Warning: This post contains SPOILERS for The Harder They Fall.

Netflix's western The Harder They Fall has an action-packed ending that includes a big twist and set up for a sequel. Directed by Jeymes Samuel, the Netflix movie is one of the rare instances in film history to be a western that stars a mostly Black ensemble. This helped The Harder They Fall assemble an incredible cast led by Jonathan Majors as Nat Love, Idris Elba as Rufus Buck, Regina Hall as Treacherous Trudy Smith, Zazie Beetz as Stagecoach Mary Fields, Lakeith Stanfield as Cherokee Bill, Delroy Lindo as Bass Reeves, RJ Cyler as Jim Beckworth, and more.

The Harder They Fall focuses on two different outlaws: Nat Love and Rufus Buck. The story begins with Rufus Buck killing Nat Love's parents and carving a cross into Nat's forehead before the movie jumps forward to show Nat as a grown-up killing one of the members of Rufus' gang. While this happens, Nat Love's gang pulls off a robbery against other outlaws they believed robbed a bank, but this was actually money that belonged to Rufus. Once Rufus' gang frees him from captivity, The Harder They Fall sets events in motion for Nat Love and Rufus Buck's reunion. This only comes after Rufus' gang came to apprehend Nat's lover Mary Fields, and used her as leverage to force Nat's gang to rob a bank and return all the money they stole from Rufus. It all builds towards an explosive shootout in the streets of Redwood, the town Rufus wants to keep control of to stop rich white folks from buying the land.

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It's only during The Harder They Fall's ending that the full ensemble comes together, and the action-packed fictionalized story reaches its conclusion. This includes many of the different characters engaging in smaller fights set within the Redwood shootout. Unsurprisingly, there is a high death rate in The Harder They Fall's ending. Rufus Buck, Cherokee Bill, Jim Beckworth, and Edi Gathegi's Bill Pickett all bite the dust before the film concludes. But, there is much more to The Harder They Fall's ending than its multiple deaths, as a major twist and last-second sequel tease give viewers plenty to digest.

Nat Love's Real Identity Twist Explained

Jonathan Majors in The Harder They Fall

The big twist from The Harder They Fall's ending comes when Nat Love and Rufus Buck finally reunite after many years. Nat Love has been waiting most of his life to be in a position where he could kill the man who killed his parents, but Rufus adds a surprising twist to Nat's desire. During the movie's beginning, Nat's father repeatedly says that Rufus' problem is with him and not his wife or Nat. It isn't made clear what Nat's father did to make Rufus upset several years ago, but that's where Rufus is happy to clear the air and reveal the shocking truth that Rufus and Nat are brothers.

According to the story told by Rufus, their father was originally an outlaw who raised Rufus in an abusive fashion. This included beating Rufus and his mother before the father left them behind. Rufus then became determined to find his father and get revenge and finally found him many years later. Much to Rufus' surprise, his father now had a new family and outlook on life. His dad left the outlaw life behind, found God, married a new girl, and helped raise another son, which was Nat. Most importantly, he changed his last name from Buck to Love. The Harder They Fall's ending explains that Rufus decided to leave Nat alive as a way to turn him into the type of man their father desperately tried to stop being. Nat ultimately does exactly what Rufus wants and kills his own brother, something Rufus admits even he would never do.

Why Nat Love Fakes His Death - Is He Bad Now?

Nat Love hands over Cortez's body in The Harder They Fall

After killing Rufus, Nat Love makes another surprising decision during The Harder They Fall's ending and fakes his own death. He sets up a tombstone for himself alongside Jim Beckworth and Bill Pickett following the events at Redwood. Bass Reeves and Cuffee (Danielle Deadwyler), who is now joining the law enforcement lifestyle, agree to tell people that Nat Love died during the shootout alongside other members of his gang. This allows Nat to ride off into the sunset with Mary Fields, but why did he make a grave for himself to fake his own death?

Related: Is The Harder They Fall Based On A True Story? History Explained

There are a few possible explanations that are likely tied together. On the one hand, Redwood is where Nat Love died because he learned that this isn't his real name. Similarly, he took a darker turn by killing Rufus Buck, so he might believe that the man who had the morals of Nat Love died on that day. These two elements could be tied to Nat's decision to fake his death and possibly start life fresh with a new name, just like his father did.

The Harder They Fall's Ending Teases Trudy Survived

Trudy Smith in a black outfit in The Harder They Fall

One more surprise that The Harder They Fall's ending includes pertains to the fate of Trudy. Regina King's character seemingly died during the third act as she battled Mary Fields in hand-to-hand combat. Fields delivered a massive blow to Trudy's head at the end of their fight, and the movie implied that she died as a result. However, the very last shot in The Harder They Fall teases that Trudy is alive after all. As the camera pulls back on the western plains, a figure dressed in black holding Trudy's signature bowler hat comes into the frame. Although it is possible that someone else involved with the battle of Redwood could've picked up Trudy's hat, it certainly feels like director Jeymes Samuel wants viewers to leave the movie with the expectation that Watchmen's Night Sister actress will be back to continue Trudy's story if a sequel happens.

How The Harder They Fall's Ending Sets Up A Sequel

Zazie Beetz and Jonathan Majors in The Harder They Fall

Thanks to the many twists and turns that The Harder They Fall's ending includes, it plants a few seeds for a potential sequel. As Nat Love and Mary Fields ride off on horseback together, Fields says that they have more work to do. This can tease another adventure in The Harder They Fall 2 that Nat and Mary are involved in. This movie could explore how Nat is changed by the revelation about his family and what he did at Redwood. Since Bass Reeves and Cuffee make it out alive, it is also possible that either of them will play a role in the next western story. Of course, Netflix's sequel teasing final shot of Trudy being alive is also a strong sign that she'd be involved in a potential sequel. Trudy watches Nat and Mary ride away, so the sequel can show her pursuit of them, what happens when their paths cross again, and if Trudy gains more power in the wild wild west due to Rufus Buck's death.

What Happens To Redwood Now?

The Harder They Fall movie

One question that The Harder They Fall's ending doesn't answer is what happens to Redwood next. Rufus Buck's former associate Wiley Esco decided to put the town up for sale during Rufus' absence as a chance to get rich quickly. The gang run by The Suicide Squad's Bloodsport actor originally wants to get enough money to stop the sale from happening. Still, they ultimately don't accumulate the necessary funds, and most of them die. This leaves Redwood's future very much up in the air. It stands to reason that Redwood's sale will move forward unless whoever becomes the town's mayor opts out of that deal. Since The Harder They Fall doesn't answer what lies ahead for Redwood, this could also be a plot point for a sequel to tie up.

Related: The Harder They Fall Review: Netflix’s Western Knows How To Have A Good Time

Harder They Fall's Biggest True Story Changes

the harder they fall true story

As The Harder They Fall tells its own story loosely based on real-world Black cowboys, the movie also significantly changes many elements of its main characters and their real lives. Some of The Harder They Fall's biggest true story changes include the relationship between Nat and Rufus. The movie also changed Nat's life to make him an outlaw, which he never was in real life, and altered Rufus' motivations for his crimes, which were tied to eliminating white supremacy in the true story. The Harder They Fall made other changes include removing Trudy's pickpocket career, changing Mary Fields' profession from a mail carrier to an outlaw, adding Cherokee Bill to Rufus' gang, and Cuffee disguising herself as a man to fight in wars.

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