- Carrie Carusone, a Gainesville High School alum, co-produced and designed the film "It Ends," which premieres nationally on Aug. 28, 2026.
- The film "It Ends" received critical acclaim with a 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating and praise from The New York Times, Variety, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian.
A feature film co-produced by a Gainesville High School (GHS) alum is set for a national theatrical release on Friday, Aug. 28.
The film, “It Ends,” was co-produced by Carrie Carusone, a GHS graduate, who also served as the film’s production designer.
According to an Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) release, “It Ends follows four recent college graduates on a late-night drive for fast food that becomes a horrifying – and endless – road trip.” The film was produced by Growing Up Dead Films, an independent production company co-founded by Carusone, who now serves as a Brooklyn-based director and producer.
It Ends has drawn praise from national and international critics. New York Times film critic Alissa Wilkinson recently named it a ‘Critic’s Pick,’ while Variety called it a “brilliant, existential road thriller.” Rolling Stone also described It Ends as a ‘gem,’ and The Guardian (U.K.) rated it “among the year’s best.”
The release said the film also has a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
It Ends premiered last year at the prestigious SXSW Film Festival and was released for digital rental in December 2025. Shortly after, it was picked up by Neon, an independent film production and distribution company. After playing in select theaters last week, It Ends is scheduled for a national theatrical release on Friday, with international releases to follow.
According to the release, Carusone graduated from GHS in 2016. While in high school, she took three years of digital video classes taught by veteran teacher Tony Malo, who still teaches the classes at GHS.
After graduating from GHS, Carusone attended Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts.
As a 17-year-old in 2015, Carusone was interviewed by a local reporter for a story about Malo’s program and said the class helped her discover her desire to be a filmmaker.
“This is what I’m going to do with my life,” she said at the time. “I’ve never met a teacher who cared so much…it’s changed my life drastically.”
Ten years after graduating from GHS, the release said Carusone and Malo remain in touch. She’s served as a judge for the film festivals Malo has organized for his students’ work, and she’s advised students interested in attending FSU’s film program.
Carusone also invited Malo to O’Leno State Park in High Springs during the filming of It Ends and even gave him a few lines in the movie – though they didn’t make it into the final cut.
“This face is not meant for the big screen,” Malo joked.
In a recent text message to Malo, Carusone echoed the sentiment she’d shared 11 years ago.
“I am where I am because of your class,” she wrote.
Malo said it’s comments like this one that keep him teaching.
“I’m very proud of her, but I can’t take any credit for her work,” he said. “I give students the bones, they make the soup.”
Malo is looking forward to seeing the film.
“I’m going as soon as it comes out,” he said. “I can’t wait!”