The Endless

This is a hard movie to review, because I can't really point to a reason why I'm giving it three stars. Is it direction? No, I think it's directed rather smartly. The way the scenes take on a fish-eye quality when there's a pan is annoying, but it makes sense when you know the context (which I refuse to divulge here). The movie feels a bit longer than it needs to, but I couldn't find a cuttable scene in this movie if held at gunpoint. Everything hangs together well as far as plot development, structure, pacing, and character motivation. The acting and dialogue can get occasionally wonky, but it also feels genuine, like real people instead of impeccable actors, if that makes sense. Even when the movie's horrors and mysteries aren't fully explained (to the point that there are some plot holes or poorly explained rules), it never feels like a poorly written script; it just feels like what it's trying to be, which is that there is an eldritch, unspeakable thing happening that humankind is not meant to understand. And yet, for some reason, this movie just didn't connect with me as much as it should. I would never call this movie bad, or say it's riddled with problems. I'm not mad at the lack of carnage; blood-soaked mayhem would be out of place here. And I'm not mad about the slow burn; the movie does it very well. I think, for some people, it will absolutely stick with them and creep them out and be thoroughly entertaining. And for some, it won't. Not because it fails to do what it is trying to do, I can't explain it except to say that I appreciate what the movie does, and I can see why others like it or even love it. For me, it's just okay. But I would encourage people to watch it nonetheless.