It Ends SXSW Review

At some point, most—if not all—of us have taken a road trip that can feel endless. I’ve had many thoughts cross my mind in those moments, but one has never been, What if I made a movie about this? To be fair, I’m sure that’s not exactly how Alex Ullom came up with the idea for his film It Ends, but what he did come up with turns something so mundane into an edge-of-your-seat thriller.

Four friends who have recently graduated from college reunite to help one of them out. Those friends—James (Phinehas Yoon), Day (Akira Jackson), Fisher (Noah Toth), and Tyler (Mitchell Cole)—embark on one last road trip before the rest of their lives begin. Following directions from a map app, they head down a road toward an unknown destination, chatting about what lies ahead for them all. Something feels off, though, and Tyler swears he missed a turn somewhere. Even with reassurances from Day that he didn’t, he decides to turn around. Only to face a dead end.

Confused, Tyler gets out of the car to figure out where they are. As they do, a group of people emerges from the woods, screaming for help and trying to get into the car. The four manage to escape, but they are left shaken and bewildered. As they continue down the road, they soon realize it will never end. Desperation sets in as they try to figure out what is happening—and, more importantly, how to get off this road.

Written and directed by Alex Ullom, It Ends is a clever and often eerie ride that, while gripping, doesn’t quite reach a perfect destination. For most of the journey, it’s a tense, well-crafted experience. Ullom even manages to turn the ‘94 Jeep Cherokee into the film’s fifth character, adding to the claustrophobic tension. Set almost entirely within the Cherokee, we watch as the four friends go from debating hypothetical fights to questioning if they should even keep going. Riding along with them, you can feel Ullom’s promise as a filmmaker, even if It Ends starts to run on fumes toward the final stretch.

It Ends might have an outlandish concept, but Ullom delivers it with plenty of craft. The story shifts aren’t random; instead, they’re deliberate, surprising, and instrumental in shaping the characters—more often than not, for the worse. With every new revelation, continuing the trip becomes harder, as the idea of simply giving up starts to creep into their minds. Ullom isn’t here to provide clear answers about what’s happening, leaving both the audience and the characters searching for meaning in the mystery.

Beyond the horror elements, It Ends captures deeper fears—most notably, the fear of transitioning into adulthood and all the uncertainty that comes with it. It’s a high-concept idea that, like a real road trip, meanders at times, slowing down the intensity that the first half built so well. But ultimately, It Ends is so original and different that you’ll be glad you went along for the ride.