It Ends Trailer Takes Liminal Space Horror to the Great Outdoors
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The Endless Drive: How “It Ends” Captures the Anxiety of a Generation
The latest trailer for Alex Ullom’s first feature film, “It Ends,” has left many wondering about its premise. On its surface, it appears to be another tale of young adults getting lost in an eerie, never-ending road. However, beneath that surface lies a movie that speaks to the very real anxieties of Gen Z.
The film’s protagonist – a group of recent college graduates on a late-night drive – finds themselves trapped in a perpetual loop, unable to escape the “hellscape” they’ve stumbled upon. This could be seen as a metaphor for the existential dread that many young adults face today. As Ullom noted in an interview, this sense of disorientation is not just about being lost; it’s about inheriting a world that seems to be careening out of control.
The parallels between “It Ends” and our current reality are striking. The film portrays a group of young adults grappling with the unknown – sentiments echoed by many Gen Zers who feel like they’re facing a future without clear direction or security. Ullom sees his film as a reflection of their anxieties, highlighting the sense of disorientation that comes with inheriting a world in crisis.
The film’s portrayal of young adults struggling to find their place in a chaotic world raises questions about our society’s fascination with horror movies. Is this a case of escapism, where we’re using horror films as a way to process the unease and uncertainty of our times? Or is “It Ends” something more – a commentary on the state of our world?
One thing is certain: “It Ends” isn’t just another mindless scare-fest. Beneath its surface-level thrills lies a thoughtful exploration of what it means to be young in today’s world. As Ullom noted, this film is seen through the eyes of kids who are inheriting a burning house – a world ravaged by climate change, inequality, and social unrest.
The fact that “It Ends” hits theaters on August 21, as summer gives way to fall, feels almost prescient. Will this film tap into our collective anxiety in a meaningful way? Or will it simply provide another distraction from the pressing issues of our time?
As we watch these four young adults fight to survive their endless drive, we’re forced to confront our own fears – not just about the unknown, but about what kind of world we’re leaving behind for future generations. Will they be able to escape the hellscape that is our reality? Or will they succumb to its crushing weight?
Ultimately, “It Ends” asks us to look in the mirror and consider: What’s the destination of this endless drive we call life? And what does it mean to inherit a world that seems determined to burn itself down?
Reader Views
- CMColumnist M. Reid · opinion columnist
While Alex Ullom's "It Ends" is undoubtedly tapping into the anxieties of Gen Z, we'd be remiss to overlook the ways in which this film also perpetuates a narrative of youthful disorientation as an individual problem, rather than a systemic one. By focusing on a group of recent college graduates lost on a road trip, the film reinforces the notion that it's up to each young person to navigate their way through a chaotic world, rather than demanding action from those in power to address the root causes of our societal crises.
- ADAnalyst D. Park · policy analyst
The parallels between "It Ends" and our current reality are indeed striking, but I think we're missing a crucial aspect of this film's commentary on society: its critique of privilege. The protagonist group's perpetual loop can be seen as a commentary not just on the existential dread of being lost in an uncertain world, but also on the entitled naivety of assuming that the rules and social norms of the past will continue to apply. This aspect is what truly sets "It Ends" apart from other horror movies – its piercing gaze into the flaws of our generation's collective complacency.
- EKEditor K. Wells · editor
What's striking about "It Ends" is how it captures the existential dread of Gen Z without resorting to overtly didactic messaging. Ullom's thoughtful approach allows the audience to fill in the blanks, making the film a more relatable and unsettling experience. However, as much as I appreciate the article's analysis, I think it glosses over the importance of genre conventions in "It Ends". By subverting traditional horror tropes, the film becomes even more unnerving – it's not just about being lost, but about the unknown terrors lurking just beneath the surface of our familiar landscapes.