SPOILER ALERT: Ten Mysteries in Looper Explained By Director Rian Johnson

MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT: Rian Johnson has some explaining to do.  There are some “mysteries” of his new film “Looper” that he wanted to clear up with  Germain Lussier of slashfilm.com.

•  The first time Old Joe pops back to the present, he escapes. Later we see him die in the same place. Which happens first and why the deception?
• The film surmises Old Joe killing Sarah eventually made Cid become the Rainmaker. But Old Joe can’t become Old Joe without first being killed and letting Young Joe grow up to meet his wife. In that timeline though, Cid would grow up normal because Sarah wasn’t killed by Joe. How does that all work? How does the Rainmaker exist in a timeline where Old Joe didn’t kill his mom?
• Both times Old Joe comes back to the present, he’s running late on Young Joe’s watch. The time he escapes, it makes sense because of the fight. Why would he be late the time he dies too?
• How does murder work in the future? Why can’t the mobsters kill there and what happens when Joe’s wife is killed?
•  Knowing a looper killed his mother, is the Rainmaker closing all these loops for revenge?
• Why is it essential for a looper to close his own loop? 
• Was Joe in love with Sarah and was this something explored more in different versions of the script?
• Does Joe’s suicide at the end work? Does it end the circle of violence?
• Old Joe lectures Young Joe for his selfish ways, but isn’t Old Joe equally as selfish in his actions?
• Was it Johnson’s decision to sell the movie as an action movie and totally remove Cid and the family angle from the marketing? 

Read the Answers on slashfilm.com and watch the full interview with Germain Lussier and Rian Johnson below or at slashfilm.com.