2015’s Spring was a film that came seemingly out of nowhere for me, and became a very pleasant surprise. It’s a romance at its core, but contains elements of body horror, black comedy, and Lovecraftian mysticism. I get a kick out of films that are to blend multiple genres, and it seems like a knack for the directors, Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, the former also serving as the writer for all their works.
They continue this approach with their latest film, The Endless. It’s like one of those stories you’ve seen before, you know the one. The kind of indie where someone is at a low point in their lives, so they go back to their hometown for something seemingly minor, but they’re really there to reconcile with their past in some way. The Endless is like that, but instead of a quirky small town, it’s a UFO death cult.
It follows two brothers, Justin (Justin Benson), and Aaron Smith (Aaron Moorhead), who are down on their luck, and one day, they randomly receive a mysterious tape from a cult that they escaped a decade prior. Aaron has been struggling to adjust to the real world since escaping and thinks going back will help; Justin reluctantly goes along hoping he can find a way to snap Aaron out of it. However, once they get there, strange things begin happening as they find themselves staying longer than they intended.
I think what Justin Benson and Aaron Smith accomplishes here is something really special. Not in that it necessarily outdoes the surprise that Spring was, but in that they managed to essentially pull off an equally audacious and weird story with ease. It’s downright inspiring to see how they worked around what must’ve been a fairly low budget, yet still bring a sense of inventiveness and resourcefulness to the filmmaking. It leaves much to the imagination, but never once feeling frustrating to watch or coming across as lazy. It never feels like a cheap movie because the ideas, the characters, the craft, and the imagination at display is all deeply rich, and very well thought out. This is the kind of filmmaking that should be studied by people wanting to get into this business.
It’s also one of those films where I can describe every plot detail in full (which I won’t do here, so you can experience those surprises on your own), but not take away the power of those same details because of how meticulous and strong they come across on screen, be it the surreal imagery, the way the film plays with time and spaces, and the specificities of certain character dynamics. There’s touches that can be traced back to the likes of David Lynch, the Duplass Brothers, John Carpenter, and maybe even some Shane Carruth, but Benson and Moorhead have really solidified their own voice here. One that is distinct in how they ground stories of cosmic, existential horror with intimate relationships that are explored via genre and a healthy dose of humor, which – in brilliant fashion – either puts the audience at ease, makes them even more uncomfortable than they already were, or transitioning back and forth, depending on the scene.
The actors are all great here, with everyone getting a chance to make a lasting impression, while also juggling the mix of tones and genres. Benson and Moorhead have a very believable bond that gets you to empathize with both of their perspectives, and it’s strong enough to carry the emotional throughline to the end. Supporting characters performed by folks such as Callie Hernandez, Tate Ellington, Lew Temple, James Jordan, Kira Powell, Emily Montague, and Peter Cilella are all interesting in their own right, and well acted. It’s also worth noting that this film can be considered a direct sequel to the directors’ debut film, Resolution, from 2012, which shares several characters from this. I haven’t seen it yet, only now finding out about it after seeing the trailer, but your enjoyment of The Endless won’t be relied on you having seen Resolution, though it might definitely enhance it.
If you’re a person who has been clamoring for something “different” or “original,” The Endless is exactly what the doctor has ordered. It combines elements of cosmic horror, science fiction, and supernatural drama into a compelling mix that keeps you laughing, shocked, terrified, moved, and surprised. Though, it all would’ve all added up to an amusing distraction had Benson and Moorhead not been smart enough to focus on the relationship between the two brothers who are simply trying to make sense of the world, find a place to call home, and help each other through their shared trauma. Creating that kind of balance with that many bizarre concepts is no easy feat, and there are moments that will be stuck in my mind for a long time. These filmmakers have become ones to keep an eye on. No one out there is making films quite like these two, and that kind of ingenuity should be supported.
By the way, this is a small release. So, if you want to check out the film, you can find locations where it’s playing on this link here.