Charlie Kaufman’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things is a psychological drama wrapped in a surrealist mystery, blending existential dread, identity crisis, and the fragile line between memory and reality. Based on the 2016 novel by Iain Reid, the film plays with structure, perception, and time—resulting in an experience that’s deliberately disorienting and deeply thought-provoking.
Detailed Summary
The Drive to Nowhere
The film opens with Lucy (or Louisa, Lucia, or simply “the Young Woman”) played by Jessie Buckley, going on a snowy road trip with her boyfriend Jake (Jesse Plemons) to meet his parents. From the beginning, she repeats the phrase, “I’m thinking of ending things,” both suggesting a breakup and hinting at something much darker. Jake seems anxious, overly eager for her approval, and the car ride is filled with strangely philosophical and increasingly cryptic conversations.
Meanwhile, the film cuts periodically to an elderly janitor at a high school—his connection to the main story is unclear at first but looms ominously.
The Parents’ House – Where Time Unravels
At Jake’s childhood home, things quickly go off the rails. His parents (played by Toni Collette and David Thewlis) are initially pleasant but behave erratically. Their ages fluctuate between scenes—at times they’re young and vibrant, then suddenly elderly or sickly. Lucy’s outfit changes inexplicably. Her profession also shifts: poet, physicist, painter. This continuous transformation subtly suggests that nothing we’re seeing is “real.”
Jake becomes increasingly uncomfortable, and Lucy begins to feel trapped—not just in the house, but possibly in Jake’s reality or psyche.
The Return Trip – Descent Into the Surreal
The return trip is marked by worsening weather and darker philosophical musings. Jake becomes withdrawn and obsessive about an ice cream shop in the middle of nowhere, which they stop at despite the storm. The two then arrive at the high school—the same one the janitor works at—where the narrative fractures even further.
Jake disappears inside the school. Lucy follows, wandering through empty, dark hallways. She encounters strange versions of Jake, glimpses into what may be his fantasies or regrets, and finally sees a janitor (the older man we’ve seen intermittently) cleaning up. It becomes evident that he is Jake—an older, possibly delusional or dying version of him.
⇢ VIRAL RIGHT NOW
Movie Ending
The ending is deliberately abstract but profoundly haunting. In the school, the janitor (older Jake) experiences a breakdown, haunted by visions of his younger self and Lucy—who, it’s now clear, was never real. She was an imagined version of a woman he once saw but never approached. The entire story, the road trip, the girlfriend, the dinner—all were constructed narratives inside his mind, possibly as he’s dying of hypothermia in his truck in the school parking lot.
Jake is naked in his truck. He sees a vision of a pig infested with maggots—another hallucination tied to a childhood story. The pig leads him into the school, metaphorically into his past and inner psyche.
The final scene is a surreal stage performance of Jake receiving a Nobel Prize and singing a song from Oklahoma!—a musical referenced several times in the film. He’s surrounded by characters from his delusions. The film ends with a long, quiet shot of the school covered in snow, suggesting death, solitude, and possibly peace.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, I’m Thinking of Ending Things does not have a post-credits scene. However, the film’s ending is so open to interpretation that some viewers may want to let the credits play as they process what just happened.
Type of Movie
This is a psychological drama and surrealist thriller, with strong elements of horror, existential philosophy, and dark comedy. It defies genre conventions and leans heavily into arthouse territory.
Cast
- Jessie Buckley as The Young Woman (Lucy/Lucia/Louisa/etc.)
- Jesse Plemons as Jake
- Toni Collette as Jake’s Mother
- David Thewlis as Jake’s Father
- Guy Boyd as The Janitor
Film Music and Composer
The haunting score is composed by Jay Wadley, combining classical piano pieces and dissonant textures that underscore the film’s tension and existential themes. Music from the musical Oklahoma! is also woven into the narrative, especially in the final sequence.
Filming Locations
Filming took place in Garrattsville, New York, and surrounding upstate New York areas. The desolate, snow-covered landscapes reflect Jake’s isolation and mental decline. The farmhouse and the high school were real locations, used to evoke claustrophobia and emotional deterioration. Snow becomes a character itself—cold, all-consuming, and silent.
⇢ KEEP UP WITH THE TREND
Awards and Nominations
While I’m Thinking of Ending Things didn’t win major mainstream awards, it was nominated for several critical honors, including:
- Best Screenplay (Independent Spirit Awards)
- Best Actress (Gotham Awards for Jessie Buckley)
- Named in many Top 10 Lists of 2020 by critics for its writing and performances.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Kaufman originally intended the film to be more faithful to the novel but changed the ending to reflect a more poetic, theatrical breakdown.
- Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons filmed the car scenes over several weeks with extensive takes to capture shifting moods.
- Toni Collette said the aging/makeup scenes were the most demanding in her career due to the constant changes.
- The janitor’s storyline was shot in a real, unheated school during winter—creating actual discomfort for actor Guy Boyd.
Inspirations and References
- Based on Iain Reid’s 2016 novel of the same name.
- Heavy references to David Foster Wallace, Pauline Kael, and musical theater (Oklahoma!, A Beautiful Mind).
- The quote recitations and poetry (like Wordsworth’s “Lucy” poems) symbolize loss, regret, and identity fragmentation.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Charlie Kaufman’s original script included more scenes delving into Jake’s fantasies—particularly a more extended “Jake as a child” sequence, which was cut for pacing. There is no known alternate ending, but the final stage scene was added late in production as a more abstract interpretation of Jake’s death.
Book Adaptations and Differences
- In the book, the girlfriend has no name—reflecting her fictional nature. The film plays with this more openly.
- The book ends with a shocking moment of violence and a suicide note; the film replaces this with a slow psychological collapse and musical finale.
- Kaufman opted for ambiguity and abstraction rather than the book’s more horror-tinged final twist.
⇢ MOST SHARED RIGHT NOW
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The dinner scene where Jake’s parents rapidly age.
- The ice cream stop at “Tulsey Town” — eerie, stylized, and uncanny.
- The school hallway ballet sequence, choreographed to mirror Jake’s inner conflict.
- The janitor’s final vision of winning a Nobel Prize and singing on stage.
Iconic Quotes
- “I’m thinking of ending things.”
- “You can’t fake a thought.”
- “It’s all one question: do you want to be alone?”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The girlfriend’s name changes on her phone and in the credits, signaling she’s not real.
- Pauline Kael’s film review is quoted verbatim by Lucy, another nod to her being a mental projection.
- Jake references A Beautiful Mind, subtly mirroring his delusions.
- Paintings on Lucy’s phone are actually from artist Ralph Albert Blakelock, known for melancholy, surreal landscapes.
Trivia
- Kaufman wrote the screenplay in under three months.
- Toni Collette studied Alzheimer’s progression to prepare for her role, though her character doesn’t explicitly have it.
- The pig hallucination is lifted from a childhood anecdote Jake shares early in the film.
- Kaufman has said the film is about “the inevitable deterioration of self.”
Why Watch?
If you enjoy cerebral films that challenge your perception of time, identity, and reality, I’m Thinking of Ending Things is a must-watch. It’s a dense puzzle that invites interpretation and rewards rewatching. Not a casual Friday night movie—but a psychological dive into the human condition.
Director’s Other Movies
- Synecdoche, New York (2008)
- Anomalisa (2015)
- Being John Malkovich (1999) – Writer
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) – Writer