New Gen Z Horror 'It Ends' Delivers Moody, Existential Road Trip Thriller
The indie horror film 'It Ends' follows four recent graduates trapped on an endless Florida road, blending dread with post-college angst.
Alexander Ullom, a recent graduate who has been open about his struggle with dissociative depression, wrote and directed the horror feature 'It Ends.' The story centers on four friends—James (played by Phinehas Yoon), Tyler (Mitchell Cole), Fisher (Noah Toth) and Day (Akira Jackson)—who embark on an endless drive through Florida in a white Jeep Cherokee, searching for food and meaning. Their dialogue reflects the uncertainty of life after college, from military service and HVAC work to graphic-design job searches and a predictable engineering career.
When they stop for more than ninety seconds, they are attacked by zombie-like creatures, providing occasional jump scares. Though the metaphors are blunt, the film’s minimalist, pandemic-era production creates a hypnotic, ominous atmosphere. Ullom’s casting of largely unknown talent and his ability to sustain mood earn the movie a modest two-and-a-half stars out of four, with a Neon release in New York and Los Angeles on Friday and a nationwide rollout on Aug. 28.
Why it matters
The film captures Gen Z's post-college uncertainty through horror, offering a cultural snapshot for young adults.
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