I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me is a Mexican Netflix comedy thriller and adaptation of the novel of the same name by author Juan Pablo Villalobos. The story surrounds a writer, Juan, whose career and life go off script when he falls prey to a dangerous web of criminals, before moving to Barcelona. There, they blackmail him into meeting and seducing the daughter of a wealthy man they wish to extort money from. He uses his bizarre and terrifying experiences to write his first novel — but will anyone get the chance to read it? The film’s ending delves into Juan’s ultimate fate and the consequences of his choices, and it’s not the happy outcome you might have been expecting.
I Don't Expect Anyone to Believe Me Ending Explained
Throughout the film, we see Juan do multiple things against his will with the threat of the ones he loves being hurt. We watch his sanity slowly fail, as he writes his novel on all his bizarre and terrifying experiences. He states that this novel is the only thing keeping him alive, after failed attempts of going to the police for help.
How did Juan get involved with the criminals?
It happens very quickly, with his dodgy-dealing cousin introducing him to a bunch of criminals who are interested in the fact he’s moving to Barcelona. They shoot someone to show they’re not messing around, and threaten to kill his girlfriend if he doesn’t do as they say.
How does Juan die?
Towards the end of the film, Vale finds the video Juan’s cousin sent him and begins to question him on what is going on. Vale’s life is now at risk and Juan is desperate to protect her. He goes to the lawyer asking for a deal and tells him the gang plans on forcing him out. In this suspenseful moment, the lawyer’s right-hand man comes and shoots Juan, killing him.
It’s a shocking twist as I was expecting a happier ending, with him and Vale escaping or one final shootout, where Juan kills some gang members.
What happens to Valentina and the little girl?
Vale opens his laptop and begins to read his novel, editing sections protecting him. Vale goes to an officer and begs her to help her find Juan. When the officer reads the novel and believes her, she calls for Valentina. As Valentina turns around, a lorry drives past and she disappears with the little girl she was babysitting.
It is implied that Valentina and the little girl are killed — the two girls are missing at least. This is done in a very arty way, implying they were taken/are missing, and could potentially be alive somewhere.
How does I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me end?
The next scene is of a press conference of missing persons. Juan’s mother is on a mission to find her son, and in this process, a friend of Vale’s gives her the book. His mother will not read it, so the girl tosses it into the trash.
Here we come full circle as this is where the vagrant man from the start finds the script. It’s full-circle but it’s not a complete or fulfilling end. It feels as if they hadn’t got a proper ending and simply killed everyone off, but not in a fun-brass Tarantino way.
The ending is not open-ended or a cliffhanger to suggest the possibility of hope or even a sequel. So we can all safely assume they’re all dead and this gang got away with their evil plans.
Juan is the damaged writer, who literally suffered for his art, but all was in vain as the people he cared about still died.
What did you think of the ending of I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me? Comment below.
