As the film progresses, it becomes clear that we are likely witnessing the "maladaptive daydreaming" of an elderly high school janitor—a version of Jake—who is reflecting on a life he never lived. The "ending things" of the title refers not just to a breakup, but to the janitor's contemplation of suicide as he grapples with his profound isolation.

Charlie Kaufman’s adaptation of I'm Thinking of Ending Things is a dense, cerebral journey into the landscape of a crumbling psyche. It is less a traditional narrative and more an "unsolvable riddle" or a "superb nightmare" that explores themes of loneliness, aging, and the weight of missed opportunities. The Core Premise: A Road Trip Into the Mind

On the surface, the film follows a "Young Woman" (Jessie Buckley) as she travels with her boyfriend, Jake (Jesse Plemons), to meet his parents at their remote farm. However, the movie quickly dissolves into a surreal dreamscape where time is fluid—the parents (Toni Collette and David Thewlis) age and de-age rapidly within a single evening, and the Young Woman’s own identity, profession, and even her name constantly shift.