The 2020s have been spoiled with some incredible debut feature films, from RackaRacka’s Talk to Me to Cregger’s outlandish Barbarian and Rob Savage’s screenlife gem, Host. It’s been an impressive start to the decade. I got the opportunity to watch Alex Ullom’s debut feature film, It Ends, at the 2025 Florida Film Festival. Let me just say that it deserves its name next to the films I previously mentioned because it is one hell of a debut. Watching this film in Florida was particularly special, as it is a product of the state. The film was shot at Florida State University and its surrounding areas, making it refreshing to see a horror film filmed so close to home. It Ends takes the horror genre and flips it on its head in a thought-provoking, existential crisis way. From its cast to its never-ending location, It Ends is the perfect example that less can always be more.
The story of It Ends follows four friends who have just graduated from college and are preparing to enter the real world. During the process of moving out, they decide to take a break and drive out for a meal. The way the friends position themselves in this Jeep Cherokee reveals a lot about their outlook on the future.
Tyler (Mitchell Cole), who has already had some experience in the real world as a blue-collar worker, is in the driver’s seat, leading the way for his friends who are just starting their post-college lives. James (Phinehas Yoon) sits in the passenger seat, a position usually reserved for someone who plays a key role in decision-making, indicating his importance within the group. Meanwhile, Day (Akira Jackson) and Fisher (Noah Toth) appear more adrift, as if they are still in college and not yet ready to take the next step into adulthood, which is reflected in their position in the back seat of the car.
During the drive, a playful debate about whether one could survive an encounter with a gorilla or 50 hawks distracts Tyler. While engaged in this discussion, he notices something unusual about the road. He decides to turn the car around and eventually finds himself at a dead end, questioning if they missed their turn. When he ventures out of the Jeep at this dead end, the lighthearted atmosphere suddenly shifts, transforming into one of the most terrifying scenes I’ve ever seen on screen. The sheer shock, speed, and chaos of this pivotal moment is something not only the characters didn’t see coming but will also catch the audience by surprise.
This horrific revelation forces the characters back down the road they were on. This leads down a metaphorical road of adulthood. In a similar vein to 2003’s Dead End (Which Director Alex Ullom wasn’t aware of when making the film), It Ends is about reminiscing about the past while hoping for what the future has in store, while also touching on themes of the meaning of life. Dead End, on the other hand, is more about purgatory, grief, and the acceptance of death. This project is not only deeply personal for director and writer Alex Ullom, reflecting his own emotional journey, but it also has the potential to be an important film for those facing similar paths of self-discovery.
The first half of It Ends has a nostalgic feel reminiscent of early 2000s horror road trip movies. We get to know the characters through their playful banter, which eventually leads to deeper, more personal interactions. The performances from the four relatively unknown actors create a strong chemistry among them. Cole adopts a natural approach, Yoon reserves himself, yet can be explosive, Jackson innocently embodies a well-rounded character, and Toth effectively conveys a wide range of emotions. These actors may be unknown now, but it won’t be long before they gain recognition for these performances.
As It Ends progresses from a road trip film to a seemingly endless journey inside of a Jeep Cherokee, it evolves to explore themes of adulthood and self-reflection. It Ends could have easily relied on the horror elements introduced at the beginning, featuring clichéd jump scares and predictable threats facing the characters. However, Alex Ullom skillfully shifts the focus away from the horror itself and instead emphasizes the characters’ coping mechanisms as they navigate this never-ending road. There’s a scene where the characters debate their predicament: Is it a curse? Are they in purgatory? Are they punishing themselves for their sins? The filmmakers thoughtfully explore all these possibilities, which is a mature approach rarely seen in similar films. It reflects a wise decision by a young filmmaker to take the more profound route—no pun intended—rather than resorting to cheap scares.
Final Thoughts:
It Ends is up there as one of the best debut features of recent times. It’s a horror movie that turned ideological exploration into adulthood tethering with ideas on the meaning of life. Alex Ullom’s personal life and his struggles with trying to figure out his life after college translate well into a thought-provoking film that many will be able to relate to. The simplicity of the film, with a cast of four actors and essentially one location, just proves that small films still have a major impact.
5/5
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Ever since my mom took me to go see The Blair Witch Project in theaters when I was 7 years old I’ve been obsessed with not just movies but the horror genre. When I’m not watching movies you can find me thrifting, attending a local horror convention, or collecting physical media. I attended the University of Central Florida with a degree in Cinema Studies and use my degree to rant about movies online.
MY FAVORITE MOVIES: The Cabin in the Woods, Cabaret, Seven Samurai, The Blair Witch Project, Inglourious Basterds