Heartland ending explained: What happens to Misty and Charlie? Decoding Jessica Chastain film's final twist

Heartland,starring Jessica Chastain released on Netflix on November 13. She plays the role of a former country music star and takes viewers into a dark mystery involving a missing singer. Directed by Shana Feste, the thriller follows Misty Jones as she returns to Nashville after years of staying away from the spotlight to find her missing niece, Charlie Heart (Carter Faith).

It begins as a missing person’s case but quickly turns into a murder investigation. But as Misty follows the clues, she finds that a number of people around Charlie have secrets to keep. In the movie’s final act, a shocking truth is revealed about Charlie’s disappearance and the man who has been controlling her life.

Why did Charlie disappear? (Spoilers ahead)

Misty returns to Nashville at the request of her brother Donny to find his daughter Charlie, who has stopped answering his calls. During the investigation Misty reveals a family secret on a television show: Charlie is actually her own daughter. Misty had walked out on her years ago and left Donny to raise her.


Then the investigation takes a darker turn when police find bloodstains in Charlie's bedroom, a mysterious note and an unfinished song. The prime suspect is quickly identified as Charlie's longtime stalker, Jared Granger. He had been harassing the singer for years, even sending her a pig's heart.



Misty, however, is not convinced that Jared is responsible. She later finds Charlie's bloody sweatshirt in his shed, but before she can question him further, record executive Roy Combs arrives and shoots him.

The real breakthrough comes when Misty notices that the numbers on the note resemble betting odds. Remembering Roy's gambling addiction, she begins to suspect that he is connected to Charlie's disappearance.

What is the big twist involving Roy?

Misty eventually learns that Charlie is alive and has staged her own murder. She had set Jared up to get away from Roy, who'd groomed her and played her since she was a kid.

Charlie reveals that Roy had kept compromising photographs of her on his laptop, using them as blackmail material to maintain control over her. She had even approached the police for a restraining order, but Detective White refused to help because of his own connections with Roy.

Misty decides to protect Charlie and expose Roy. She takes her daughter to her old friend and former rival Winnie Jo Lean (Jennifer Nettles). There, another long-held secret comes to light. Misty had never punched Winnie years ago. She had taken the blame to protect her friend from the scandal involving her abusive husband.

Meanwhile, Misty and Winnie work together to distract Roy. Misty breaks into his office and retrieves the laptop containing the compromising photographs. When Roy follows her in his truck, she shoots out a tyre, causing the vehicle to crash. She leaves him to be arrested but cuts off one of his fingers to unlock the laptop and secure the evidence.

What happens to Misty and Charlie at the end?

After exposing Roy, Misty visits her former husband, Clark, before turning herself in to the police. She is eventually sentenced to prison for taking the law into her own hands.

During a prison visit, Charlie asks her mother to attend a performance of her new album. Misty refuses, telling her that it is time for people to hear Charlie's voice instead.

After her release, Misty finally attends Charlie's performance at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe. Charlie sings her original song, 'Still the Sparrow Sings', marking a new beginning for the singer.

The film ends on a hopeful note.