If you could communicate with a loved one who had passed on, would you want to open that door? This unoriginal yet still compelling question is the backbone of Endless, directed by Scott Speer. This teen fantasy drama premiered on Friday, August 14th and is currently available in theaters or on demand.

Endless is a mixed bag. It has a relatively predictable plot, mediocre writing, generally subpar acting, and incorporates clunky dialogue in an effort to explain to the audience concepts that better storytelling would allow them to put together for themselves. However, the film is also a great aesthetic pleasure and becomes more impactful as it progresses toward its emotional ending. I will here focus on the construction of this beautiful aesthetic rather than the missteps in other places.

With the exception of certain awkward or abrupt transitions between shots, Endless is a visually gorgeous film. The coloring is artistic and eye-catching. The settings are lovely. If you were to pause this movie at any given moment there is a good chance that the image on your screen would be a photograph you might see on a movie poster. It is fitting that a film which focuses on a young artist and the power of art to connect people would be visually appealing.

Endless’s pleasing aesthetic is created not only through visuals, but also through music. The soundtrack is unobtrusive but still significant. The auditory background of the film might go unnoticed because it does such a good job of blending into what it occurring on screen. The music sets the tone for the film, and the choice of generally soft, laid-back, and yet emotional songs serves this story well. The pieces chosen mesh with the temporal setting of the film and the ages of the characters.

The music is especially significant toward the end of the movie when it heightens the emotional build toward the climax. In combination with powerful visuals, this music turns something rather cliché scene into something impactful. This sentiment applies, to a lesser extent, to the rest of the film. While there are certainly many elements lacking in Endless, the aesthetic created by the music and visuals is exciting to experience.

For a movie about transcending the boundaries of death, Endless lacks depth and originality. But for a movie about art and its ability to break barriers, it is a pleasant film. A young woman conveys her love through charcoal sketches. An old woman remembers her love through playing the piano. And we, the audience, are left to ponder what it is in this material world we hold dear enough to contain our own love for one another.