Alex Ullom, the visionary director behind the critically acclaimed indie horror hit It Ends, is already turning heads with his next project. Fresh off its premiere at SXSW and a theatrical release this weekend courtesy of Neon, Ullom’s lo-fi masterpiece is about to be followed by something radically different: a sensory explosion he describes as “straight maximalism.”
A Radical Shift in Tone
While It Ends explores themes of existential dread through the lens of four college graduates trapped on an endless road, Ullom’s upcoming film, tentatively titled 4 X 4: The Event, promises a stark contrast. According to Polygon, Ullom described it as “illegal, off-the-grid MrBeast Games meets political revolution and meets Gaspar Noé.” This bold statement hints at a project that will push boundaries and challenge audiences.
The buzz surrounding 4 X 4: The Event began when Deadline reported that principal photography had already wrapped, boasting a cast including Jaden Smith and Sophia Lillis. While plot details remain shrouded in secrecy, the synopsis suggests a high-stakes competition where eight contestants enter an illegal livestream, forced to “kill or be killed using only what they can order online.” A quick glance at IMDb reveals a tantalizingly brief synopsis: “Battle Royale meets Saw meets Climax.”
During a recent interview, Ullom elaborated on the film’s inspiration. “I fucking love Gaspar,” he confessed. “You wouldn’t be able to tell by watching It Ends. If It Ends is minimalism, this is straight maximalism. I’m trying to overload the fucking theater. I want the entire movie to feel like the title sequence of Enter the Void.” He even referenced the anxiety-inducing title sequence from Enter the Void, which viewers can experience here, but with a strong caution for those prone to seizures.
This maximalist approach is a clear departure from the understated style of It Ends, which features a similarly intense title card roughly 20 minutes into the film. “I love the title drop in It Ends,” Ullom explained, hinting at a similar editing style for his upcoming project.
Casting and Release
When questioned about the setting of 4 X 4: The Event, Ullom remained tight-lipped, offering no clues as to whether it takes place in the present day or a dystopian future. However, he did express immense gratitude for his casting director, Kim Winther, who recently worked on Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, The Odyssey. “It was a massive casting process — shout out Kim Winther,” Ullom said. “But I actually really bonded with every single one of these people in this cast, and I’m very grateful for them to take a shot on a smaller movie with me.”
4 X 4: The Event currently has no release date. In the meantime, fans can catch It Ends in theaters starting August 21st.
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