The following review is spoiler free.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things is Charlie Kaufman’s latest writing and directorial effort and is based on Iain Reid’s 2016 novel of the same name.
As a film fan, I’m almost ashamed to say I’m new to Charlie Kaufman’s work. His surrealist style has made him one of the most celebrated film makers of the 21st century. Film buffs consider some of Kaufman’s previous works to be among the best. His name and films often appear on ‘greatest ever’ lists. I suspect I’m Thinking of Ending Things will attract similar kudos from long-time fans. It is, however, with my unadulterated perspective that I can say this is a well-made film with unfortunate narrative flaws.
Jessie Buckley plays an intellectual young woman who’s considering ‘ending things’ with her boyfriend Jake (Jesse Plemons). Their relationship has been short – only 6 weeks – but she’s accompanying him on a road trip to meet his parents on their isolated farm. Interlaced with the main narrative is a sub-plot focussing on a school janitor. His identity and motivations are deliberately ambiguous although immediately guessable, which results in an inconclusive and unfulfilling ending.
Right away, it’s apparent things are not as they seem (more on that later). The hook here is in finding out what exactly is happening to the young woman and why. Beyond that, there’s not much to save you being put off by the film’s near-constant (and self-indulgent) intellectual musings and depressing tone. It all hinges on this one reveal. And you never get it. Well, you do. But, also, you don’t… Confused? Well, that’s kind of the point.
Kaufman has tried so hard to be ‘clever’ with the dialogue, scene construction and interesting use of a non-linear narrative, yet it’s for nothing because the ending is easy and flat.
The cinematography here is excellent. From start to finish, the film looks and feels exactly as it should. It’s gorgeous, but also incredibly grim and isolating. From shot-to-shot, details change. Sometimes they’re small (like a piece of jewellery) other times they’re more blatant (like a different actor). It helps convey the film’s surreal atmosphere and is extremely unnerving and unsettling.
Often presented as one continuous shot, scenes are consistently long and gripping. Rather than cutting to other rooms or characters, the camera pans round to accentuate detail in the scene and in characters’ actions and emotions. Thanks to the choice of a 4:3 aspect ratio, all this is optimised. Everything feels constrained and details that would otherwise be missed in 16:9 stand out, deliberate and discomforting. The suspense it creates is palpable.
Likewise, the acting is suitably strong. It needed to be – characters’ personalities, as with their backstories, shift in jarring fashion. Tony Collette (as Jake’s mother) is, as always, incredible. So is Jessie Buckley (who some may remember from Chernobyl) as she powerfully narrates the young woman’s inconsistent thoughts and recollection of events.
Similarly, the well-written dialogue felt as if it were stitched together. Normally, this would sound paradoxical. But in this case, it’s a real achievement and mirrors the effective use of changing details seen elsewhere in the film. It’s a shame that intellectualism dominates much of it, though. It makes the characters unlikable snobs. Who even talks like this in real life?
The film, while borrowing elements from the horror genre, fits more neatly into the psychological thriller category. Anyone wanting a horror movie should look elsewhere because they will be disappointed. Although not immediately apparent, mental illness is the key theme here. Unfortunately, the vague and confusing ending does nothing for it. If the film was trying to say something of note on the subject, it’s certainly lost in translation. When the credits roll, those new to Kaufman’s work will be left wondering what exactly it was all about and why they unwittingly volunteered two hours of their life to be confused and depressed.
Like Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, I’m Thinking of Ending Things is a film desperate to be clever. While it succeeds marvelously in building a strong sense of suspense, isolation and dread, Kaufman’s deliberately vague narrative and conclusion undo all that hard work. It’s a shame, but unsurprising. Films of this scope rarely succeed in wrapping up their own complex mythology in a way that satisfies the common viewer. So much of this film goes frustratingly unresolved. Maybe there are answers to be found on second viewing? But then, the film should be smart enough to pose and answer those questions the first-time round. Disappointingly, I don’t think a second viewing is worthwhile. The ending is just too much of a cop-out.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things is now streaming on Netflix.
Final Score: 6/10
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Featured Image Credit: Netflix/Likely Story (fair use)
