The Endless (2017) is a mind-bending, slow-burn science fiction thriller written, directed by, and starring Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. It’s a haunting exploration of time, trauma, and the nature of belief — set against the backdrop of a mysterious cult that might not be what it seems.
Detailed Summary
The Return to Camp Arcadia
Justin and Aaron are two brothers who escaped a UFO death cult ten years ago. They live a meager, unfulfilling life, working as cleaners and struggling financially. One day, Aaron receives a videotape from members of the cult they once fled — Camp Arcadia — showing everyone seemingly alive and well, contradicting Justin’s claim that the group had committed mass suicide.
Aaron becomes nostalgic for the sense of belonging they once had, while Justin remains deeply skeptical. After much arguing, Justin reluctantly agrees to visit the camp for one day.
Arrival and Uneasy Familiarity
At Camp Arcadia, the brothers are welcomed warmly by the cult members — Hal, Anna, Tim, and others. Everyone looks exactly the same as when they left ten years ago. Nobody seems to have aged. Aaron is thrilled, but Justin becomes increasingly disturbed.
The camp members are friendly yet strangely evasive about the “entity” they worship. They refer to it as something that “shows” them things and brings them “gifts.” The entire camp seems to revolve around this unseen presence, symbolized by an infinity logo (∞).
Strange Phenomena and Temporal Loops
Justin begins noticing bizarre occurrences: two moons in the sky, impossible distances, and time anomalies. People at the camp perform repetitive actions or vanish into thin air. A man off the main grounds, “Smiling Dave,” repeatedly hangs himself only to reappear seconds later.
Eventually, Justin discovers video tapes and photographs that show previous visitors reliving the same events over and over — forever trapped in repeating time loops of varying lengths. The camp members are stuck in one such loop that resets every ten years, while others nearby are caught in shorter ones (minutes, hours, or days).
The Entity Revealed
The entity itself is never fully seen, but it is felt everywhere — a cosmic, god-like force that manipulates time and watches its victims as if for entertainment. It gifts them immortality, but at the cost of endless repetition. Each loop is a self-contained prison, with the entity resetting time before allowing its captives to die.
Aaron and Justin realize that if they don’t escape before their loop resets, they will be trapped in Camp Arcadia forever, repeating the same decade for eternity.
Movie Ending
As the brothers attempt to leave, Justin’s car breaks down at the edge of the camp — right as the second moon appears, signaling the loop’s imminent reset. Desperate, they push the car down the dirt road while the ground shakes violently and the sky distorts with cosmic ripples.
Meanwhile, across the camp, we see the other trapped inhabitants realizing their fate: some calmly accept it, while others scream as the world folds in on itself. The entity’s unseen presence grows, watching its victims like an omnipotent observer.
Justin and Aaron manage to restart the car just before the loop resets. As they drive out of the boundary, the shaking stops, the second moon fades, and they emerge into the real world again — free, at least for now.
In the car, Aaron smiles, saying he wants to stop running from everything in life. Justin, ever the cynic, sighs in relief but hesitates at the sight of a bird flying parallel to them — the same bird that was seen looping endlessly in Camp Arcadia. The movie ends ambiguously, hinting that perhaps their freedom isn’t total, or that time’s grasp extends farther than they think.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, The Endless does not have any post-credits scenes. However, some fans have noted that the ambient sound that plays during the credits resembles the entity’s distorted noises — a subtle suggestion that it’s still watching.
Type of Movie
The Endless is a science fiction psychological horror film with strong elements of cosmic horror and mystery drama. It combines the existential dread of Lovecraftian storytelling with emotional themes of family, trauma, and free will.
Cast
- Justin Benson as Justin Smith
- Aaron Moorhead as Aaron Smith
- Callie Hernandez as Anna
- Tate Ellington as Hal
- Lew Temple as Tim
- James Jordan as Shitty Carl
Film Music and Composer
The score, composed by Jimmy LaValle, is atmospheric and unsettling, featuring minimalistic synth tones and ambient drones. The music complements the film’s eerie, otherworldly tone, subtly reinforcing the sense of cyclical doom and timelessness.
Filming Locations
The movie was filmed primarily in Southern California, near the San Diego area. The camp’s rustic setting and surrounding forest were chosen deliberately to evoke an isolated, timeless feel. The barren desert and wooded areas reinforce the idea of people trapped in a place both natural and supernatural — an endless landscape where time itself has lost meaning.
Awards and Nominations
- Tribeca Film Festival 2017: Official Selection
- Sitges Film Festival 2017: Nominated for Best Film
- Fangoria Chainsaw Awards 2019: Nominated for Best Limited Release Film
While not a major box-office success, The Endless was critically praised for its originality and smart world-building.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- The film is set in the same universe as Benson and Moorhead’s earlier film Resolution (2012), with several crossover characters and plot connections.
- The directors also handled much of the cinematography, editing, and visual effects themselves, working on a microbudget.
- Many of the cast members were close friends or previous collaborators of the directors.
- The infinity symbol seen throughout the movie was chosen to subtly reference both eternity and imprisonment.
- The car breakdown scene was shot using practical effects with minimal CGI.
Inspirations and References
- The film draws heavily on H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror — especially the idea of incomprehensible beings that manipulate human existence.
- It was inspired by the directors’ fascination with cults and time paradoxes.
- The visual tone borrows from Terrence Malick’s ethereal cinematography and David Lynch’s surreal storytelling.
- The concept of endless loops and divine punishment echoes Groundhog Day, but with a far darker philosophical twist.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
While no major alternate ending was shot, early drafts included a more tragic conclusion where one brother escapes and the other remains trapped in the loop. Some deleted scenes focused on the camp’s inhabitants, providing more insight into their daily routines, but these were cut to maintain mystery.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The Endless is not based on a book, but it functions as a spiritual continuation of Resolution (2012). Both movies explore similar themes — human denial, loops of trauma, and the unseen manipulator behind reality — but from different perspectives.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The first reveal of the two moons, signaling the supernatural nature of the entity.
- The moment Justin finds the countless video tapes documenting decades (perhaps centuries) of loops.
- Smiling Dave’s disturbing repeated suicide sequence.
- The final escape, where the brothers drive out just as reality collapses behind them.
Iconic Quotes
- Hal: “We bring something out of you. It shows you what you need to see.”
- Justin: “I don’t want to die at the bottom of a goddamn cult compound.”
- Aaron: “Maybe it’s not about control. Maybe it’s about surrender.”
- Hal: “You can’t deny your nature forever.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The camp’s Cabin 5 is a direct reference to Resolution’s setting.
- The entity’s “camera-eye” sound mimics the old 16mm film reel noise, symbolizing how it records and rewinds reality.
- The number 10 recurs frequently — marking the loop cycle duration.
- The bird looping in the sky subtly mirrors the human loops below.
- The brothers’ car license plate contains the initials “RS,” nodding to Resolution.
Trivia
- Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead often refer to the film as their “emotional sci-fi sequel.”
- The entire film was shot in under 20 days.
- The movie’s time loops were mapped mathematically in the script to maintain internal consistency.
- The directors edited the film on laptops using Adobe Premiere.
- The film’s visual effects budget was less than the catering budget of most Hollywood productions.
Why Watch?
Watch The Endless if you enjoy smart, atmospheric sci-fi that prioritizes ideas over spectacle. It’s a haunting exploration of human nature, faith, and the horror of being trapped by your own choices — or by time itself. It’s not just about escaping a cult; it’s about escaping your own cycle.
Director’s Other Movies
- Resolution (2012)
- Spring (2014)
- Synchronic (2019)
- Something in the Dirt (2022)
