I know this one I already somewhat popular, but we need to talk about The Endless. This is one of the few films that explores cosmic horror in all of its confusing beauty. it is a film about family, both good and bad. But more importantly, the film asks how we would act in the face of truly unimaginable events.
There are plenty of movies that aim for cosmic dread, but The Endless achieves something truly unique. It takes the unknowable horrors of the universe and distills them into something personal, intimate, and almost beautiful. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead manage to create something absolutely unique in this time loop horror.
Returning to Camp: A Familiar Setting, Unfamiliar Horrors
The Endless revisits the same universe as Benson and Moorhead’s earlier film, Resolution, but you don’t need to have seen that one to appreciate this one. Although doing so well enhance the plot of The Endless a bit. The story centers on two brothers, Justin and Aaron, who return to a UFO death cult they escaped a decade earlier.
Although the boys are looking for some type of closure, they find something much darker lurking in the camp. As they spend more time in the camp, they realize that time itself is behaving strangely. The cult members seem perpetually young, and unsettling events from their past keep repeating. This is where the film really nails the cosmic horror. These events take place for seemingly no reason and with no regard for how they harm the people in the area. This isn’t malice; it’s just so far removed from us that we cannot comprehend it.
Cosmic Dread Made Personal
The film excels at creating a sense of unease and dread, building suspense through subtle clues and unsettling imagery. What is The Endless? The source of the bizarre phenomena is never fully explained. In cosmic horror, these things rarely are. The Endless leans into that fear of the unknown to create one of the few truly cosmic horror films in recent memory.
The Endless is about something far more profound than just scary monsters. It’s about confronting our fears, accepting our limitations, and finding meaning in a world that often seems chaotic and incomprehensible. It’s these elements that add lasting flavor to what would have otherwise been just another horror movie.
Where Beauty and Terror Intertwine
What truly elevates The Endless is its ability to find beauty in the horror of it all. Despite the unsettling events and the ever-present sense of dread, there are moments of genuine connection between our characters. The film suggests that even in the face of the vast and unknowable, there is still room for human connection and beauty.
The Endless is a reminder that horror can be more than just cheap thrills and jump scares. It can be a vehicle for exploring complex emotions, profound philosophical questions, and, yes, even moments of unexpected beauty. If you’re looking for a horror film that will challenge you, give The Endless a watch. Just be prepared to question everything you thought you knew about the universe.
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