Again, Campbell says it much better, but I'm at a loss for a good quote. And again, Ridley Scott depicts the mythological implications beautifully in Thelma and Louise.
Here in the final scenes of the movie, very close to the dramatic end, Thelma and Louise have narrowly escaped the cops. We think they're going to get away, but then a helicopter appears and we realize they haven't gotten away yet.
Not only is this a really cool shot and great composition, it has psychological meaning as well.
Not coincidentally their journey takes them to the Grand Canyon, a huge pit in the ground carved out by the forces of nature over a millennia. Second to the Pacific Ocean, I can't think of a better representation of the unconscious than that.
At one point they approach the edge, but are not quite ready to go over:
And precisely at this moment, the police helicopter appears, rising up from below the edge of the canyon. The helicopter is now an agent of their subconscious, pushing them towards their destiny. And of course the helicopter is painted matte black. I'm reminded of mythical images of a dragon rising it's head out of the abyss to surprise the questing hero.
We're close to the end of the movie and I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it, but it's fantastic. The entire movie has been about the transformation of these two characters and at this point there's really only one place for them to go. They've broken the law, lost all their worldly possessions and abandoned their former lives. All they need do now is make the final big leap into the unknown.