It Ends — Review
I know the Sisyphean metaphor at the heart of It Ends is an obvious one that will resonate with the vast majority of people, but this movie hit especially hard for me at this juncture. Lately, I’ve been incessantly thinking to myself, “What’s the point?” and fantasizing about just disappearing into the middle of nowhere and screaming as loud as humanly possible. It feels like I’m trapped on a carousel, going around in circles over and over again, and I just desperately want to get off the ride.
In Alexander Ullom’s film, a group of recent grads find themselves trapped on a never-ending stretch of road where the only option is to keep driving. Gradually, they discover that they can take brief breaks at regular intervals before they need to resume driving. Naturally, it’s an allegory for adulthood, with the driving symbolizing work and the short breaks representing weekends. But it’s particularly fitting that one of the characters ponders why it’s an infinite road instead of a never-ending flight of stairs, and that’s what really resonates with me about this story.
Previous generations told us we needed to earn a degree to attain a good job and that if we worked hard and proved ourselves, we could climb the corporate ladder and achieve success. But as the years go by, that feels more and more like a myth. This may not be true for every career field, but from my vantage point, the corporate ladder is gone. The roles in my field keep getting reduced. Full-time positions have been replaced by temporary contract roles. The contract gigs have shrunk from one-year contracts to six months, with some even dwindling down to three-month intervals. It’s impossible to prove yourself and work your way up when the path is a flat one.
When most of the colleagues in your department are also in temporary positions, there’s no one to even prove yourself to and no one to guide you. We’re all just working until our contracts expire, with some people returning to start a new contract a few months later. It’s a never-ending cycle of contract jobs with no way to move up and no room to grow. So the fact that the characters in It Ends are stuck on a flat road with no other option but to keep driving straight feels all too appropriate. Even if the road eventually ends, is it even worth it once you get there? Were we really put on this earth to work ourselves to death with only fleeting moments of joy? This film does more than echo the Sisyphean struggle; it reframes it for a new generation. We’re not even Sisyphus pushing a boulder up a hill anymore; we’re pushing the boulder straight ahead with no end in sight.
It Ends is a strong directorial debut with a clever script. The metaphor may be simple, but it effectively captures the existential dread of adulthood. The dialogue and performances feel natural and authentic. James (Phinehas Yoon), Day (Akira Jackson), Fisher (Noah Toth), and Tyler (Mitchell Cole) feel like a genuine friend group; their chemistry feels indicative of people with history, and the different dynamics among them feel lived-in and real. It’s well shot, and the cinematography keeps the film visually engaging despite being confined mostly to the inside of a vehicle or an empty road. The editing and pacing are sharp, and the film never overstays its welcome.
For a film about people driving on an infinite road, it doesn’t feel dull or redundant. I was invested, and wanted to keep watching to see if maybe they eventually stumble upon a turn they can take or discover a way out. And that’s the exact same reason why I’m still stuck on my own never-ending road. I feel confined to this continuous cycle of constant exhaustion with very little reward, always hoping there’s something up ahead that makes the miles worth it. All I want to do is get out of the car and lie down in the grass and give up, but I’m a fool who keeps thinking that maybe if I just keep going, eventually things will get better. I’m still here because I’m curious to see where the road leads, but the more I keep driving, the more I’m starting to think it isn’t worth it anymore. It Ends is a reminder that sometimes the hardest part isn’t the drive, it’s pretending you still believe there’s a turn somewhere ahead. I’m not sure if the film sticks the landing, but I’m not convinced I will either.
It Ends is now available to rent via Letterboxd’s Video Store.
