Charlie Kaufman is unlike any other creative force in the business. One only needs to look at his resume and you’ll see, both as a writer as well as a director, that he’s a singular talent. He sees the world, and interprets it as art, like no one else. At the same time, he often creates things that go off in very unique directions. For the most part, when he’s solely been a writer, Kaufman filters them through someone’s more accessible vision. When he’s behind the camera, however, that filter is gone. His latest project, the adaptation of the book i’m thinking of ending things, is about as unfiltered as it gets. Morphing the novel to fit his concerns and interests, this is shaping up to be the most divisive work of Kaufman’s career. For some, it’s going to be close to his masterpiece, but for others, they’re going to give up only minutes in. Dropping on Netflix this Friday, it’ll undoubtedly spark some conversation, at the very least. The film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name, presenting itself as a psychological horror/thriller, at least on the surface. A young woman (Jessie Buckley) referred to by many names as things progress, is on a long car ride with her boyfriend Jake (Jesse Plemons) to meet his parents. They haven’t been dating too long, though the timeline is hazy, and she’s considering breaking up with him. As they drive through Oklahoma, they engage in wide-ranging philosophical discussions, some of which she’s engaged in, some of which she’s barely paying attention to, all the while having the thought “i’m thinking of ending things” running through her head. Jake almost seems aware of her inner monologue, though it’s unclear. When they arrive at his childhood home, things only get stranger. First, he’s hesitant to go inside. Then, his mother (Toni Collette) and father (David Thewlis) act a bit strangely. Before long, as they enter or exit a room, or as the young woman explores the house, complete with a creepy basement, Jake’s parents keep changing in age. Sometimes they’re middle aged. Sometimes they’re young and vibrant. Sometimes they’re old and decrepit. This makes her eager to leave, though once they get back on the road, a detour only makes things weirder. How it all comes together, as well as how it ties in to the story of a high […]