Director: Alexander Ullom
Screenplay: Alexander Ullom
Starring: Phinehas Yoon, Akira Jackson, Noah Toth, Mitchell Cole
Music: Matthew Robert Cooper
Cinematography: Evan Draper, Jazleana Jones
Year: 2025
Duration: 89 min
Country: USA
BBFC Certification: 15
There is plenty about It Ends that I admire. Its young cast share convincing chemistry, its sound design is frequently unsettling and its simple premise creates an effective sense of isolation. Unfortunately, it is also a film that I found increasingly difficult to connect with as its conventional horror setup gave way to something far more abstract.
James, Day, Fisher and Tyler head out one night on a drive to get something to eat. Soon, they find themselves in a bizarre situation when the road they are taking never seems to…end. After attempting several different ways to escape, they find themselves unable to leave the road. The group then embark on a journey of existential self-discovery.
While there are a couple of jump scares and a lot of eerie atmosphere, especially early on, it would probably be a mistake to expect this to be a thrill ride. There is a bit of a false promise at this point that the group will eventually find an answer and escape. But instead, you gradually come to learn that It Ends wants to take its time and make the four characters the centre of the film, with each having their own arc that we get to explore. That is when you might realise the direction it really wants to go in.
Being mainly a dialogue-driven film (no pun intended), you will spend a lot of time listening to what our quartet has to say. It is a good thing, then, that the actors deliver natural-sounding dialogue, because that could easily have made or broken this film. I am also glad to say that the chemistry, while obviously being a crucial aspect, is in abundance between the actors. By now, you probably realise that It Ends is primarily a character-led film. The conversations become increasingly important. They begin with banter and then progressively move on to more profound subjects, including relationships, anxieties, personal experiences and the characters’ different attitudes towards their predicament.
Lighting in It Ends is used particularly well in certain parts, especially when the characters find themselves in danger. The sense of isolation and desperation ramps up surprisingly early. But that is not really the point of the movie. The first thirty minutes are also when the sound design impresses the most, especially when the characters find themselves wandering outside their vehicle. This is also when another horror element is introduced, which I can only describe as “the people.” This is a big part of why you may believe that It Ends will continue as a traditional horror flick. But “the people” eventually take a back seat to what the film really wants to explore.
Once I understood the basic predicament that It Ends sets up, unfortunately I found that there was not enough narrative development to sustain my interest. I recognise that the repetition in the movie is intentional; however, I still found it repetitive. Praise has to be given to director Alexander Ullom for finding a way to use such a limited location to tell a story, because there really does not seem to be much to work with. We basically get to know four people who almost continually drive around. That rapidly became tedious. But maybe that was intentional to make us share what Day, Fisher, James and Tyler are feeling. And if that is the case, then it succeeded.
Horror fans who want to know why the road does what it does, along with answers to the other mysteries the film introduces, might find It Ends a frustrating experience. Answers are not the point here. The situation allows Ullom to explore uncertainty, mortality, friendship and the human desire to find meaning. A specific kind of movie lover will undoubtedly appreciate what is on offer here, and I think it is fair to say there are plenty of those fans out there. Admittedly, I am just not one of them. The gradual stripping away of the film’s more conventional horror elements as it transitions into something deeper and more metaphorical is ultimately where it loses me.
The performances are good. Nobody particularly stands out, but that actually works in the film’s favour because it feels like an ensemble. I also admire what the filmmakers have tried to achieve. Viewers who are receptive to slow, existential horror will likely find It Ends a rewarding experience.
And this is a film for them.
It Ends is released digitally in the UK on 5th October 2026 by Signature Entertainment.