The Snow Spider Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?
Complete breakdown of the climax, final twists, and spoilers for The Snow Spider.
The Snow Spider Ending Explained: On his ninth birthday, young Gwyn (Osian Roberts), who lives on a remote hill farm in Wales, receives five strange gifts from his grandmother (Siân Phillips): a piece of seaweed, a yellow scarf, a tin whistle, a metal brooch and a small broken horse. Directed by Pennant Roberts, this 1988 fantasy film stars Siân Phillips (Nain Griffiths), alongside Sharon Morgan as Gynis Griffiths, Robert Blythe as Ivor Griffiths, Osian Roberts as Gwyn Griffiths. With a 9.5/10 audience rating, the ending has been widely praised.
What Happens at the End of The Snow Spider?
On his ninth birthday, young Gwyn (Osian Roberts), who lives on a remote hill farm in Wales, receives five strange gifts from his grandmother (Siân Phillips): a piece of seaweed, a yellow scarf, a tin whistle, a metal brooch and a small broken horse. Gwyn offers the brooch to the wind and receives back a tiny silvery spider - Arianwen, the snow spider - confirming that, as his grandmother had already guessed, he has inherited magical powers from his Celtic ancestor Gwydyon, a powerful magician whose exploits are described in the fourth book ("Math Son of Mathonwy") of the Mabinogion. With the help of the snow spider, Gwyn embarks on adventures involving other worlds of snow and silver, as he attempts to solve the five-year-old mystery of his sister Beth's disappearance in a snow storm.
Pennant Roberts's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Siân Phillips (Nain Griffiths)'s journey. Gwyn offers the brooch to the wind and receives back a tiny silvery spider - Arianwen, the snow spider - confirming that, as his grandmother had already guessed, he has inherited magical powers from his Celtic ancestor Gwydyon, a powerful magician whose exploits are described in the fourth book ("Math Son of Mathonwy") of the Mabinogion.
How Does Siân Phillips (Nain Griffiths)'s Story End?
- Siân Phillips: Siân Phillips's arc reaches a definitive conclusion by the final act, with Pennant Roberts delivering a resolution that feels earned after the film's 1h 35m runtime.
- Sharon Morgan (Gynis Griffiths): Sharon Morgan's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
- Robert Blythe (Ivor Griffiths): Robert Blythe's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.
What Does the Ending of The Snow Spider Mean?
The Snow Spider concludes with Pennant Roberts reinforcing the fantasy themes established throughout the film. The final moments with Siân Phillips leave a lasting impression — the ending is both a resolution and a statement about the story's central questions.