This post is my entry to the @cinetv Contest
This film isn't scary in the traditional jump scare or monster in the closet kind of scary. However, to me, this film resembles the evolution of horror movies. It goes beyond horror because while it does contain a chunk of horror in it, it focuses on a much bigger feeling: Dread.
If you have certain posts of mine here, you'd know that Charlie Kaufman is my favorite screenwriter of all time. This film is among a selected few films that I have given 10/10, along with three other Kaufman films (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Anomalisa, and Synecdoche, New York) The latter of the three is my favorite film of all time. So, without further delay, I present to you.
Film Synopsis
A young woman filled with doubts goes on a trip with her boyfriend to his parent's house as strange things happen throughout their trip. At the same time, we follow a workday of a school janitor. We slowly see the two stories collide.
What's Special About The Movie?
Much like Synecdoche, New York, this film is a journey through the dreadful existential journey that is essentially about life itself. It's a tale of missed potential and facing reality after it is too late.
And much like Synecdoche, New York as well it spoke to me on such a fundamental level. If there's ever a film that is a wake-up call about everything terrifying about the world for someone with my characteristics, it would be this one. This is a film that terrifies me to the core.
Another similarity to Synecdoche, New York, this film will require several rewatches before fully capturing its essence. The good thing about that is the movie is worth rewatching. I don't enjoy rewatching movies to understand them, I only rewatch movies when they're that good.
The Surrealism
You wouldn't be talking about a Kaufman work without a trip through the surreal in order to find the truth. In this film you will find leaps through time and age between the characters involved, giving you snippets of life that will tell all you need to know about life.
The Tone
The tone is slow, but that's a good thing as it builds up dread. The film's horror doesn't lie within what is there rather than what is not. To me, this film, much like Jordan Peele's Get Out, is the natural evolution of horror as it is the magnification of actual fear of death painted in a surreal way to show the collection of why we fear death.
The Production
The cinematography is intentionally eerie and dreadful, the acting is magnificent, and the makeup department was done right. You can tell that this film was made frame by frame rather than scene by scene. Every shot is purposeful, every angle is meaningful. The ending scene is brilliant.
The Philosophy
This film is conversation-driven, it's essentially the inner monologue of one character as they come to terms with the end. Relationships, life, kinship, bullying, insecurities, and all the things you see when you think about your life before you sleep at night.
The quotes in this film are beautiful in a haunting way. They're specifically tailored for the general mood of the movie and its characters.
It's not bad, once you stop feeling sorry for yourself because you're just a pig, or, even worse, a pig infested with maggots. Someone has to be a pig infested with maggots, right? It might as well be you. It's the luck of the draw. You play the hand you're dealt. You make lemonade. You... you move on. You don't worry about a thing.
The dialogue/monologue of the film hits you to the core. It's not just words to hold your hands to walk you through the film.
Simply put: This is a film where everything is purposeful.
In Conclusion
I will be revisiting both this film and Synecdoche, New York in later posts that will be longer where I dive deep into the details. But, that would require spoiling the films, which is something I hate doing while reviewing films, especially ones I love. But, there will come a time when that has to happen.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things is a 10/10 film down to its every detail. It will require more than a watch, but I guarantee that it will be a time well spent watching it again and again.