i'm thinking of ending things

The film opens with a young woman reflecting on her anxiety about her relationship with Jake. She expresses uncertainty about ending their month-long partnership, feeling it has lasted longer than it should.

Jake takes the young woman on a winter road trip to introduce her to his parents. As she waits for him on the street corner, she regrets agreeing to such a trip without ending their relationship first.

During the car ride, the woman drifts into her thoughts while Jake attempts to engage her in conversation. They pass a demolition site with a nostalgic swing set, prompting her to remark on the peculiar scene.

As they journey through the snow, their discussions evolve into philosophical matters. The couple demonstrates a deep understanding of various topics, revealing their intellectual connection but also their isolation.

Upon reaching Jake's parents' farmhouse, tensions arise when Jake hesitates to enter. He chooses to show her the stable first, where they encounter several deceased sheep, fueling her discomfort.

Inside the farmhouse, they initially find Jake's parents missing, leading to a confusing and uneasy atmosphere. While touring the home, the young woman is struck by a baby photo of Jake that strongly resembles her.

Dinner reveals Jake's parents to be warm yet peculiar. The young woman shares her artistic endeavors, but her narrative is riddled with inconsistencies, exacerbating her unease about her relationship with Jake.

During dinner, the young woman receives a cryptic voicemail from someone identified as 'Lucy'. This unsettling message deepens her anxiety and raises questions about her identity and relationship dynamics.

As dessert is served, odd occurrences mount—the young woman's conversation about Gerontology is interrupted by Jake's mother exhibiting signs of confusion. This adds to the surreal feeling enveloping the dinner.

After dinner, the young woman finds herself in Jake's childhood bedroom, where she discovers a journal containing her own poem. This blurs the lines of her reality and leaves her questioning everything.

Sent to the basement for laundry, she receives another mysterious call echoing the prior voicemail. Inside, she finds a flooded washing machine and Jake’s paintings that eerily resemble her own artwork.

The young woman insists on leaving, but amid a worsening blizzard, she encounters confusion related to her identity. Jake erroneously calls her by another name, deepening her struggle with self-awareness.

Jake makes an impulsive stop for ice cream at Tulsey Town, where the young woman recognizes one of the employees but struggles to remember her. The employee cryptically advises her to reconsider continuing on her journey.

At Jake's old high school, she encounters the elderly janitor. Initially evasive, she eventually confides in him about her faltering relationship with Jake, revealing her fragmented memories.

The journey culminates in a surreal encounter where Jake and the young woman see two dancers imitating their movements, leading to a dreamlike ballet sequence. This concludes with Jake meeting a tragic fate at the hands of the janitor.