Netflix’s Outlaw ending explained: Did Rebeca want to kill godfather Amoroso?

Netflix’s Outlaw ending explained (Image via Netflix)

Netflix's Outlaw is a Brazilian crime action thriller that was released on September 11, 2024. It takes the audience through the world of betrayal, vengeance, and moral ambiguity. This film is directed by João Wainer and based on a book by author Raquel de Oliveira.

With a complex narrative revolving around personal vendettas and shifting alliances, Outlaw explores the boundaries of loyalty, justice, and retribution. The film centers on Rebeca, a young woman caught in the dangerous web of organized crime. She becomes entangled with godfather Amoroso, a powerful and manipulative figure who has both protected and tormented her.

As the story unfolds, Rebeca is forced to navigate a treacherous path between her desire for freedom and her obligations to Amoroso. The tension builds as she is pushed to the brink, leading to a climactic confrontation that determines her fate. In the final moments of Outlaw, the question of whether Rebeca wanted to kill Amoroso comes to a head.

While her actions suggest a deep-seated anger and desire for revenge, her motivations are revealed to be far more complex. Rather than simply seeking his death, Rebeca is torn between her fear of Amoroso and her need to break free from his control. In the end, though she planned to kill him, her lover Para killed Amoroso before she could.

Did Rebeca really want to kill godfather Amoroso in Outlaw?

Still from the movie (Image via Netflix)

Rebeca grew up in the rough Rocinha favela in Rio de Janeiro. Her life was tough from the start, with her mother away working and her grandmother, Weasel, treating her poorly. Weasel sold Rebeca to a local ganglord, Amoroso, to pay off her gambling debts.

Amoroso ran illegal businesses and had a lot of power. He was feared but also had weaknesses, including his desire for young girls. Rebeca escaped his clutches by seeking protection from a Yoruba woman, who claimed Rebeca was blessed by a deity and untouchable.

As Rebeca grew older, she became an essential part of Amoroso’s business. She learned quickly and helped him expand. Over time, Rebeca wanted to free herself from his control. Amoroso arranged a date for her with Feliciano, who tried to assault her. Rebeca killed Feliciano in self-defense. Then, she decided to kill Amoroso as well. However, her lover, Para, killed him before she could.

Why did Vulture betray the gang?

Vulture, a childhood friend of Rebeca and Para, had dreams of power in Outlaw. After Amoroso died, Del Rey, another gang leader, took control of Rocinha. When Del Rey was arrested, Gil took over, but his reign was short-lived due to Para accidentally killing him during a raid.

Vulture expected to take over after Gil’s death but was disappointed when Del Rey, from prison, chose Para instead. Para, however, wasn’t fit to lead, and Rebeca had to manage things behind the scenes.

Later, Para made a mistake by giving a magazine interview that upset the police. The police raided their hideout, and Vulture betrayed the gang to save himself. He joined Saurio’s gang, working with the police, but this made him a dangerous enemy in Rebeca’s eyes.

Why did the police attack Rebeca and her gang?

After Para’s death, Rebeca lost her drive in Outlaw. She became a drug addict and seemed to have no purpose. One day, she was given five kilos of cocaine and urged by Del Rey to rebuild her power and take revenge.

Rebeca formed a new gang and started selling cheaper and purer cocaine, undercutting her rivals. This angered Saurio and Vulture, who came to confront her. Rebeca's gang killed them in a fierce gunfight.

Though Rebeca won the battle, the police attacked soon after. They were angry about Saurio’s death, as he had worked with them. Rebeca was shot during the raid, and the film ends with the suggestion that she didn’t survive.

Outlaw is currently streaming on Netflix since September 11, 2024.

Edited by Gayatri Chivukula