When you expect a lot from a movie just by seeing your favorite actors in it, and it lets you down badly- that’s a very horrible feeling, especially when it’s an apocalyptic thriller that’s supposed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Released in 2018, directed by David M. Rosenthal, “How It Ends” is a film that never actually ends. Halfway through the movie, you will realize that despite having an executable concept of an apocalyptic world, the film fails to give us anything other than boredom and a great deal of dissatisfaction.
Anyways, if this movie makes you utterly confused because of the lack of plot and character depth, then in this article let me clear your confusion. “How It Ends” is an American survival thriller that revolves around a man named Will (played by Theo James) who tries his best to return to his pregnant fiancée Samantha during the time of an apocalypse. Samantha’s father, Tom Sutherland (played by Forest Whitaker), accompanies Will on their journey to Seattle, where Samantha lives. However, a series of apocalyptic events become a significant obstacle to their path.
How It Ends (2018) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
Can a Grumpy Old Marine and a Young Husband Overcome Nature’s Fury to Save a Pregnant Woman?
Will and his pregnant fiancée Samantha (Kat Graham) have recently moved to Seattle. Samantha has kept her pregnancy news a surprise for her parents and asks her husband to pay a visit to them. Samantha’s father, Tom Sutherland, a former Marine Corp, is an old and grumpy man who is often strict and rude to Will. After Will has a not-so-nice dinner with Tom and his wife, he decides to return to Seattle the following day. However, a phone call from Samantha indicates a power outage in their house, so the call is disconnected.
Similarly, a power outage occurs in Chicago, putting Will in great trouble. TV news informs that a significant seismic event is the reason behind this massive blackout. Will’s primary focus is to return home safely to see if his wife is alright. Tom Sutherland intervenes, knowing that his daughter might be in great danger. He commands Will to come with him on a road journey from Chicago to Seattle. Although it seems difficult, Will agrees with Tom and lets him accompany him back to the city. On their way, Tom and Will are attacked by a bunch of goons. Tom is badly injured with broken ribs, causing him to have breathing problems. On their way, they meet a young mechanic named Ricki, who joins them on their journey to go to Seattle. However, many unpleasant surprises await on their journey that they still need to prepare for.
What Caused the Apocalypse?
It is never actually mentioned what exactly caused the apocalypse in “How It Ends.” Seemingly, the makers themselves have no idea. However, by the looks and dialogues between these characters, we can get a pretty good picture that the apocalyptic event in this film is led by a series of seismic events, massive power outages, and strange natural calamities, like a giant cloudy smoke appearing at the end of the film.
But the film doesn’t reveal what caused it. Several theories have been hinted at, like failed government experiments and natural or supernatural phenomena. However, even by the end of the film, you’ll never get to know the truth. If the makers thought that this kind of ambiguity would work on the audience, they were utterly wrong. A nearly 2-hour-long, monotonous, and placid film should at least have some clarity at the end.
What are the Core themes of “How It Ends?”
“How It Ends” tries its best to convey the existential threats humanity faces, paranoia amongst human beings, and the value of human connection. However, a lack of good writing and poor character arcs make all the efforts futile. Ricki’s character, which shows so much potential at the beginning, could have been appropriately used in the film’s resolution. Still, she just vanishes in the middle of the movie without explaining where she went and what might have happened to her. We couldn’t even understand whether or not Tom Sutherland’s wife survived in the film.
What Happened to Ricki and Tom Sutherland?
Even after Ricki joins the team, Will’s car is attacked several times by another group of survivors looking for gas, food, and drink. Ricki helps Will and Tom in their struggle to save themselves, but in order to do that, she accidentally sets a vehicle on fire, killing a group of survivors. Ricki is consumed by guilt, so to avoid any further complications in her life, the following day, she runs away, leaving Will and Tom on their own. Tom is the one who has asked Ricki to join them despite her initial reluctance.
So, imagining Ricki’s uncertain future, Tom becomes even more worried and guilt-ridden. His health condition deteriorates because of his broken ribs. He cannot even breathe, but Will does everything in his capabilities to keep him alive. Will stays focused on the journey and drives towards home, but unfortunately, Tom takes his last breath on the way. Will bids his farewell to Tom and burns the car with Tom’s corpse inside it. Taking a lift in a stranger’s car, Tom finally manages to get near Seattle, but the apocalyptic events have turned the city into ruins. Therefore, after seeing the fatal effect of these apocalyptic events, we must realize that it may not end well for Ricki either. She might not have made it out alive, just like Tom Sutherland.
How It Ends (2018) Movie Ending Explained:
How does it End for Will and Samantha?
Finally, upon reaching Seattle, Will discovers that all the houses in the town have been destroyed and the city has been completely abandoned. Will manages to get inside the ruins of his home and finds a note left by Samantha on the wall. Following the address, Will reaches a cottage in the woods, where Samantha resides with a neighbor named Jeremiah. Jeremiah has saved her, and together, they wait for Will to find them. Samantha apparently trusts Jeremiah, but he looks like a pretty shady character in the film.
He is a software engineer who believes something is happening that’s beyond any scientific explanation. Will refutes his conspiracy theories, leading an argument between them. The following day, Jeremiah manages to lure Will into the woods, hoping to kill him and steal his wife, but Will is well prepared for this. Before Jeremiah can shoot him, Will shoots him to death. Suddenly, a gigantic smog appears in the sky, startling Will.
Wasting no time, Will rushes towards the cottage and escorts Samantha to the car. They hope to outrun this smoky cloud and drive towards uncertainty. But seemingly, the gigantic smokey clouds would engulf them on their way. The film ends with uncertainty about whether Will and Samantha will manage to make it out alive. Perhaps they could not because the nature of the apocalyptic event suggests that no one will be able to survive it.
Despite all the efforts to make the film look like a massive apocalyptic thriller, it fails miserably in various aspects. The bad writing of the characters, the incomplete arcs, and the unnecessary ambiguity make no sense in this movie. The performances by notable actors like Forest Whitaker, Theo James, and Grace Dove couldn’t save the film because it lacks the substance that makes it a great story. However, this film can be enjoyed if you’re crushing on Theo James because his charm is something you can’t ignore throughout the film. This film can also be enjoyed in a very laid-back manner without expecting a great climax or complicated character treatments.
