I watched It Ends With Us expecting a heartfelt drama about abuse, love, and growth from the perspective of Lily Bloom played by Blake Lively and directed by Justin Baldoni who also plays Ryle. What I got was a film that both moved me and left me frustrated.
The opening scene stuck with me. Lily stands at the podium at her father's funeral, says she'll list five things she loved about him, then says nothing. That silence spoke volumes, and it set the emotional tone well. I felt her anger and confusion without a single word. But after that, the film started to lose its grip.
When Lily meets Ryle, I was interested. The chemistry was believable, and the tension between wanting something more and settling for less felt real. But things quickly escalated—too fast, in my opinion. Ryle's charm turned dark, but the way the abuse was shown at first made me question what actually happened. The kitchen scene was vague, almost like the film didn't want to commit to saying, "Yes, he hit her." I had to rely on flashbacks later to realize just how serious it was.
I liked the way Lily's past with Atlas was shown. The flashbacks made me feel for both of them, and I believed their connection. But then came the coincidences: Atlas randomly showing up as a restaurant owner, Allysa being Ryle's sister, and Lily somehow having a high-end flower shop in Boston with no real explanation. It made the story feel less grounded.
The most powerful moment for me was in the hospital, after the attempted assault. Lily's pain, her decision to leave, and the way she used her voice—those scenes hit hard. I believed her strength. I believed she wanted to end the cycle.
But not everything worked. Ryle's transformation from charming to dangerous felt too clean and too quick. The consequences were too light—no arrest, no real fallout. And the way Lily walks away at the end, clean and glowing, didn't match the emotional wreckage she should've been carrying. I get that the movie wanted a hopeful ending, but it came off too easy.
I had mixed feelings about Blake Lively in the role. She looked great, but something about her portrayal felt distant. I didn't always believe she was Lily. Atlas, on the other hand, was sincere and grounded. I wanted more of him.
I respect what the film tried to do: portray domestic violence as it really happens, not just the bruises, but the confusion, denial, and slow realization. I think it succeeded in parts, especially when it showed Lily rationalizing things until she couldn't anymore.
In the end, I felt the message, but I had to dig for it. It didn't land as hard as it should have, but I'm glad it exists. For people who've never seen abuse depicted from this angle, it might be eye opening.
Watch on Netflix