Eternity (2025) [Movie Review] — A charming, high-concept afterlife rom-com that mostly enchants

David Freyne’s Eternity sells itself on a singular, thoughtful hook: death is merely the start of a second act where afterlife consultants pitch you paradise packages. That high-concept premise—equal parts whimsy and sales pitch—sets up a morally and emotionally rich love triangle. Elizabeth Olsen’s Joan must choose between the memory of a wartime first love (Callum Turner) and the devoted husband who lived through her later years (played here in youthful form by Miles Teller). It’s an elegant idea that raises honest questions about memory, regret, and the versions of ourselves we love.

Performances

Strong, nuanced turns that anchor the film’s fantasy gloss

Olsen carries the film with the kind of emotional clarity that makes Joan’s dilemma credible; she captures someone who must weigh romantic possibility against comforting familiarity. Miles Teller is unexpectedly delightful, channeling an older man’s weary sensibility through a younger body without lapsing into caricature. Callum Turner brings old-world charm as the ghost of first love, while Da’Vine Joy Randolph — in a role that deserves more screen time — provides welcome comic gravity as an empathetic afterlife guide. John Early adds sprightly comic timing that helps the movie balance its sentiment with breezy wit.

Watch Hollywood films online free only on HDMovie365.com

Direction & Screenplay

David Freyne expands his range with imagination and polish

Freyne (co-writer with Patrick Cunnane) moves from grounded coming-of-age material into lush fantasy with surprising ease. The film’s production values—something of an A24 sheen crossed with nostalgic studio gloss—support the worldbuilding, from themed afterlife “worlds” (Beach World, Queer World, Studio 54-style options) to a dreamlike train arrival. Freyne’s direction is light on its feet and visually confident, though the screenplay sometimes prioritises cleverness over emotional payoff. The final act, while inventive, occasionally trades catharsis for plot neatness, leaving a few thematic beats less felt than they deserve.

Themes & Tone

Nostalgia, identity, and the ethics of choice in a rom-com wrapper

Eternity wears its influences proudly—90s romantic fantasies and classic afterlife tales—yet it injects a contemporary sensibility, including quietly queer inflections that broaden the film’s emotional scope. The movie asks who we are when stripped of life’s compromises: do we choose the version of a person we idealized in youth, or the one who held us through the small cruelties of a long life? It’s a sincere question, and when the film focuses on that human center, it resonates strongly.

Watch the Eternity movie for free now exclusively on HDMovie365!

Verdict

A near-miss that’s still a rewarding, humane ride

Eternity isn’t flawless—its ending undercuts some of the earlier emotional momentum—but it’s an imaginative, well-acted piece of mainstream fantasy that feels both intimate and ambitious. Fans of high-concept romantic comedies and anyone who misses sincere, theatrical storytelling will find a lot to admire. David Freyne has made a film that prefers to charm you into thinking, and for much of its runtime, it succeeds.

Overall rating: ★★★⯪☆ (3.5/5)