I’m Thinking of Ending Things, a 2020 Netflix film, uses jump cuts, subtle character changes, heavily digitized effects, and non-linear storytelling to convey a narrative. The film purposefully tries to make the viewer feel disoriented and respond emotionally to each scene. Time collapses throughout, like when Jake’s parents age by decades in the span of a few seconds, or when storylines flash between the janitor and young couple. 

The film has been accessible for streaming solely on Netflix since its release, but many clips of the film are available on social media, Twitter, and other forms of distribution. According to Francesco Cassetti, “In 2011 it was still possible to rent a DVD in a Blockbuster shop, and already in a Redbox kiosk; spectators were able to choose a title from the catalog of Netflix or Hulu and have it in a streaming format on their set or on their computer; a good number of films and clips were also available on YouTube. Similarly, movies were screened on airplanes, as well as in cafés and bars, although often mingled with sports and news. The film industry itself supported these new forms of distribution, moving a film from one channel of distribution to another with increasing velocity” (Cassetti, 2015). Newer media, in the post cinematic era, can be accessed across multiple digital platforms like Netflix. This shows a shift from when consumers relied on screenings in the cinema or watching films from DVDs. 

The film is categorized as a surrealist psychological thriller, which are characteristics of post cinematic media. I’m Thinking of Ending Things challenges the audience to question and understand the plot based on intuition and emotional senses, rather than linear, traditional unfolding. 

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References: 

Casetti, Francesco. The Lumière Galaxy: Seven Key Words for the Cinema to Come. Translated by Claudia Gorbman, Columbia University Press, 2015.

I’m Thinking of Ending Things. Directed by Charlie Kaufman, performances by Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons, Netflix, 2020.