There Will Be Blood | 2007

Main Plot

Set in the early 20th century, There Will Be Blood follows the ruthless rise of Daniel Plainview, a silver miner turned ambitious oil prospector. Driven by an insatiable hunger for wealth and power, Plainview establishes himself in California after discovering oil-rich land. As he builds his empire, he manipulates and deceives those around him, including local landowners and his adopted son. The film delves into his intense rivalry with Eli Sunday, a charismatic preacher whose religious fervor clashes with Plainview’s greed. Their escalating conflict exposes the darker sides of ambition, faith, and family, leading to betrayal and violence. Through Plainview’s journey, the story explores the destructive nature of obsession and the moral costs of success, painting a stark portrait of the American dream corrupted by avarice and madness.

Characters

• Daniel Day-Lewis plays Daniel Plainview, a ruthless oil prospector driven by ambition. His relentless pursuit of wealth leads to profound isolation and moral decay.
• Paul Dano portrays Eli Sunday, a charismatic young preacher who clashes with Plainview. His struggle for influence and spiritual authority becomes a dangerous power game.
• Ciarán Hinds appears as Fletcher Hamilton, Plainview’s loyal associate. His steady presence contrasts with the escalating tensions, revealing the costs of loyalty amid greed.

Ending Explained

The ending of There Will Be Blood brings the story’s themes of ambition, isolation, and moral decay to a powerful close. Daniel Plainview, having achieved immense wealth and dominance in the oil industry, is now a broken and embittered man, living alone in his grand but empty mansion. The final confrontation occurs when Eli Sunday, the preacher who has long been Daniel’s rival, comes to him seeking help. In a brutal reversal of their earlier power dynamic, Daniel humiliates Eli and forces him to renounce his faith before ultimately killing him in a fit of rage. This violent act is the culmination of Daniel’s descent into madness and the severing of any remaining human connection. The film closes with Daniel declaring, “I’m finished,” signifying both the completion of his journey and the emptiness of his triumph. The resolution underscores how Daniel’s relentless pursuit of oil and power has left him spiritually bankrupt, alone, and consumed by hatred, tying together the film’s exploration of family, religion, and the corrupting influence of greed.