‘I’m Thinking of Ending Things’ Review; Dir. Charlie Kaufman (2020)

For his first solo directorial effort following 2008’s intellectually ravenous Synecdoche, New York, Charlie Kaufman adapts Iain Reid’s bestselling novel I’m Thinking of Ending Things – a surrealist psychodrama where philosophy and fear collide for a phantasmagorical dive down the rabbit hole.

“I’m thinking of ending things”, narrates our nameless young woman (Jessie Buckley). She’s in a car with her boyfriend of 6-weeks, Jake (Jesse Plemons), and they’re on their way to meet his parents (Toni Collette and David Thewlis, both on spine-tingling form). She’s talking about ending their relationship, of course, which is puzzling since they seem like a sweet couple. They’re certainly a good match, both with a keen appreciation for the abstract. Why she wants to break it off is anyone’s guess – and why she would agree to be introduced to Jake’s family when the relationship is on the verge of fizzling out in the first place is even more of a mystery. But as the night becomes increasingly strange, it becomes clear just why this relationship was doomed from the start.

Anyone familiar with Kaufman’s work will know that the writer-director is drawn to idiosyncratic stories; his movies have never been for ‘everyone’ but that’s part of the appeal of them. For a long time, Kaufman believed I’m Thinking of Ending Things to be his last feature as he felt at the end of his creative leash after several of the projects he had in the pipeline over the last decade were axed by various studios. Synecdoche and Anomalisa weren’t exactly commercial successes. Confounding films are sadly a dime a dozen these days. Thankfully that’s no longer the case; it’s a relief too because few filmmakers nowadays can evoke the gamut of human emotions the way Kaufman does and I’m Thinking of Ending Things is the filmmaker at his weirdest and most frightening.

Much like Synecdoche, Kaufman uses metaphors and dream-like storytelling as a means of conveying ideas that question our very reality and existence. His debut merely acknowledged the nihilistic horror of these themes but I’m Thinking of Ending Things runs with it to full, bone-chilling effect. The film isn’t scary in the conventional sense though; there’s no ‘monster’ or paranormal activity that our characters confront in the final act. The horror here is in the metaphysical. It’s the inelcutable fear of death and unfulfilled purpose. It’s observed through memory and perception and it’s terrifying in a way that is best just experienced.

Kaufman throws us into a cold atmosphere right from the first frame; Lukasz Zal’s cinematography is tight and claustrophobic and it does a good job of keeping the audience on their toes. The film’s opening sequence – twenty minutes of the young woman just chatting to Jake about philosophy and family – takes place in their small car against the stark, snowy weather with no music. It’s eerie. Something feels off about it but you can’t help but feel for these characters and care for what they have to say. It perfectly encapsulates the film that follows – it’s awkward, uncomfortable, but won’t be able to look away. The insidious atmosphere only pulls its viewers deeper as haunting imagery and ideas continue to infect the screen. It’s never in your face but Kaufman seamlessly weaves Buckley’s increasing despair into her conversations with Jake; the paranoia is constantly being dialled up without ever feeling contrived. As the film gets weirder and more surreal, you’re too wrapped up in the characters and too on-edge to care.

Like any good Charlie Kaufman endeavour, it’s a challenging watch – which will turn many away – but so much of the fun is in getting swept up in the masterful storytelling and then picking it apart for days after. It’s anchored by a cast on excellent form. Buckley, especially, turns in a very melancholy performance as our nameless leading lady. She’s the way into this story – always on the outside to everything that’s going on – and there’s comfort in watching her on-screen. I’m Thinking of Ending Things is Charlie Kaufman at his most Kaufman-esque – for better or worse. It’s a phantasmagorical trip down the existential rabbit hole; it has the big ideas we’d expect from the filmmaker and it’ll leave you scratching your head but wanting to immediately dive back in for more. Much like his other work, this is the kind of film that is best just experienced. It’s baffling and brilliant.

I’m Thinking Of Ending Things is released on Netflix on 4th September.