{
  "id": 2440157,
  "title": "For this summer's indie hits, intergenerational anxiety lives in endless spaces",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/for-this-summers-indie-hits-intergenerational-anxiety-lives-in",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-21T19:00:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The A.V. Club",
    "slug": "the-a-v-club",
    "url": "https://www.avclub.com/liminal-horror-intergenerational-anxiety-endless-spaces-it-ends-backrooms-exit-8"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "This summer, a collection of indie films is exploring the intergenerational anxieties of Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. These movies delve into a shared sense of unease that the world around them has changed, their expectations have been shattered, and the familiar order of things no longer applies. The characters in these films find themselves trapped in endless spaces and endless roads, facing new laws of nature that relate to real-world shifts. They must adapt and navigate these uncharted territories, often with dire consequences.\n\nGrowing up, each generation has faced mounting pressures to secure their futures – owning a home, starting a family, and maintaining stable employment. However, the job market has become increasingly challenging, and the promises made during their formative years now seem hollow. For Gen Z students, graduating into the toughest job market in recent memory has thrown them into a loop of uncertainty, trying to propel themselves to the next stage of adulthood.\n\nMillennials and Gen Xers, who were once told to work hard and expect financial security, now find that their hard work is not paying off as they had hoped. The cost of living has skyrocketed, and many young people are forced to return to their parents' homes, reliving childhood experiences. These generational shifts have made life milestones more difficult to achieve, leading to a sense of instability and discouragement.\n\nFilms like Alex Ullom’s *It Ends*, Genki Kawamura’s *Exit 8*, and Kane Parsons’ *Backrooms* all tap into this pervasive sense of existential dread. They present neverending spaces and roads that reflect the uncertainties of the real world. In *It Ends*, a group of Gen Z friends must learn new rules of the road while traversing an endless road trip, questioning survival and the new reality they now face. Similarly, *Exit 8* uses a subway station hallway as a setting for a Lost Man who becomes trapped in a loop of uncertainty after learning of his girlfriend's pregnancy. The bleak job market and expensive essentials have left many young people questioning their paths to success.\n\nEach of these films explores a different aspect of this shared anxiety, creating a series of funhouse mirrors of our uncertain present. The fear of liminal spaces – spaces that bridge different realms or times – may have its roots in the COVID-19 pandemic, but the feeling of being trapped in an uncanny reality persists. As the cost of basic goods and housing continue to rise, the future seems increasingly unattainable for each generation. The films capture this all-ages dread, reminding us that no matter how hard we search for answers or a way out, we may be stuck in empty rooms and unending roads.",
  "summary": "A trio of liminal thrillers - It Ends, Backrooms, and Exit 8 - explore realistic dread, which manifests as reality breaking its own rules.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}