I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020), written and directed by Charlie Kaufman, is a deeply unsettling psychological horror film that takes audiences on a mind-bending journey through themes of memory, identity, and existential dread. Based on the 2016 novel by Iain Reid, the film captures the surreal and often disorienting nature of reality through its complex narrative and haunting visuals. Known for his thought-provoking and intricate storytelling, Kaufman delivers a film that challenges conventional filmmaking, blending elements of horror, mystery, and drama to explore the fragility of the human mind.

The plot centers on a young woman, played by Jessie Buckley, who is traveling with her boyfriend, Jake (played by Jesse Plemons), to visit his parents on a remote farm. Though she is initially unsure about the relationship, the trip takes on a strange and surreal quality as she begins to experience increasingly bizarre and unsettling events. As the day progresses, the boundaries between reality and imagination blur, leading the woman—and the audience—into an increasingly distorted reality where time, identity, and memory seem malleable and unreliable.

One of the film’s central themes is the concept of identity. The protagonist is unnamed throughout much of the film, and her internal monologue is filled with conflicting thoughts and emotions about her relationship with Jake and her sense of self. As she reflects on her past, her experiences, and her future, it becomes clear that her identity is in flux. Kaufman masterfully uses this ambiguity to heighten the sense of disorientation, allowing the audience to feel as though they, too, are trapped in a maze of shifting realities.