The Endless

The Endless is a thought-provoking sci-fi horror film written and directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, the duo known for their unique blend of psychological thrills and scientific theories. The Endless premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in 2017, where it garnered critical acclaim for its innovative storytelling and atmospheric tension. The film centers around two brothers, Aaron (Aaron Moorhead) and Justin (Justin Benson), who were once part of a mysterious cult-like community known as the Waywards. Founded by a charismatic leader, Arbor Davidson (Troy Wagner), the group adheres to a unique set of principles that blend Christian and Buddhist philosophies, emphasizing the importance of accepting death as a natural part of life. However, after seven years in the cult, Aaron and Justin became increasingly disillusioned with the Waywards' teachings, perceiving them as cult-like and irrational. They eventually escaped, leaving behind the friends, family, and the only life they had ever known. The brothers' return to their hometown of Nova Hydrate, Arizona, marks the beginning of a journey that will challenge their perceptions of reality and force them to confront the traumas of their past. As they settle back into their old lives, they're met with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion, as locals struggle to understand why two intelligent and talented young men would throw away the promise of a successful future with a seemingly crazy cult. The narrative is presented in a non-linear fashion, with fragmented flashbacks and dream sequences interwoven throughout the main storyline. This style allows the filmmakers to subvert traditional narrative structures and mirror the disjointed nature of human memory. As Aaron and Justin delve deeper into the workings of the Waywards, they become increasingly entangled in the cult's internal politics, where power struggles and conflicting ideologies threaten to tear the community apart. One of the most striking aspects of The Endless is its exploration of grief, loss, and the search for meaning in life. Aaron, in particular, is plagued by the memory of an event known as "the Loop," where the community's adherents, believing death to be merely a temporary state, attempt to break free from the cycle by deliberately killing themselves. Justin, on the other hand, seems less troubled by their past and struggles to maintain his connection with the reality he now inhabits. As Aaron becomes more fascinated by the cult's principles and more deeply entrenched in the group, Justin starts to question whether his brother's actions are a genuine attempt to make amends or a descent into madness. The divide between the brothers deepens, mirroring the schism within the Waywards themselves. This internal conflict threatens the very fabric of the community as more and more members begin to experience what appears to be a series of bizarre and inexplicable events. With its innovative storytelling, The Endless pays homage to the philosophical ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche, the physicist's concept of a cyclical universe, and, more abstractly, to the principles of ancient Greek tragedy. This thought-provoking sci-fi horror film challenges traditional notions of identity and asks whether an idea is right or wrong when the world outside appears increasingly uncertain. While The Endless defies straightforward categorization, its exploration of the human condition – specifically, the struggle to find a new purpose after experiencing a traumatic event or the loss of a loved one – is universally relatable. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead have crafted a visually stunning, cerebral, and hypnotic film that lingers long after the credits roll, begging viewers to ponder the meaning of their own existence.