How It Ends Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A guy really, *really* wants to marry his girlfriend, but first he has to drive across a country gone bonkers with her grumpy dad…and then the movie just *stops* like someone unplugged the camera.

🍿 How It Ends: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Initial Chaos and Disconnection

Will travels to Chicago to ask his girlfriend Sam’s father, Tom, for permission to marry her. Their meeting doesn’t go well. The next day, while Sam and Will are on a phone call, an inexplicable event cuts off all communication with the West Coast. All flights are canceled. Power outages ensue. Will and Tom decide to set out together on a journey to Seattle to find Sam.

The Perilous Road Trip Begins

Will and Tom encounter numerous obstacles on their journey. They face roadblocks, encounter hostile survivors, and struggle with limited resources. Tom’s military background proves useful as they navigate these dangers, but the tension between them remains palpable. Their journey tests their limits, forcing them to rely on each other despite their differences.

Loss and a Changed World

As they continue westward, Tom sustains a fatal injury during an encounter with a motorcycle gang. Will is forced to carry on alone, eventually finding a family who helps him reach his destination. The landscape becomes increasingly devastated, revealing the true scale of the disaster that has befallen the country. The world they knew is gone.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Will Younger (Theo James): A determined man journeying across a post-apocalyptic landscape to reach his pregnant fiancée.
• Samantha Sutherland (Kat Graham): Will’s pregnant fiancée who awaits him in Seattle amidst the chaos.
• Tom Sutherland (Forest Whitaker): Samantha’s skeptical father and a former Marine who reluctantly accompanies Will on his dangerous journey.
• Ricki (Grace Dove): A resourceful mechanic who initially aids Will and Tom in their quest, showcasing survival skills.
• Jeremiah (Josh Cruddas): A paranoid neighbor who becomes an antagonist due to his infatuation with Sam and belief in conspiracy.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Sam: “Something’s wrong.” – Spoken during a phone call with Will as the initial apocalyptic event begins, immediately creating suspense.
• Ricki: “Cheyenne, Chinook, Chickasaw, Apache. I just think it’s funny that the Army named its helicopters after tribes they tried to wipe out.” – This quote is an example of dark humor and social commentary in the film.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $20,000,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 How It Ends Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into this movie expecting a wild ride, and while there were some cool moments, I left feeling…empty. Forest Whitaker was awesome as the grumpy dad, but the story felt like it was going somewhere and then just *stopped*. I was so invested in seeing Will and Sam reunite, but the ending was like the writers just gave up. The scene with the pyroclastic flow was intense! I wanted more answers, though!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Viewers who enjoy post-apocalyptic thrillers with a focus on character relationships”
  • “Fans of Theo James or Forest Whitaker”
  • “Those who don’t mind ambiguous endings”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Gun violence”
  • “Mild language”
  • “Some disturbing images”

Professional Reviews

• Generic Film Reviewer: “How It Ends promises a thrilling post-apocalyptic journey but delivers a meandering plot with underdeveloped characters and a frustratingly abrupt ending. Forest Whitaker provides a strong performance, but it’s not enough to save this film from its narrative shortcomings. The lack of explanation for the cataclysmic event leaves viewers feeling unfulfilled.
• Sci-Fi Fanatic: “As a sci-fi fan, I was intrigued by the premise, but the execution fell flat. The movie hints at a larger disaster but never commits to explaining it, which feels like a cop-out. The pacing is uneven, and the relationships between characters aren’t fully explored. The ending is what truly kills this film, leaving you with more questions than answers and feeling cheated out of a proper resolution.

Audience Reactions

Whitaker’s performance was the only redeeming quality.: The initial setup and mystery were intriguing, but the lack of resolution left many viewers disappointed and frustrated with the ending.

The journey across the apocalyptic landscape was visually stunning.: The abrupt ending killed all the suspence.

Overall Consensus: A promising apocalyptic thriller that ultimately fails to deliver due to its underdeveloped plot, ambiguous ending, and lack of explanation for the cataclysmic event.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Some of the soldiers in the movie at the roadblock scene were actual members of the Canadian Armed Forces, adding a layer of realism to the film.”
• “Filming took place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, chosen for its landscapes that could convincingly double as various locations across the United States.”

🖥️ How to Watch How It Ends?

How It Ends is currently available to stream on Netflix. While not available for individual purchase, a Netflix subscription provides access to this and a wide variety of other movies and shows. Check your local listings for potential future availability on other streaming platforms or for digital rental/purchase options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed How It Ends, you might like these similar films:

• The Road (2009): Shares a similar post-apocalyptic setting and the theme of a journey through a desolate landscape.
• 2012 (2009): Features widespread disaster and societal collapse, though with a focus on global-scale events.
• The Book of Eli (2010): Also involves a journey across a post-apocalyptic America with a focus on survival and unexpected dangers.

🛒 How It Ends Related Products

• The Road: Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel offers a bleak and poignant exploration of survival in a post-apocalyptic world, similar to the themes explored in ‘How It Ends’.
• Bugout Bag – Emergency Survival Kit: A comprehensive emergency kit filled with essential supplies for surviving unexpected disasters, featuring food, water, first-aid, tools, and shelter.
• Apocalypse Survival Skills: A guide that includes everything from urban and wilderness survival to first aid, foraging, and self-defense.
• Forest Whitaker Signed Autograph – ‘How It Ends’ Photo: A professionally printed photograph from ‘How It Ends’, personally hand-signed by Forest Whitaker. This is a perfect keepsake for fans of the movie and the acclaimed actor.

🎧 Soundtrack

How It Ends features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Last Exit to Brooklyn” – performed by Dr. Steven Trip and Lawrence Sam Goldings

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

4 Movies That Forgot To Tie Up Loose Ends – Obsessive Pop Culture Disorder

Ever get annoyed when a movie just…ends without resolving anything? This video dives into films that totally dropped the ball on tying up loose ends. Honestly, it’s kinda cathartic to see other movies that did the same thing as this one. You might appreciate the tt5246700 ending more, or less, after this!

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