Marketing a movie on its plot twists is an inherently risky venture. Films with classic turns like Fight Club or The Sixth Sense have been so thoroughly spoiled that most young folks know their ending before they know their plot. Matthew Vaughn's Argylle built its pitch around the identity of its title character, but that reveal sits among a dozen other twists and turns. Though everyone on Twitter has likely learned the secret a day or two before release, spoilers lie ahead for this misleading spy adventure.
Spy movies follow established formulas in unique flavors. A Mission: Impossible sequel has little to do with a James Bond entry of the same era. They share elements, but their focus separates sharply. Matthew Vaughn riffed on Bond with Kingsman. Argylle borrows more from Jason Bourne, but its tone falls closer to a Marvel movie.
Is Argylle Based on a Book?
Matthew Vaughn’s latest spy action comedy film, Argylle, takes a step further by telling a story before it even hits the bookstores.
What is Argylle about?
Director | Matthew Vaughn |
|---|---|
Writer | Jason Fuchs |
Starring | Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill |
Release Date | February 2, 2024 |
Runtime | 139 Minutes |
Celebrated spy novel author Elly Conway is hard at work cracking the ending of the fifth entry in her Argylle series. She weaves the epic adventures of her characters, Argylle, Wyatt, and Keira. Fans are excited, but she's struggling to find the perfect conclusion. On a train trip, Aidan, a shaggy-haired admirer, sits across from her and explains a few things. He's a professional spy, her books contain information that accurately predicts real-world events and a shadowy organization called the Division is hunting her down. Aidan seeks to track down a missing hacker and gather an encrypted masterkey with a tranche of information to bring the Division down. He believes the key to his plan is buried in the final chapter of Elly's book. Elly and Aidan must survive waves of trained killers while Elly discovers the truth until a hidden bombshell reveal turns everything on its head. This is the final warning, spoilers ahead for Argylle.
How does Argylle end?
So, who is Agent Argylle? Elly Conway is the spy she believes she invented. More accurately, she inspired Argylle with her earlier life as a CIA and Division agent. Thanks to the former CIA director and her cat's namesake Alfie, Elly discovers her birth name is Rachel Kylle or Agent R. Kylle. She was a ludicrously effective spy for years before an attack claimed her memories. Spending months in a hospital, Division Director Ritter and their chief psy ops developer Ruth posed as Kylle's parents. They invented Elly Conway, pretended to be her parents, and encouraged her to write her previous stories as spy novels. Aidan reveals that he was previously in love with Kylle and that he wants her back, discovering firsthand that Conway still has Kylle's skills, though buried under brainwashing. Aidan inspired Wyatt, Argylle's partner, in Conway's books. Kylle and Aidan travel to the Middle East and collect the masterkey. Unfortunately, Ruth confronts and drugs them, taking them to the Division base.
Ritter sits Kylle down and explains that she used to be his best asset. In time, her Kylle persona seems to take over, and she's ready to comply. She offers to torture Aidan to find Alfie's hidden headquarters. After a few tense words, Kylle shoots Aidan in the chest. She locates Alfie with the Division's computers, eventually locating his domain. Aidan survives the gunshot, flawlessly placed in a small gap, allowing a non-lethal heart shot. Kylle sends the masterkey's contents to Alfie, learning that only Ritter's authorization can complete the delivery. She flees to a nearby armory, where she reconvenes with Aidan. They pick up weapons and fight their way through every Division soldier. Kylle ice skates through crude oil with knives mounted to her boots, killing dozens. They reach the server room, where Ritter holds them at gunpoint. Conway's cat, Alfie, attacks Ritter, allowing Kylle to kill him.
Kylle and Aidan race to find a satellite dish to override the Division's security and send the documents. Ruth returns, using a music box to reactivate Kylle's brainwashing. Aidan refuses to fight back, but Keira, their presumed-dead co-worker, attacks Ruth and saves Aidan. They send the documents to Alfie and destroy the Division HQ. Sometime later, Kylle returns to her life as Elly Conway, releasing the final Argylle book and continuing her relationship with Aidan. Finally, a real Aubrey Argylle stands up at one of Conway's press appearances, raising new questions. It suggests that while some of Kylle's books take from her life, Aubrey Argylle is an existing spy whose real life influenced the books. How he relates to Kylle's life is left uncertain.
Does Argylle have a post-credits scene?
Argylle has a mid-credits scene that starts shortly after the credits begin. It depicts a young Aubrey Argylle approaching a pub in England. He gives an elaborate secret code to the bartender, who gives him a handgun in an ornate box. Argylle connects with the Kingsman, the powerful espionage organization from Matthew Vaughn's other spy franchise. The scene ends with a teaser for Argylle: The First Book, which the film claims will hit cinemas soon.
Now that Argylle has let the cat out of the bag, its path is somewhat clear. Argylle is a Kingsman crossover that will spin off into a series of films adapting the life of Agent Aubrey Argylle. Argylle himself is both a fictional character in Conway's books and a spy in Conway's orbit. If Argylle performs well, fans will see a film franchise focusing on Henry Cavill's title character. As it stands, Argylle is a film about a spy-turned-novelist who overcomes her amnesia to defeat her former handlers.
Henry Cavill And All-Star Cast Join Matthew Vaughn's New Spy Thriller
Matthew Vaughn is returning to the spy genre with the thriller Argylle, which is set to star Henry Cavill, Samuel L. Jackson, and more.