‘It Ends’ Receives Critical Acclaim as Rotten Tomatoes Score Hits 95%

Horror has emerged as a genre where young directors can showcase their talents this year, with breakout hits from filmmakers in their twenties reshaping audience expectations. Following the box office success of films like ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms,’ a new wave of horror voices has been gaining traction throughout 2026.

Joining this movement is Alexander Ullom, a first-time feature director whose personal approach to genre filmmaking is turning heads on the festival circuit. His debut has been generating buzz since its premiere over a year ago, and it is now finally reaching wide audiences in theaters.

Alexander Ullom’s ‘It Ends’ is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 95%, following four friends whose post-college plans are derailed when a wrong turn leaves them trapped on an endless backroad. The film premiered at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival in March 2025, and Neon acquired worldwide theatrical rights in December of that year, paving the way for its wide release this weekend.

Ullom took on multiple roles for the project, serving as writer, director, and editor, while also appearing in a small role. The film features Phinehas Yoon, Akira Jackson, Noah Toth, and Mitchell Cole as the four recent graduates whose late-night food run spirals into a nightmarish, never-ending journey, with Carrie Carusone and Evan Barber producing.

Critics have responded enthusiastically to Ullom’s direction, especially considering the challenge of maintaining tension with a cast primarily confined to a single vehicle. Reviewers have commended the film’s ability to blend existential dread with dark humor, with one critic highlighting the tonal balance between terror and quieter, more reflective moments as a significant strength.

The film’s premise is rooted in something more personal than typical genre conventions. Ullom has discussed his experience graduating college during the pandemic and his struggles with dissociative depression, which inform the film’s central character, James. His jaded perspective on the future resonates with the film’s broader themes about entering adulthood only to confront monotony.

Not every review has been entirely positive, with some critics noting that the film’s central concept can feel stretched over its runtime, even while praising Ullom’s talent for casting largely unknown actors who deliver compelling performances. Nevertheless, the overall critical consensus has positioned ‘It Ends’ as one of the standout horror releases of the year.

Ullom’s career is already progressing beyond this debut. He has completed work on another Neon horror project titled ‘4 X 4: The Event,’ which will star Sophia Lillis, Jaden Smith, Jacob Tremblay, and Dylan Minnette as contestants trapped in a disturbing and deadly livestream competition. This suggests that Ullom’s knack for high-tension, confined premises is not a one-off.

With ‘It Ends’ now playing in theaters and gaining traction from its strong critical reception, Ullom is poised to become one of the genre’s most closely watched new voices, further solidifying 2026 as a remarkable year for young horror filmmakers making their mark on the big screen.

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