Chyler Leigh Loses It Watching This 'NeverEnding Story' Scene | Sorry Not Sorry
There are plenty of heartbreaking movie scenes. However, very few have the reputation of one particular moment in The NeverEnding Story. More than 40 years later, you don't have to explain the scene because most people already know exactly which one you're talking about. That's exactly what happened when Chyler Leigh was asked to name a movie that always makes her emotional.
"The NeverEnding Story," Leigh told JustWatch while promoting the fourth season of the 2023 drama series The Way Home. "Artax every single time. Every single time. Kills me. Kills me. If I need a good cry… that scene alone… done." If you've seen director Wolfgang Petersen's 1984 fantasy classic, it's easy to see why the actress picked that scene.
The NeverEnding Story follows lonely schoolboy Bastian Bux (Barret Oliver), who discovers a book that tells the story of Fantasia, a magical world that's being consumed by a force known as The Nothing. Inside the book, young warrior Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) is sent on a dangerous quest to save the Childlike Empress (Tami Stronach) and stop Fantasia from disappearing forever.
The death of Artax (Atreyu's loyal horse) happens while traveling through the Swamp of Sadness. As Atreyu tries to cross the deadly marsh, Artax becomes overwhelmed by despair and slowly sinks beneath the water despite his owner's desperate attempts to save him. It's one of the most emotionally devastating moments ever put into a family film.
The Swamp Of Sadness Is Actually A Metaphor
While there's nothing worse than seeing a pet die on screen, Artax's death is particularly devastating because of the meaning behind the Swamp of Sadness. It's not just another obstacle standing between Atreyu and his quest. Fantasy stories are full of dangerous forests, cursed mountains, and haunted castles. The difference is that the swamp doesn't defeat people through monsters or traps.
It defeats them by making them give up. The movie explains that anyone who lets the sadness take hold will sink beneath the surface, which turns the swamp into a sort of metaphor for mental health. Just like anxiety or depression, the real danger comes from one's own despair. That's a surprisingly mature idea for a film aimed at younger audiences.
Rather than presenting Atreyu with an obstacle to fight with a sword, The NeverEnding Story's biggest threat in that scene is an emotion that can overwhelm the strongest characters. Artax dies because he loses hope and not because he isn't brave enough. What makes it a real tear-jerker is that viewers experience the loss through Atreyu's complete helplessness.
But Atreyu never gives up on him. He pleads with Artax to keep fighting, throws himself into the swamp, and desperately tries to pull his friend back onto solid ground. Fortunately, the movie does eventually give us a happy ending for Atreyu and all of Fantasia. (So if you've never seen it before, don't let my description of this scene taint it for you.)
Why To Watch 'The NeverEnding Story' (And What To Watch After)
Based on Michael Ende's 1979 novel of the same name, The NeverEnding Story is an emotionally honest film about loneliness, courage, imagination, and growing up. Bastian's journey is just as important as Atreyu's, with the story gradually revealing that the boy reading the book has a much bigger role to play in Fantasia's future than he ever expected.
If you want something with a similar vibe, the obvious next step is The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter (1990). The sequel follows Bastian (Jonathan Brandis) as he returns to help save Fantasia from a new threat. It's not as popular as the original, but for anyone who grew up loving the first film, it's still worth checking out.
