Director Alex Ullom has completed principal photography on "4 X 4: The Event," his second feature from indie distributor Neon. Neon also releases his debut "It Ends" on August 21. According to Polygon, Jaden Smith and Sophia Lillis star in the new film. Eight contestants join an illegal sensory-assault livestream. They must kill or be killed using only items ordered online. The turnaround is rapid. It suggests independent studios remain committed to developing ongoing relationships with emerging directors rather than one-off acquisitions.
Ullom characterized his second film to Polygon as "the complete opposite of It Ends" and described it as "straight maximalism." He cited transgressive French director Gaspar Noé as a stylistic reference. Noé's films include the 2018 horror picture "Climax." Ullom wants the entire film to feel like Noé's intentionally disorienting title sequence from "Enter the Void." An Internet Movie Database synopsis compares the story to a fusion of "Battle Royale," "Saw," and "Climax."
Casting for "4 X 4: The Event" required substantially more resources than Ullom's Instagram-based recruitment for "It Ends." Ullom credited casting director Kim Winther for managing the extensive ensemble. Her recent work includes Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey." Ullom told Polygon he developed personal connections with cast members. He appreciated their willingness to participate in an independent production at this scale.
"It Ends" follows four college graduates whose cross-country road trip becomes trapped on an endless highway defying natural laws. "4 X 4: The Event" has not yet been assigned a release date. Ullom's rapid completion of his second feature demonstrates an accelerating trajectory from emerging to established filmmaker status within the independent cinema ecosystem.