A Walk on the Weird Side – The Endless

Niche indie cinema is where some of the most creative ideas get brought to the screen. There is a special, intangible quality to these movies that leave a lasting impression despite the noticeable lack of studio backing. Maybe it’s the familiar trappings that come with making a full length feature on a small budget that give it some kind of inherent charm…The Endless is one of those kinds of films. The passion and creativity jump out…and that goes a long way in pushing the envelope for the craft and inspiring the next generation of filmmakers.

It’s easy to see a cult from the outside looking in and say “that’s crazy”. But what happens when things start to make sense that didn’t before? That question is really that engine that drives the psychological thriller aspect of the film. Two men return to Camp Arcadia after a 10 year absence and things are even stranger than they were before. You surely won’t mistake this for a big budget Hollywood production…you probably won’t even recognize anyone in it. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead starred in, produced and co-directed the screenplay written by Benson while Moorhead also served as director of photography. Oh yeah, they also edited the film with Michael Felker. That’s quite a lot on their respective plates, but a clear sign of the vision and desire to make this story into a cinematic reality. These two are no strangers to low budget indie films either. Their previous film, Spring (2014) received a lot of attention in genre circles and is one of the most original horror films I’ve seen. Both of them have also acted in some of their films but it’s clear that their strongest skill-sets are behind the camera.

Right out of the box, things are a little shaky. The introduction to Aaron and Justin (yeah, those are the characters’ names too) makes it apparent that great acting performances weren’t what was going to make or break the film. As individuals they both seemed a bit odd and not entirely comfortable with being the center of attention on camera but, then again, they were playing reformed cult members. As the movie rolled along, what really came through the screen was the camaraderie the two had with each other. While much of the story is far from believable, Benson and Moorhead were the authentic centerpiece the film needed. They were at their bests playing off one another and, as a result, their performances got stronger as the movie went along. Benson was the stronger of the two, aided by the fact he wrote the character and had a more intimate understanding. While those two were at the core of the plot, the other characters played a crucial role in making the story click.

The strongest performances from the supporting cast belonged to Tate Ellington who played the camp’s default leader, Hal, and James Jordan who played the aptly named Shitty Carl. Jordan has something of a wild intensity that served him well in Wind River last year and it was a great fit for this character. He’s the first person we meet as the brothers make their way to Arcadia and he sets a stiff tone early on. Ellington, on the other hand, has more of a lighter touch. Unassuming and seemingly nice, Hal holds a tremendous secret and the burden of that knowledge eats away at him. The character dichotomy comes to fruition down the road as Shitty Carl reveals the secret that Hal refuses to acknowledge and raises questions about who is really trustworthy.

With project like this, you have to get creative…especially when it came to effects shots. Moorehead has a keen eye for framing, but the filming locations didn’t provide much in the way of memorable shots. However, it was refreshing to see practical effects haven’t lost their place in the digital era. Michael Matzur did an outstanding job of knowing when to use and when not to use digital effects. It was enough to add to needed scenes, but there wasn’t an over reliance on digital skills to bail them out of trouble on the back end. There’s only one major CGI shot, and you can tell it’s done on a budget, but the rest are just sprinkled through and ultimately more effective.

Bringing it all together, Jimmy Lavelle, aka The Album Leaf, composed a very cool original score that helped set the ambient mood. Much of what the audience is seeing leaves certain elements up to the imagination, which is a good thing, but having strong original music helped cultivate that air of suspicion and wonder. I don’t think it is going to be one of those memorable, iconic scores, but it definitely has its place and will likely lead to more prominent compositions from Lavelle.

This isn’t the type of movie that most people will see, let alone ever hear of, but it’s right up my alley. Creative, ambitious in its story, and well made despite the financial limitations. The Endless will likely become one of those movies that garners a cult following once it makes its way to on-demand and streaming video services.

Recommendation: If you like creative storytelling and strange plots, you’ll really enjoy this…just don’t set your expectations too high. I saw this in April, so the initial theater run is likely over, but you still may be able to find it in theaters, or just wait a few months and catch it on your couch.