It Ends – Movie Review (3/5)

IT ENDS is a supernatural road thriller coming to theaters. It’s a movie with just four characters, and we follow them as they appear to be caught in a twilight zone of sorts. At first, it may feel like a loop plot, but it’s more like a never-ending road trip. As a result, it’s a love-it-or-hate-it experience, and I did enjoy it. Read our full It Ends movie review here!

IT ENDS is a genre movie that begins like so many others: Four friends meet up and head out on a little road trip. At first, we witness the usual road trip shenanigans of debating various “this versus that” situations. Suddenly, after having turned down an empty road as guided by the GPS, they seem to drive forever and get nowhere.

Before long, it becomes eerily obvious that they’ve entered into some strange new world where things are very different. All they have is each other, but can they handle the pressure of a never-ending road trip on this road to nowhere?! The runtime is just 1 hour and 29 minutes, so it doesn’t go on “forever”, but long enough to put extreme pressure on the characters. And maybe on you as the viewer, but I liked that!

Continue reading our It Ends movie review below. Find it in select theaters from August 21, and nationwide from August 28, 2026.

On a road to nowhere… forever?!

It Ends is the story of four friends heading out one night and getting trapped on a never-ending road to nowhere. This isn’t a new concept as such, but when done right, it can create a horrifying atmosphere. For most horror fans, this is either something you enjoy or loathe. I like it, so I was completely on board from the very beginning.

Part of John Carpenter‘s In the Mouth of Madness (1994) revolves around this. It has a scene that haunted me when I first watched the movie. As does the horror movie Dead End (2003). It’s often on our Christmas Horror Movies list as it plays out on Christmas Eve. Plus, more recently, we have Exit 8 and even Backrooms. That latter movie did offer a way in and out, but it was still a strange place that seemed to go on forever.

As It Ends evolves, I think it absolutely nails the setting and premise of the horror niche. Not to compare it with any of the above examples, as it’s very much its own beast.

The four friends in It Ends are driving a Jeep Cherokee, so they do have some space to move around. Imagine if they had been in some tiny, big-city-friendly car. Now, that would’ve driven anyone crazy much faster!

Which character do you relate most to?

With In Ends, many in the audience will inevitably find themselves comparing their reactions to the characters’ reactions. Specifically, wondering how you would react in a similar situation. Imagine being trapped in a world where you can seemingly go on forever without getting anywhere, and yet you don’t really need food or sleep?!

Obviously, theories arise: Are we dead? Is this a simulation? Could aliens be involved?

Personally, I would definitely also be thinking of explanations and trying to find solutions. In that manner, I recognize that I am clearly most like James (Phinehas Yoon).

However, I also recognize the need for other characters to act out or, at the very least, get some physical movement planned when the chance is there. I am hardly a gym rat, but I get crazy if I have to sit still for too long. Well, without it being my own choice, anyway.

In the end, I probably recognized myself in all four characters, but still think I would ultimately be most like James. Is that a good thing?! Well, you’ll have to watch It Ends until it actually ends.

Watch It Ends in theaters now

It Ends comes from writer-director Alex Ullom. This is the directorial debut of Alex Ullom, and I am admittedly very impressed. I enjoyed the pacing, the escalation and evolution of the plot, and how it’s character-driven. As always, you have to somehow root for these people. Otherwise, you won’t care what happens to them. Well, I rooted for all of them, which means I also felt their frustration and fear.

The four actors in the cast are Mitchell Cole, Akira Jackson, Noah Toth, and Phinehas Yoon. All four work extremely well, and I completely bought that they were friends. Yes, they are very different, but it seems obvious (to me, anyway) that their differences and debates are exactly what has kept the friendship going. Even though they have had very different life experiences along the way.

The movie premiered at SXSW back in 2025 and had a special short stint on VOD via Letterboxd earlier in 2026. Now, it’s coming to theaters in the US, and yes, I do recommend watching it. Just keep an open mind. And yes, it does end – but not in a way that everyone will enjoy, like, or even appreciate.

IT ENDS opens in New York and Los Angeles on August 21, 2026, followed by a nationwide release on August 28, 2026.

Details

Director: Alex Ullom
Writer: Alex Ullom
Cast: Mitchell Cole, Akira Jackson, Noah Toth, Phiehas Yoon