The Endless Road: Why 'It Ends' Might Just Be the Horror Debut of the Year
There’s something about a never-ending road that taps into our deepest anxieties. It’s a metaphor we’ve all encountered in life—that feeling of being stuck, of moving forward but never arriving. Alex Ullom’s It Ends takes this universal dread and turns it into a visceral horror experience. But what makes this film particularly fascinating is how it uses the mundane—a late-night drive, a group of friends, a Jeep Cherokee—to explore something profoundly existential.
The Horror of the Familiar
One thing that immediately stands out is the film’s setting. A winding road that never ends? It’s simple, yet terrifying. Personally, I think this is where It Ends shines. Horror works best when it twists the familiar into something sinister. Ullom doesn’t need elaborate monsters or jump scares; the horror here is in the unknown, in the endlessness itself. What many people don’t realize is that the most effective horror often mirrors our own fears of stagnation and meaninglessness. This isn’t just a movie about a haunted road—it’s a movie about the fear of being trapped in your own life.
The A24 Shadow and Neon’s Gamble
Neon’s decision to position It Ends as a spiritual successor to A24’s Backrooms is both bold and calculated. From my perspective, this is a smart move. Backrooms tapped into a cultural obsession with liminal spaces, and It Ends seems to be riding that same wave. But here’s the thing: while Backrooms was about the eerie stillness of empty spaces, It Ends is about the relentless motion of a road that never stops. What this really suggests is that horror is evolving, moving from static dread to kinetic terror. Neon’s gamble here is that audiences are ready for this shift—and I think they’re right.
The Ensemble and the Jeep
A detail that I find especially interesting is the film’s focus on the ensemble cast and their confinement in a Jeep Cherokee. Horror thrives in tight spaces, and the car becomes a character in its own right. Esther Zuckerman’s IndieWire review highlights how Ullom uses the car’s features—the hazard lights, the beeping door—to build tension. If you take a step back and think about it, this is a masterclass in minimalism. The car isn’t just a vehicle; it’s a microcosm of the characters’ lives, cramped and claustrophobic. This raises a deeper question: how much of our own horror is self-imposed, created by the spaces we choose to inhabit?
The Existential Choice
The film’s central premise—embrace the endless road or fight to escape it—is where It Ends becomes more than just a horror movie. It’s a philosophical dilemma. Personally, I think this is what sets it apart. Horror often deals with survival, but It Ends forces its characters (and its audience) to confront a more profound choice: do we accept the absurdity of our existence, or do we keep searching for meaning? What many people don’t realize is that this is the core of great horror—it’s not just about scaring you; it’s about making you think.
The Future of Horror: Endless Possibilities
Neon’s acquisition of Ullom’s next project, 4 X 4: The Event, suggests they’re betting big on this director. And why wouldn’t they? Ullom has a knack for turning simple ideas into something deeply unsettling. From my perspective, this is the future of horror—young directors who aren’t afraid to experiment with existential themes. What this really suggests is that the genre is moving beyond jump scares and into something more cerebral. If It Ends is any indication, we’re in for a thrilling ride.
Final Thoughts
As someone who’s always been drawn to horror that challenges as much as it scares, It Ends feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s not just a movie about a never-ending road; it’s a movie about the roads we’re all on, and the choices we make along the way. Personally, I think this is the kind of horror we need right now—smart, unsettling, and relentlessly thought-provoking. So, will It Ends live up to the hype? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: this is a film that’s going to stick with you long after the credits roll.
