This Is Not the End

May 23, 2016
A teenage boy discovers that the fate of the world rests in his hands in this ambitious but muddled fantasy, which seeks to reinterpret the Christian apocalypse in a less overtly religious fashion. Upon turning 16, hapless loser James Salley learns that he is the Antichrist, destined to act as the War Bringer for a parallel world known as Taloon, visions of which have inspired various faiths throughout history. James has no intention of jumpstarting a war that will devastate Earth; he'd rather work on his comic book and pursue a friendship with Dorian, the only girl at school who's nice to him. With Catholic zealots looking to kill him and the people of Taloon insisting he free the imprisoned Morning Star, James has to find a way to take control of his own life. Unfortunately, this promising setup leads to a confusing, lackluster ending, and the mashup of high school drama and high concept fantasy doesn't entirely gel. It's never fully clear whether Jordan (Gospel Hollow) is shooting for comedy or something more profound. Ages 12âup. Agent: Alex Slater, Trident Media Group.