I’m Thinking of Ending Things Ending Explained, Plot and Review
by Alaguvelan M
Updated Apr 12, 2023
I’m Thinking of Ending Things
"I'm Thinking of Ending Things" is a 2020 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Charlie Kaufman, based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Iain Reid. The movie follows a young woman, played by Jessie Buckley, who goes on a road trip with her boyfriend, played by Jesse Plemons, to visit his parents, portrayed by Toni Collette and David Thewlis.
Throughout the film, the main narrative is intercut with footage of a school janitor, played by Guy Boyd, going about his daily routine, with both stories ultimately intersecting by the third act. The film was released in select theaters on August 28, 2020, and premiered on Netflix on September 4, 2020. "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" premiered in select theaters on August 28, 2020, and was later released on Netflix on September 4.
Critics praised the film for its exceptional cinematography and the impressive lead performances by Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons. The movie also garnered critical acclaim for its surreal and thought-provoking plot, which explores themes of loneliness, identity, and regret. In January 2018, Netflix announced that Charlie Kaufman would be adapting Iain Reid's novel "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" and directing the film.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things Ending explained
The film's early events are shrouded in mystery, with shifting identities and appearances, as Lucy, played by Jessie Buckley, joins her boyfriend Jake, played by Jesse Plemons, on a surreal journey to visit his parents, played by Toni Collette, and David Thewlis. According to Walker, the ballet sequence in "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" might feel like an abrupt departure from the suspenseful storyline that Kaufman appeared to be constructing.
However, he believes it's a crucial digression from the enigma of the plot. Walker suggests that the film defies viewers' expectations by easing the tension instead of intensifying it, allowing the audience to temporarily relax before the climactic conclusion. He muses that the ballet sequence's inclusion enables the filmmakers to dissipate some of the tension before the finale.
Reid's novel reveals that the janitor is Jake, an old man who is lonely and imagines the entire trip to the farmhouse, Kaufman's film adaptation is a bit different. In Kaufman's version, Jake is trapped in his own fantasies, influenced by popular media and art, and the movie portrays his experience of absorbing things that become part of his psyche.
The ballet scene in the film serves as a diversion from the tension of the mysterious story, allowing the audience to release some of the built-up tension before it builds back up to the actual conclusion of the film. The ballet sequence depicts the life that Jake wished he had with the girl who got away, and the interruption of the choreographed romance by the janitor killing Jake represents the "fractured psyche" of Jake.
The dancers, Ryan, and the girl represent an idealized version of who Jake wishes he could be and the ultimate romanticized version of a relationship, respectively. The score was developed around the world and characterizations were built into the film, pulling less from classic musicals and more from composers like Claude Debussy, Joseph Maurice Ravel, and Igor Stravinsky, whose tonality was explored with a more full-fledged ballet sequence.
Charlie Kaufman's collaborators on the film "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" discuss the creation of the movie's fantasy ballet scene. Choreographer, Ryan Heffington, composer, Jay Wadley, and production designer, Molly Hughes, reveal how they worked with Kaufman's original script to create the scene's visuals and music.
They explain that the ballet's classic, romantic style was important to align with the film's concept and that the school setting helped to capture the protagonist's arrested development. Kaufman's clear vision and direction were also helpful in creating the scene, and while the film may be perplexing, its ability to make viewers confront uncomfortable emotions is commendable.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things Plot Twist
"I'm Thinking of Ending Things" is a psychological thriller written by Iain Reid and adapted into a film by Charlie Kaufman. The story revolves around a young woman who accompanies her boyfriend on a trip to meet his parents at their isolated farmhouse. However, as the story progresses, the woman begins to question her relationship with her boyfriend and her own reality.
Spoiler Alert The plot twist of the story comes when it is revealed that the woman is a figment of the boyfriend's imagination and that he is actually an aging janitor who is suffering from a mental illness. The entire story, including the trip to the farmhouse and the conversations with his parents, are all imagined by the janitor as a way of coping with his loneliness and regret.
The woman's various identities throughout the story, such as her changing names and professions, reflect the janitor's own desires and regrets. The ending is left open to interpretation, but it is heavily implied that the janitor commits suicide in the end. The Speakers’ conversations occur after his death and discuss the reasons behind Jake’s decision.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things Summary
The unnamed female protagonist driving with her boyfriend to his parent’s house for dinner, while Jake is writing this narrative prior to his suicide. Jake sees the protagonist as representing two women he could have loved, and he wants her to make the final decision. However, the protagonist questions whether she should end things with Jake and sacrifice her solitude for a relationship.
It describes the night when the protagonist and Jake met at a local university pub. They quickly start a committed relationship, but the protagonist keeps mysterious calls from a man, who turns out to be Jake himself, imitating a woman’s voice and prompting her to make a decision about their relationship. During the drive to Jake’s parents’ farm, the protagonist feels guilty about not sharing her doubts and thoughts with him.
At dinner, Jake imitates the protagonist with unnerving precision, and the protagonist explores the basement and finds sketches of two indecipherable figures. Afterward, Jake takes the protagonist to Dairy Queen and a high school where they end up kissing, but the protagonist decides to end things with Jake and follows him into the high school where Jake commits suicide in the janitor’s office.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things Review
In "I'm Thinking of Ending Things," a film based on the novel by Iain Reid, a young woman travels with her boyfriend to his family's secluded farm for dinner. As they journey through a snowstorm, the woman begins to question the relationship and her own motivations. Upon arriving at the farm, strange occurrences unsettle the woman even further, and she ultimately decides to end things with her boyfriend.
However, as they leave the farm and continue their journey home, events take an unexpected and surreal turn, leading to a shocking and tragic conclusion. The film is a haunting exploration of identity, memory, and the human psyche, featuring standout performances from Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons.
The film is a mind-bending exploration of loneliness, time, memory, and the human condition that leaves viewers questioning their own perceptions of reality. The performances of the cast, including Jesse Plemons and Jessie Buckley, are exceptional in conveying the subtle nuances of their characters' emotions and identities. Overall, "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" is a haunting, thought-provoking film that is not easily forgotten.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things Ending Explained - FAQs
"I'm Thinking of Ending Things" is a psychological horror movie that follows a young woman who goes on a road trip with her boyfriend to visit his parents at their remote farm. As the trip progresses, strange things begin to happen, and the woman starts to question her own reality.
Yes, the movie is based on a 2016 novel of the same name by Canadian author Iain Reid.
The movie was directed by Charlie Kaufman, who is also known for his work on movies like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Being John Malkovich".
The movie is a psychological horror film that also explores themes of identity, memory, and relationships.