It’s hard to say what, exactly, is going on in Charlie Kaufman’s new movie, I’m Thinking of Ending Things. There is no definitive conclusion to come to other than there is no definitive conclusion to come to. It’s simply not supposed to fully make sense. One could argue, however, that it does provide just enough detail for the audience to understand its multi-layered intentions on a very basic emotional level.
A young man (Jesse Plemons) is driving his girlfriend (Jessie Buckley) through a snowstorm to meet his parents for the first time at their farm. As we repeatedly hear in the young woman’s voice-over, she’s thinking of ending things. When they finally arrive, the young man’s eccentric parents (Toni Collette and David Thewlis) make the already tense situation increasingly unbearable. The parents’ not-so-firm grasp on reality is contagious, and the young woman soon begins to experience what can only be described as a series of surreal hallucinations. Interspersed throughout, we see a lonely and elderly high school janitor (Guy Boyd) who seemingly has nothing to do with the story go about his day.
The less said, the better about where the movie goes from there. This is partially because its surprises shouldn’t be spoiled, but it’s also because words wouldn’t cut it. I’m Thinking of Ending Things is something to be experienced rather than described.
The film defies the standards of genre to exist entirely within its own logic. Psychological horror is the closest one can come to categorizing the film, but that doesn’t begin to do it justice. There’s too much absurdist humor, too many introspective ideas, and far too many feelings explored to label it as any one thing.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things is like cinematic jazz. It constantly and freely flows amongst differing moods and tones—oftentimes in the same scene. As intellectually puzzling as the story may be upon first viewing, the emotional notes that the film hits are quite intentional and specific. Though chaotic on the surface, it’s apparent that the film was wholly thought-out and designed.
Adapting Iain Reid’s novel, writer/director Charlie Kaufman makes the material his own. Kaufman has built a career out of writing (and later directing) perplexing, absurd, and intellectually profound films. Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Synecdoche, New York, and Anomalisa all share similar sensibilities with his most recent effort. I’m Thinking of Ending Things showcases Kaufman’s growth and evolution, as it is the most complex film he has ever completed. It is the product of a mature filmmaker who has practiced and perfected his methods but is still pushing himself to reach new heights.
The entire cast lives up to the challenging task of bringing Kaufman’s ideas to life. No character is who they appear to be, and their purpose in the story isn’t even partially clear until the film’s final act. Portraying characters with such vague definition, the actors admirably play each moment with complete realism and honesty, which allows for the film’s otherworldly dream logic to be all the more tangible and effective.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things works on so many different levels that it’s almost dizzying. It’s a stream-of-consciousness meditation on regret, loneliness, aging, media-influenced thinking, and the acceptance of one’s own reality. It’s one of the most challenging films to be released by a major studio (in this case, Netflix) this or any year. It’s Charlie Kaufman at the height of his head-scratching abilities and talents, an unforgettable and unique film amongst a career of unforgettable and unique films.
GRADE: A
