Charlie Kaufman has never been one to shy away from making bizarre, even unsettling films. But with his latest, Netflix’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things, it looks like Kaufman is totally leaning into his tendencies. And we are A-OK with that.
Ending Things stars Jessie Buckley (Chernobyl) as a young woman who is meeting her boyfriend’s (Jesse Plemons) family for the first time at their remote house. Her boyfriend’s parents (the killer pair of Toni Collette and David Thewlis) seem nice enough but things start to get...weird and our young heroine begins going on some sort of odd trip though space and time that has her questioning everything. See, this is why I never leave the city.
Netflix obviously told Kaufman to make the movie he wanted and that’s an exciting proposition because he does best when not restrained by the confines of studios. Don’t get me wrong, the writer/director has never bowed to the pressures of the Hollywood system but it’s reassuring to see him really swing for the fences in terms of weirdness. He seems to be indulging here and, while it may not be for everyone, it will really be for those who like his work (i.e. me and probably you). The cast alone is worth the price of admission but the trailer is excellently made and promises something truly bizarre, a bit creepy and absolutely within Kaufman’s wheelhouse. I am left feeling confused, creeped out and slightly upset after this trailer and this thing is only a couple minutes long.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things is based on the novel by Iain Reid and will hit Netflix on September 4.
