Oscar-winning screenwriter Charlie Kaufman is best known for his inventive high concept scripts that fueled acclaimed films such as Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. In recent years, he's also looked to make a name for himself as a director, most notably with 2015's Anomalisa. Five years later, Kaufman is back with his first full-length live-action feature since 2008's Synecdoche, New York with I'm Thinking of Ending Things, based on Iain Reid's book of the same name. The material certainly fits Kaufman's sensibilities, but this time he isn't fully successful in achieving the intended effect. I'm Thinking of Ending Things is a suitably eerie and creepy psychological thriller that ultimately never comes together as a comprehensible whole.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things follows The Young Woman (Jessie Buckley), who goes on a trip with her boyfriend Jake (Jesse Plemons) to visit his parents (Toni Collette and David Thewlis) at their remote farmhouse. Even though The Young Woman is taking the proverbial "next step" with Jake, she doubts that the two have any real future and internally wonders what the purpose of it all is. The Young Woman's feelings become intensified as she spends more time with Jake's family and goes on a surreal emotional journey.
Despite Kaufman's penchant for sharp writing, it's I'm Thinking of Ending Things' presentation that immediately jumps out. Lukasz Zal's cinematography and the film's aspect ratio combine to craft a style that immediately establishes the right mood and tone. The dreary environments and tight composition are very effective in putting the viewer into The Young Woman's headspace, allowing them to understand her point of view. Additionally, Kaufman's shot selection and blocking thrive at visual storytelling, fleshing out the characters' relationships by conveying key information not always present in the dialogue. The filmmaking doesn't call attention to itself; it's simply an understated approach that's compelling and elevates the final product once the viewer picks up on it.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things also benefits from a strong cast, with Buckley being the star. Her turn as The Young Woman walks a fine balance between being emotionally distant enough to encapsulate her character's state of mind, but also still be relatable so she can serve as the audience conduit. Her chemistry with Plemons doesn't endear the couple to viewers, but that's what makes it work well. Presented from The Young Woman's perspective, the two realistically feel like a couple that's just going through the motions and lack a true spark, deepening the connection viewers have with her. Collette and Thewlis also make the most of their screen time as Jake's parents, leaving an unsettling impression on the audience. Their roles are only supporting, but they contribute greatly to I'm Thinking of Ending Things' sense of uneasiness.
Where the film falters a bit is in the narrative itself. Kaufman has never been one to shy away from complex material, and he does the same here, ambitiously tackling themes of time and human existence. That said, I'm Thinking of Ending Things isn't the easiest book to adapt, and the story's impact lessens as time goes on. Even by Kaufman's standards, it's an unconventional tale to tell, and the various pieces never really come together to form a fully comprehensible whole. This approach does work on occasion because the viewer is meant to be in the troubled mind of The Young Woman, but there are other times where the film comes across as too abstruse. Even those who are fond of Kaufman's earlier work may have difficulty truly latching on, which makes I'm Thinking of Ending Things a film that's easier to admire than love.
In the end, I'm Thinking of Ending Things is hardly accessible entertainment, but it will likely find its niche audience on Netflix. Streaming is the ideal platform for a movie like this (even if there wasn't an ongoing pandemic), giving it more of a chance to stand out than if it had released in theaters. It'll be interesting to see if I'm Thinking of Ending Things has any luck for Netflix on the awards circuit later this year, but even if it doesn't score the accolades Kaufman's other films have, it's still a fascinating watch with plenty to unpack. How much mileage an individual viewer gets out of it will vary, though there's still enough here to hold one's interest.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things starts streaming on Netflix on September 4, 2020. It runs 134 minutes and is rated R for language including some sexual references.
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