The killer in The Pledge is revealed to be a character named Oliver, depicted as a tall man who goes by the nickname “The Giant” or “The Wizard” in Ginny Larsen’s drawings, and Jerry Black’s investigation ultimately identifies Oliver as the killer.
Details to consider
- Plot context: Jerry Black, a retiring Reno detective, pledges to find the killer of an eight-year-old girl. Initial suspicions fall on Toby Jay Wadenah, whose death after a confession seems to close the case, but Jerry’s persistence leads him to uncover deeper clues about a larger pattern and a suspect who matches Ginny’s drawings and the victims’ profiles.
- Clues and misdirections: The investigation hinges on connecting Ginny’s drawing of a “Giant” or “Wizard” to a real suspect and a particular vehicle and modus operandi. This culminates in Jerry realizing the killer’s identity, despite official closure of the case.
- Reception and interpretation: The film is often discussed as a character-driven thriller about obsession and moral ambiguity, with Nicholson’s performance driving the tension as Jerry becomes consumed by the quest for justice.
If you’d like, I can summarize the ending more precisely or discuss how the film adapts Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s themes and how the twist is conveyed through visuals and dialogue.
