(Editor's note: you can watch At Tne End here.)
It’s long been a staple of many film genres and painful parts of reality that by putting a gun to someone’s head, you make them do just about anything under the fear of being killed by your slightest whim. Why? Because people value their lives; even the most ironic emo hipster that jokes about wishing they were dead would still realise in that moment the value they place upon their own continued existence. The simple of fear of death can see refugees crossing continents for the sake of survival, turn people against each other when resources become scarce, or even go to war for fear of being attacked. But what if that price of survival became too great an for many death would seem the better option? This is the focus of the excellent science fiction short film, At The End, when the only escape from an extinction level natural disaster becomes enslavement by an alien race.
As a nearby star turns supernova, scientists predict the resulting blast will wipe out all life on Earth. In the face of human extinction, an alien race shows up offering an exodus of salvation in exchange for slavery. This leaves everyone with a single choice: live as a slave or die as a human. We follow two former World Health Organisation doctors, Garrsion (Chris Delvin – Windtalkers) and Evelyn (Ronja Koepe – It’s Dark Here) on their journey to the last departing transport still battling with that decision.
At The End takes a simple and immediately relatable ideal, “Is it better to live as a slave or die as a free man?”, smears enough grey over each option to make it interesting and superbly frames it all in a science fiction setting. Right from the start, as the news footage and brief television debate bring us up to speed both sides of the argument that are well-conveyed with equal uncertainty. Scientists claim the supernova will wipe us out, “scientist have been wrong before”, which pulls in great reference to the never ending global warming/climate change debate. Then, there’s all manner of speculation over what alien slavery will actually entail. Will it be chains and death camps or simply an equivalent to the working class of human society? The widespread reaction in the face of such an unclear cataclysmic choice feels completely on point: panic, fear and widespread panic. Writer and director Jason J. Whitmore shows an excellent grasp and understanding of his subject matter to within mere minutes as he creates a fully immersive and believable setting before we’ve even met the main characters. Throughout the film, the presence of graffiti and propaganda posters continually reinforce the heavy conflict between those wanting to leave or choosing to stay.
The resulting story of the journey and relationship between Garrison and Evelyn carries a welcome familiarity of Gareth Edward’s seminal alien road movie, Monsters. The pair provides a fascinating moral duality as they trek towards the last evacuation site. Garrison is fixed on their destination, looking only ahead and prioritizing only their own survival. By contrast, Evelyn is looking back at the damage society is doing to itself in than face of extinction and openly questioning whether such extremities of living are worth sacrificing what makes us human. Has the price of survival become too high? In one great moment, Evelyn tells Garrison that aliens can’t change who they are but the resulting show that Garrison is no longer the humanitarian doctor she fell in love with. This is best shown when the pair find themselves with an unexpected patient; while Evelyn wants to stop and help him, Garrison knows they must keep moving if they’re going to make the evacuation.
Despite the impressive visual effects (the ever present supernova in the sky is quite beautiful), there are instances where the lower budget takes its toll. Such as the gun shot noises in a close quarters struggle sounding highly unrealistic. It’s an unfortunate instance that breaks the film’s cocooning surrealism. There’s also the odd moment where the dialogue feels a bit too overly dramatic. The film’s strength is its based off realism and stretching its characters too far endangers that. However, it does achieve plenty of good emotion that’s enhanced well by Joel Goffin’s meek and thoughtful score, perfectly capturing the film’s tone.
At The End is a short that accomplishes more in 18 minutes than some feature length blockbusters try for. It’s a thought-provoking examination of human nature within a science fiction context. It’s a great piece of filmmaking and entertainment that deserves your consideration.
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