Review of The Endless (2017) by Garry A — 13 Jul 2018

Concluding the Benson-Moorhead marathon we arrive at 'The Endless' which operates in the same shared universe as their superb debut picture, 'The Resolution'. Two brothers receive a video taped message, supposedly sent by the cult they escaped from a decade previously, which ultimately entices the pair back to visit their estranged former acquaintances.

It is clear that the pair have conflicting memories of their time spent at the commune. The elder brother Justin (played by director Justin Benson) is more reluctant to return, having escaped their clutches ten years previously just before he believed a mass-suicide was about to take place, taking younger brother Aaron (again played by co-director Aaron Moorhead) along with him. The pair have since struggled to adjust to life outside the camp, and the arrival of the video piques their curiosity just enough to draw them back.

The film does an excellent job of continuing this disparity between the siblings when they eventually return. Aaron quickly settles back into camp-life, convincing his older brother to stay an extra day; Justin is immediately sceptical and suspicious of the behaviour of the inhabitants there. However events soon conspire to make him question his entire perception of both the cult's purpose and it's members reluctance to leave.

Like their previous work, the film works on many levels. Ultimately it serves as an examination of the existence of cult communities, and what drives members to devote their lives to abandoning the outside world. However Benson and Moorhead spin this by adding a supernatural element to proceedings, attempting to explain in a scientific fashion why they stay, and indeed even why eventually these communities resort to the finality of mass suicides.

The genius here though, is how they tie this film into the mythos of their earlier work. Fortunately I watched Resolution beforehand, without knowing how directly a sequel 'The Endless' is, but I think a lot of what occurs could be lost on newcomers to the pair's output. It would still exist as an excellent science-fiction picture, but it perfectly complements 'Resolution' to such a degree that the impact of it would no doubt be diminished and it is highly recommended that you watch that movie beforehand.

It is interesting that the pair decided to direct and star here. I can't recall any other film that has co-directors who cast themselves in both the lead roles, but it works. Both offer compelling performances and never fail to convince in their brotherly relationship. Like their previous work, the air of tension throughout is almost overpowering, but again it is subtle direction that causes it. Slight changes in film frame-rate, or off-kilter performances give the film an other-worldly feel. Again it is the script that is the star though - the way it manages to tell a new story while incorporating events in a previous movie is a bold move, as it risks alienating newcomers as I mentioned before, but ultimately it balances on that fine line of rewarding their repeat audience as well as enticing new fans to seek out their previous work. It is a masterpiece and one of the best films of the year so far.