The Endless - Movie Review
Humanity is looking for an answer to the question "Who we are?", since the beginning of the time. Philosophers and religious studies scholars thought about that subject for centuries, then fiction writers and now filmmakers begin questioning the subject with visual storytelling.
Story
Everything started with a tape, which sent to two orphan brothers who grew up and manage to escape a "UFO death cult" a long time ago. They had many questions unanswered ever since.
After watching that mysterious tape, they decide to visit the cult and only stay for a day and a night. They struggle to live the outside world (Los Angeles) and their life is unbearable. The younger brother believes life in the cult was better.
I must say the screenwriter and the directors spend 40 minutes of our time to set up the story. That is a really long time for the first act. Within that 40 minutes, we only see a couple of scary sound effects and awkward dialogs. But then the movie starts to make sense slowly. Once they travel to the cult, we pay more attention to the changing environment.
Dialog
In the beginning conversation is abstract between brothers but then it gets interesting. Their thoughts about life and where to stay and live are given very nicely in the cottage scene, where each of them decides to go their own way. The younger brother feels more alive in the cult then "real" life.
Effects and Editing
Visual effects are the big part of UFO and Sci-Fi films. Visual effect usage in The Endless is subtle and organic. Directors used a few effects because of the budget. It is an indie film. But it serves the story. They convey the message and feeling with acting.
I think, The Endless is edited well. It has a documentary style shooting and that makes the story more frightening and interesting. We feel like one of their friend is shooting whole events.
Theme
There are different themes that run throughout the story; a comfortable place to live, being a family, living the same day in a loop, alongside existential questions and fears of unknown.
It seems to me The Endless is more concerned about family than other subjects. When younger brother decides to stay in the cult, older brother refuses. They separate for a short time but then we see them looking for each other. Older brother decides to stay in the cult even unwillingly for his brother. In the end, they forgive and love each other.
Should you watch it?
If you like enjoy Sci-Fi mysteries and wonder how two indie film directors, tells the story of a UFO cult, then yes.
As I see it that's a really different story, in term of both storytelling and acting.
The Endless is Written, directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. They are also stars of the movie.
Enjoy watching the movie.
Please feel free to comment below and upvote.
Thanks.
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