has any plot. Nevertheless, out of devotion to our dear readers, here’s what happens and why, though admittedly the latter is difficult to determine.
The Next 365 Days ending explained
Following the ending of the previous film, Massimo’s twin brother Adriano is dead, Laura has fully recovered from her gunshot wound, and an uneasy truce has been established between Massimo and Nacho’s crime families. Laura and Massimo are together, but it’s a little complicated. Laura is still having sex dreams about Nacho, Massimo is being a little inattentive, and before long a love triangle has developed. Who will Laura choose?
The whole film is an answer to that question, essentially, and gallingly it doesn’t even reach a real resolution by the end. These two blokes are supposed to represent two sides of the same coin – Massimo is lust, while Nacho is love, so all of Laura’s scenes with her husband are about primal desire while all her scenes with Nacho are about tenderness and truth (though they’re still pretty saucy, obviously). Nacho confesses his love for Laura, gives her time to make a decision, and promises not to force her into anything, and she’s left to make her decision after going back and forth a little to sample the goods on both sides.
While Laura deliberates, Massimo gets wind of what has been going on and goes to sulk at the beach. Olga warns Laura that Massimo intends to kill her, but she instead decides to confront him personally, though admittedly, and a little hilariously, she’s driven to the meeting by Nacho in disguise. With Nacho’s assurances still ringing in her head, she meets Massimo at the beach.
Massimo has confessions of his own. He is obviously still struggling with the loss of their child, with the fact Laura kept it from him, and with her relationship with Nacho. But he has rather taken to heart some advice his father gave him years ago – that old saying about how if you love something you should let it go; if it comes back it’s yours, if it doesn’t it never belonged to you in the first place. Given Massimo’s lifestyle and line of work, I suppose this counts as development. When he asks Laura if she’s back (baby girl!), she doesn’t give him an answer. Instead, we fade to black.
A sequel, anyone? At this point why the hell not?
You can stream The Next 365 Days exclusively on Netflix. What did you think of the ending of The Next 365 Days? Let us know in the comments.
