How It Ends

By: Maggie Stankiewicz

How It Ends is a hilarious mid-apocalyptic romp through Los Angeles brought to the screen by writer-director duo Zoe Lister-Jones (who also stars in the film) and husband Daryl Wein. The film follows a downtrodden, snack-loving stoner through her last night on Earth, a surprisingly feel-good journey full of familiar faces, belly laughs and impressive performances from its cast – both household names and up-and-comers. How It Ends doesn’t show audiences anything that hasn’t been done before, but it does it with heart and genuine humor that don’t often pair with the end of days. In a world rattled by the coronavirus, views might be tempted to steer clear of films about loneliness and death, but How It Ends chooses joy instead of despair – and it’s better for it.

Both Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein are seasoned filmmakers, writers and performers – and their distinct styles mesh together well during the movie’s eighty-eight minute run time. Wein (mostly well-known for his acclaimed “dramedy” White Rabbit) and Lister-Jones (celebrated for her reimagining of a beloved property in The Craft: Legacy) have created a well-done film that doesn’t seem to suffer from a lower budget and mid-pandemic production. Instead, they’ve taken the maelstrom of emotions that stemmed from lockdown, existential dread and a world gone mad and created an entertaining reminder that we’re all doing the best we can.

How It Ends follows Liza (Zoe Lister-Jones) as she blazes a trail through Los Angeles to attend a morbid but apropos farewell party before a meteor hits Earth and obliterates the planet. Liza is alone up until this point, but only in the sense that we’re all alone. We always have other versions of ourselves talking to us, conjuring memories, and stirring conflicts. In Liza’s case, this other version of her is a portrait of her youth brought to life on screen by The Craft: Legacy alum Cailee Spaeny. This younger version of herself convinces Liza that there’s more to do than get high and eat carbs – setting a wacky and poignant chain of events in motion.

The interactions between present-day Liza and young Liza are the heart of this film, offering the central character an opportunity to confront and reconcile with past events, buried truths and unfinished business. Conceptually, this narrative device is worrisome, to say the least, but in the case of How It Ends viewers are lucky enough to witness the perfect storm of earnestness, chemistry and a smart script in the hands of capable actors. These moments of revelations and introspection are punctuated by vignettes featuring the likes of Colin Hanks, Nick Kroll, Bobby Lee, Olivia Wilde and more household names. Each tale a tributary that Liza takes, leading her to another revelation or confrontation to carry into the apocalypse.

This is a movie that sounds downright dismal on paper, but each character is self-actualized enough to face their impending death with a sense of reverence and peace. It serves as a reminder that it’s never too late to grow or truly care for oneself or others. Even if the clock is ticking, and it always is, we can make a change for the better. How It Ends offers a morsel of hope in a world that often seems hopeless, during an era where we need it most. For this reason, the visible constraints of filming during COVID-19 only reinforce the message of the film. Even when it’s bad, or hard – we can find moments of warmth and joy.