I'm Thinking of Ending Thing: A Spoiler Free Review

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Hey Guys!

Charlie Kaufman is perhaps one of the most interesting screenwriter-directors working in the industry today. His first film, Being John Malkovich is perhaps one of the most compelling films ever made, and it received generally great reviews all across. Another one of his hallmark films was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which is again, an incredible film. Apart from this, he has two (now three) director credits to his name as well (Synecdoche, New York, and Anomalasia). Needless to say, he has had an illustrious career in the film business. And recently, I watched his new film, "I'm Thinking of Ending Things", and I can easily say it's one of my favourite films of the 21st century.   

                                          

CAST:

Jessie Buckley: Young Woman
Jesse Plemons: Jake
David Thewlis: Father 
Toni Collette: Mother

REVIEW:

When I first saw the trailer for I'm Thinking of Ending Things, I thought it would be an interesting new high concept sci-fi drama or thriller. Well, it certainly delivered on being a high concept drama or thriller. Charlie Kaufman struck gold with this film, as it follows a deceptively simple plot. A woman goes out to meet her boyfriend's parents out at a remote farm, but nothing is as it seems. This could be the plot of any new horror movie or thriller movie but Charlie Kaufman subverts our expectation incredibly in the film.

The film follows a 4-act structure the way it is explained in Scott Myers' brilliant essay "When a 3-act Structure is a 4-act structure". It starts in the middle and evolves towards the end to something else entirely. It is also a deeply unsettling film. Throughout the film, there is a building sense of unease and a general sense of tension and discomfort, for both, the audience and the young woman, who remains unidentified throughout the film. 

The score complements the film and helps build the atmosphere and tension throughout. The camera in a similar sense is framed in a different aspect ratio (4:3 as compared to the 16:9 for normal sense) adds to the trapped feeling of the film. I feel this aspect ratio also complements the film in a different way, but to reveal that would loiter into spoiler territory, I feel.

All in all, it's one of the most thought-provoking films I have ever seen, one that is sure to stick with me for a while. I will go back and rewatch it to get a better sense of it, but not now. It needs to settle in and mellow first. If you're looking for a film to just sit back, relax, and chill with, this is not the film for you. It will force you to exercise your mind and use your brain. I know this review is short, but I feel I can't talk too much about it because then it might give away major parts of the film, which is something I do not want to do. 

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