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89 minutes ‧ R ‧ 2025
Cast: Mitchell Cole, Akira Jackson, Noah Toth
Director: Alex Ullom
Genres: Drama, Horror

Four college friends jump in a Jeep for a late-night food run and end up on a road that literally never ends. That’s the simple but intriguing premise of It Ends, the debut feature from writer-director Alexander Ullom.

The film opens as a horror movie but gradually shifts to something more low-key: four people stuck in a car, arguing, joking, and trying to figure out what to do next. There’s no gore, and the jump scares fade after the first half. Phinehas Yoon stars as James, the group’s most driven and frustrated member. He’s determined to find a way out. Akira Jackson and Noah Toth play Day and Fisher, two friends who take a very different approach — learning to accept their situation rather than fight it. Their easy chemistry provides most of the film’s lighter moments. Mitchell Cole rounds out the group as Tyler.

While the concept is strong, the film runs out of energy long before it runs out of road. Once the horror elements fade, what remains is a lot of conversation and not quite enough story to fill the remaining runtime. At 89 minutes, it shouldn’t feel slow, but it does. Horror fans seeking thrills will likely be disappointed by the second half. Those willing to sit with a more thoughtful, low-key story might find more to enjoy, but even they may find the pacing a test of patience.

It Ends has a clever idea at its core, and there are moments where it works. However, the film never fully delivers on its early promise. The cast is likable, the director shows real potential, and the production is impressively resourceful — yet it all adds up to a viewing experience that’s more admirable than enjoyable.

Copyright ©️2026 by Frank Gaimari