Night of the Reaper Ending Explained: Who is the Videotape Killer?

Set in the 1980s, Shudder’s ‘Night of the Reaper’ delves into a series of violent killings that terrorize Reedy Creek, an American town that exists away from the hustle and bustle of urban spaces. Sheriff Arnold, a man dealing with tragedy, receives mysterious packages with VHS tapes that contain horrifying incidents of murder and mayhem. A girl named Deena returns to Reedy Creek to her family and finds herself in a dangerous situation, which pushes her beyond her physical and mental capabilities.

What starts for her as a night of babysitting Max, the sheriff’s son, soon becomes a dangerous situation that hides terrifying and consequential secrets. The narrative deals with the ideas of trauma, secrets, familial bonds, and morality poignantly. As the mystery of the killer’s identity deepens, the main characters find themselves facing situations that require them to make tough decisions that could be the difference between life and death. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Night of the Reaper Plot Synopsis

A babysitter named Emily Goulding takes care of a kid named Mark and his sister Marina. At the residence of the kids, she realizes that someone is stalking her, following which she is brutally killed by a masked individual who videotapes her during the act. Months later, a girl called Deena, the protagonist, returns home to Reedy Creek, an idyllic town getting ready for Halloween. She is met by two rowdy boys named Chad and Willis, who welcome her back. She later picks up medications for her father. Meanwhile, Arnold, the sheriff, sees a mysterious package left at his doorstep. He finds a remote control for a garage door in it, and starts worrying. Deena goes to meet her friend Haddie, who talks to her about college.

The main character goes home and greets her parents, who both seem to be sad for unknown reasons. The sheriff investigates the garage remote control and links it to the murder of Emily. It is revealed that the owner of the house has reported it missing after the murder of his kids’ babysitter, Emily. At the station, the sheriff receives another package that contains a VHS tape that says “Night of the Reaper – The Camper.” The tape shows Connor Davis, a camper in the woods, being murdered by a masked individual, similar to the way Emily was murdered. Arnold recollects that his death was falsely reported as an accident. Deena gets a call from Haddie, who, due to a case of a stomach bug, asks her to cover for her babysitting duties at the sheriff’s residence to take care of his son.

Deena agrees to be the babysitter for the night and tells her friend to take care. Arnold and his deputy Butch Cassidy meet a forest services officer named Elizabeth Talbot on the highway, who handles the body of a dead dog killed in an accident. Later, they find another box of VHS tapes at the site where Connor Davis was murdered. At the station, they play the new tape, which says “Night of the Reaper – The Babysitter.” It reveals how Emily was brutally murdered by the masked killer and how the garage remote was instrumental in the same. This similarity in the patterns of the killing indicates that there could be a serial killer lurking around. Based on clues, the sheriff and his deputy interrogate Chad, whose car is seen in the video.

At Arnold’s residence, Deena befriends Max, the sheriff’s kid. Chad denies being involved in Emily’s murder. Meanwhile, Deena asks Max to give her a tour of the house, and promises to give him sweets if he does so. In the basement, she sees Max’s dead mother’s wedding dress, who was killed in a car crash, as revealed by the kid. Max shows her his collection of walkie-talkies, and Deena gets a call from Arnold, who checks if his son is safe. Max and Deena enjoy eating popcorn and watching a movie, after which the boy goes to sleep. Deena sees a dead dog in the backyard and starts sensing that something is going on.

Arnold investigates further and goes to Willis’ house, who was seen in a random video on Chad’s video camera. He spots another VHS tape package there and proceeds to arrest Willis. The tape reveals that Abigail, the sheriff’s wife, was also killed by the masked killer. He angrily concludes that Willis is the videotape killer and attacks him. Deena begins to realize that someone is stalking her and starts to feel helpless. She then spots that someone has broken into the house by breaking a window. She also sees a crime board which contains Emily’s photos. At this point, she rushes to the phone to call for help.

Night of the Reaper Ending: Who is the Videotape Killer? Who is Their Accomplice?

After Deena seemingly calls the cops, she attacks an unknown individual in a shocking twist by luring them using a fake voice recording where she pretends to call the police. Despite being stalked, she manages to get the upper hand and attacks first. The narrative shifts to reveal a captive watching a videotape. However, the captive is not Deena. Instead, the protagonist appears on the video and addresses the real videotape killer who is watching the tape. When the masked captive removes the mask, it is revealed that the forest services officer Elizabeth is the real videotape killer who killed Emily, Connor, and Abigail. Deena surprises the killer, who expects Haddie to be the babysitter on the night.

The protagonist reveals that she distracted the cops by placing a fake bomb threat by calling them earlier. Shocked by how Deena figured out her secret, Elizabeth frees herself from the chair she is tied to and looks for the protagonist. She then sees a series of directions on paper which lead her towards a walkie-talkie, using which Deena taunts her. The killer desperately communicates with Deena, hoping to find and kill her. However, she sees the main character outside the house wearing scary makeup to play a game. She follows the protagonist, who lures her into a demonic setting full of Halloween ghostly figures.

Deena sneaks up on Elizabeth and shoots her in the leg. She reveals that Emily Golding was her sister, and this is the time to avenge her death. However, just before Deena is about to shoot, she is struck from behind by Chad, who is revealed to be Elizabeth’s accomplice. He is the one who recorded all the VHS tapes of the murders as Elizabeth brutally killed the victims of the past. Chad and Elizabeth drag an unconscious Deena back to the house, where the man treats Elizabeth’s gunshot wound on the leg. Deena reveals that she figured out Elizabeth’s identity due to the fact that she visited Emily’s funeral, following which the protagonist followed her. Chad believes that Elizabeth is an artist who deals in blood, which indicates how deranged he is.

Who Sent the Tapes to Sheriff Arnold? Why?

Throughout the narrative, the sheriff Arnold keeps receiving mysterious packages with VHS tapes depicting murders. At first, he receives the garage remote, then watches the Connor Davis video, after which he also finds the tapes of Emily Golding and finally his wife, Abigail, who was killed after a car crash. The identity of the sender remains a mystery for the majority of the narrative. It is eventually revealed that Deena was the one who sent the tapes to the police officer in order to inform him about the gravity of the crimes. Since Deena intended to kill Elizabeth and take revenge, she wanted Arnold to know the reasons behind it. For a long time, the sheriff kept believing that his wife died due to a car crash, but the truth turns out to be different.

Deena wanted both herself and Arnold to get justice for the murders of their family members, along with Connor Davis. Deena finds the tapes as a result of following Elizabeth after Emily’s funeral. She is able to track the videotape killer’s movements and is also able to break into her house, where she finds all the tapes of the horrifying murders. She steals the tapes and uses them one by one to plan her own saga of revenge. She lures the cops in with the recordings, while also proving that Elizabeth is the one responsible. Not only are the tapes evidence, they are also an instrument of justice in Deena’s hands.

Who Killed Elizabeth Talbot? Why?

Elizabeth and Chad tie up Deena after the accomplice strikes her on the head. In the sheriff’s house, Elizabeth asks Chad to clean her gunshot wounds and then goes on to humiliate Deena. When Willis’ involvement in Deena’s plan is made clear, Chad picks up the talkie-talkie to communicate with Willis. However, the talkie explodes in a shocking moment, which blasts Chad’s head and leaves Elizabeth with no one to defend her. She is able to walk again and ties Deena up to a chair and makes her watch the final moments of her sister Emily. This makes the protagonist emotional, and she wonders if this is the end for her. The videotape killer proceeds to mentally torture Deena and then pulls up a knife. She caresses the protagonist with the knife and finally raises it to slash her throat. However, just before she can do the deed, she is shot by Arnold, who appears just when Deena needs him the most.

Elizabeth tries to act as if she were the victim and tries to blame the killings on Deena. When she discreetly takes the knife to attack Arnold, he shoots her point-blank, killing her instantly. Arnold then frees the protagonist, who requests that he not report her death as she doesn’t deserve any respect. He realizes that she was the one who sent him the tapes. In order to serve the memories of both Abigail and Emily, the videotape killer is falsely reported missing by the sheriff. He and Deena hold this secret forever, which will be their way to remember their loved ones. The police investigate the vanishing of Elizabeth Talbot, but are led to the severed body of Chad, which is planted at Elizabeth’s home by the sheriff. Thus, the videotape killer meets an end fitting of her brutality.

Is Max Dead or Alive?

Amidst all the chaos, the fate of Max also becomes an important part of the narrative. Despite the viewers being made to believe that Max is trapped inside the house, it is revealed by Deena that Max’s safety was already arranged by her. When Max demands sweets from her, giving her a tour of his room, he is given candies by Deena, who later watches a movie with him. Max goes to bed after this. It can be presumed that Max’s sweets were slightly interfered with by Deena, who probably mixed a sedative in them. When the boy is fast asleep, he is transported to Haddie’s house by Willis, on the orders of Deena.

Since Haddie is Max’s babysitter, she will presumably take care of him until the situation is safe for him again. Sheriff Arnold is also assured by Deena that her son is safe with Haddie and that he is completely safe. Despite her motivations of revenge against the videotape killer, Deena ensures that an innocent kid’s life is not threatened during the process. Max will presumably return safely to his dad, who will forever be thankful to the protagonist for helping him get over Abigail’s end. Deena is able to achieve peace in her own way.