Breaking Down the Dark Ending of American Sweatshop

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The film titled “American Sweatshop“, though not a horror movie per se, manages to leave a profound impact. Directed by Uta Briesewitz and written by Matthew Nemeth, the movie delves into the life of Daisy (played by Lili Reinhart), a resident of Tallahassee, who finds herself in one of the most challenging jobs imaginable. As a content moderator, she spends countless hours at her computer, sifting through videos from the most disturbing corners of the internet. Every day, Daisy is bombarded with graphic content – violence, sexuality, and other unsettling material that has been uploaded online. Her task is to decide whether to remove or allow these posts based on company guidelines.

When Daisy encounters a video that’s too unsettling to disregard, she embarks on a lengthy quest for justice in pursuit of addressing the disturbing aspects uncovered by the documentary titled “American Sweatshop.” This film delves into the darkest corners of the internet and examines the repercussions of consuming graphic content on our everyday experiences. Let’s discuss the movie’s surprising finale and Daisy’s ultimate outcome.

What happens in American Sweatshop? 

Each evening, Daisy makes a valiant effort to ward off disturbing memories and sounds associated with her work, yet one fateful day she encounters a video that so profoundly distresses her that it imperils her entire existence. The video is graphic in nature, depicting a woman being brutalized by being nailed through her body. No matter how much Daisy tries, she can’t banish the images and sounds from her mind. When she reports this video to the authorities, both the police and her superiors dismiss it as something they can’t help with, leaving Daisy with no recourse but to take action herself.

Despite Daisy deleting the video, it persists on multiple online platforms. Intrigued to identify the man in the video who constantly haunts her thoughts, she decides to upload it on a forum for help. A user provides an address in Ripley, Georgia, prompting Daisy to embark on a four-hour trip across borders. She surreptitiously waits at the man’s residence and follows him to a cinema. Upon confronting him, he appears shocked when she displays the video. Unfortunately, it turns out that she had been deceived by the user who orchestrated the situation as retribution for posting the video. In an unfortunate turn of events, Daisy finds that even outside work, she’s unable to evade the relentless cruelty of the internet.

In a moment during their work break, Daisy turns to her coworker Paul (Jeremy Ang Jones), seeking his assistance in locating someone. However, Paul hesitates, expressing concern that Daisy might be endangering herself by so passionately pursuing an unknown individual.

Later on, Daisy bravely chooses to contact Klipspringer Films, the video’s producer, expressing her desire to feature in their next production. Meanwhile, at the bar, she discusses her issues with the bartender. He suggests that porn can be beneficial as it provides an outlet for inappropriate urges without acting upon them. “What happens if you watch a video and the impulses persist?” she queries. As the conversation continues, they step outside and approach an intimate moment. However, her actions grow increasingly unpredictable; she lashes out at the bartender with his belt, leaving him in tears on the ground just outside the establishment.

As she babysat her neighbor’s child, Daisy received a message from Klipspringer – they were preparing to film their next project, and they required her presence that very night. Eager to confront those she believed had wronged her, Daisy chose to abandon the child and rush to the set. This behavior was a stark departure from the caring, compassionate woman we previously knew, as Daisy had transformed into someone edgy, negligent, and reckless in her pursuit of answers.

Upon arrival at the film set, Daisy felt apprehensive and ill-at-ease, but the man who greeted her was jovial and reassuring. Despite his attempts to persuade her to stay, he eventually gave in and wished her well. However, before she left, Daisy noticed the man’s shoes – the same pair from the video that had troubled her for weeks. In a fit of rage, she sprayed him with pepper spray and caused a ruckus on the set, smashing the camera before fleeing the scene.

How American Sweatshop ends

A few days after the event, Daisy appears to be improving. She’s been preparing for her nursing exams with the assistance of a new companion, with aspirations to move past content moderation and pursue her dream of becoming a nurse once more. However, during intimate moments, a disturbing noise from her neighbor sets her on edge, reminding her of the hammering sound in the video that still haunts her mind. She pounds on the wall and shouts angrily at her neighbor, causing him to become alarmed. After the outburst, she desires to continue their intimate relationship, but he is no longer interested, thereby ending their romance. Despite her efforts, Daisy finds it difficult to suppress the turmoil within her.

Paul encounters a distressing work incident where he watches a video of an animal being mistreated, causing him to leave immediately and seek comfort in his dog’s embrace at home. He provides Daisy with the name of the person she’s been searching for, although he feels uneasy about doing so. However, it seems that peace isn’t what Daisy is ultimately seeking: Back at her place, she discovers online that human flesh resembles beef and decides to practice by driving nails through a thick steak.

Subsequently, Daisy finds herself in a spotlight she never wanted. Bob (Joel Fry), a coworker, presents her with a video he found during his moderating duties – it depicts Daisy attacking a bartender. Shocked to discover that her own violent acts are being glorified like the traumatic video titled “girlboss,” she decides to make amends. Following an ineffective counseling session at work, she gives her two-week notice and spends all her spare time studying for nursing exams. She’s also offering her services at a soup kitchen, and even when working, she’s mentally preparing for nursing. Two weeks later, she signs off from work for the last time and departs the office without a word. Ultimately, she gains freedom.

In the closing sequence, the camera gradually narrows its focus on Daisy, whose eyebrows are knit tightly with a fierce stare, softening into a smile upon being addressed by a man for an interview. The man queries Daisy while the camera revolves around her, maintaining Daisy in sight while concealing the interlocutor’s features. Something she mentions leaves him perplexed-she informs the interviewer that she prefers to worsen the world than to remain idle. This statement might seem out of place for an aspiring nurse, but Daisy is resolute in expressing her genuine emotions. The dialogue that ensues is as follows:

Daisy: “Troubles can occur regardless of circumstances, and there are times when the only solution for preventing a problem seems to be causing another one.

Interviewer: “I’m not sure I agree with you there.”

Daisy: “Well, I thought you might.”

As Daisy sits for an interview, a chilling sensation takes over as the person questioning her is none other than the man from the video who had haunted her thoughts. The revelation is overwhelming: Daisy didn’t endure all the hardships to become a nurse; she studied and passed the exams specifically to confront this man face-to-face. In the film’s closing shot, Daisy turns away from the man and gazes straight into the camera, offering a subtle smile, indicating the conclusion of their encounter. Earlier, Daisy expressed her desire to look him in the eyes to find solace. Now that she has, it’s challenging not to suspect that there’s something more ominous lurking in her intentions.

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2025-08-29 16:17