‘Eternity’ offers a new take on the afterlife

As with almost all recent A24 releases, “Eternity” offers an interesting premise, solid acting and vibrant, Wes Anderson-esque color grading.

Directed by David Freyne, “Eternity” offers a new interpretation of the afterlife. In this film, recently deceased people arrive at a purgatory-like train station called the Junction, and with the help of their Afterlife Coordinator (AC), they have a week to decide where to spend their eternity. At the Junction, everyone is the age they were at their happiest. However, everyone can choose only one eternity. Anyone who tries to escape is thrown into the Void, which means endless darkness forever.

The movie opens with elderly couple, Larry (Miles Teller) and Joan (Elizabeth Olsen), driving to a gender reveal party. At the party, Larry chokes on a pretzel and dies. Once he arrives at the Junction, his AC, Anna, explains the afterlife’s rules, and the choice Larry has to make.

Joan soon reunites with Larry, but encounters Luke, her first husband who died in the Korean War, in the process. Luke has waited for Joan for decades in order to spend eternity with her. Now, Joan faces a tough decision: does she choose her husband of 65 years, or the first man she ever loved?

Interestingly, the film doesn’t linger on the afterlife’s rules. Instead, it fulfills the fairly established trope of a main character arriving in a strange new place, being both justifiably confused and annoyed with their confusion.

The rules of eternities are quickly explained, and when Larry asks who the ACs work for, Anna gives a vague answer. This movie knows that its heart doesn’t lie in the mechanics of the afterlife it has created, but the relationships. While learning more about this world would’ve been interesting, the movie’s decision to leave out the specifics works to its benefit, allowing the story and dialogue to focus on the characters.

Speaking of dialogue, this film was surprisingly funny. One may expect a fairly serious film based on the content matter. Still, it was actually really comedic and each of the actors delivered their lines with an entertaining cleverness missing from many recent theatrical releases.

Despite the lack of exposition working to the film’s overall benefit, there are times where the rules of this world seemingly fold in on themselves. And even though the film is marketed as a romantic comedy, it falls more in line with dramedy, as the last 30 minutes are tear-soaked and emotional, and a strong departure from the light-hearted first hour.

The film features several moments where the audience is led to believe the movie is almost over. At its best, this could be an artistic choice to mimic near-death experiences. Yet at its worst, it becomes a confusing turn of events to decipher what Joan truly wants. Her values remain a bit vague at the end, and the ending itself, while cinematic, falls a little flat. This conclusion leaves the themes of the movie somewhat open-ended, perhaps not as intended by the filmmakers.

Overall, “Eternity” presents a fresh perspective and approach to an enduring concept. The actors effortlessly manage both comedic and heartfelt moments, creating chemistry that could convince anyone they have known each other for decades. Its film-like, warm color grading is pleasantly A24. It was a fun watch, even if the themes and afterlife rules may not have been its strongest points.