For over a century, horror movies have delved into the fears and anxieties of their audiences, evolving their monsters because the style progressed. In lots of iconic horror movies, the opening sequence introduces the central monster and units the tone for the remainder of the movie.
For instance, Scream opens quick and intense, whereas The Exorcist begins slowly and atmospherically. Whereas creating an unforgettable horror movie opening is a problem, it isn’t inconceivable. Director David Prior succeeded on this together with his debut movie, The Empty Man.
This supernatural thriller was neglected when it was launched in 2020, partly because of the pandemic and Disney’s acquisition of twentieth Century Fox. However as extra viewers found this hidden gem on streaming platforms, they shortly acknowledged the brilliance of its first act.
Whereas The Empty Man loses contact with actuality because it builds towards its bold and existential finale, the opening stays distinctive. It stands alongside classics like Scream and The Exorcist, immediately drawing viewers right into a terrifying expertise. David Prior achieved this by making a monster that nobody would wish to encounter.
‘The Empty Man’ begins with a failed stroll
In 1995, a bunch of associates got down to discover the Ura Valley, Bhutan, hoping to flee the pressures of society. Greg (Evan Jonigkeit) and Fiona (Jessica Matten) are skilled climbers, whereas Paul (Aaron Poole) and Ruthie (Virginia Kull) are much less skilled.
Issues take a darkish flip when Paul falls right into a cave and enters a catatonic state. As a snowstorm approaches, the group seeks refuge in an deserted home, not sure of what’s going to occur to Paul.
Quickly Ruthie begins to note unusual sounds and sights that the others do not. One thing is coming in the direction of them and so they haven’t any method to cease it.
Spanning three days, the simmering concern, disturbing imagery and chilly, remoted setting make this opening sequence a terrifying expertise for horror followers. The Ura Valley setting stands in stark distinction to the remainder of the movie, an unconventional narrative selection that heightens the impression of the intro.
‘The Empty Man’ is an echo of one other horror traditional
The movie then shifts from Bhutan in 1995 to Missouri in 2018, reworking right into a homicide thriller noir. Ex-cop James Lasombra (James Badge Dale) agrees to assist a neighbor discover her lacking daughter. Whereas investigating, Lasombra uncovers a collection of deaths related to the city legend of “The Empty Man” and the cult that worships it.
In distinction to the snowy mountains of Bhutan, Lasombra’s investigation takes place in wet suburbs and concrete areas. The Exorcist equally begins with an abroad prologue wherein Father Merrin (Max von Sydow) encounters the demon Pazazu in Iraq earlier than the story strikes to Georgetown, USA.
Each The Exorcist and The Empty Man set up the traditional nature of their threats, both via historical proof present in an archaeological dig or via Paul’s discovery within the cave. These opening sequences are lengthy, including to the sense of unease that permeates the remainder of the movies.
Not all horror films are supposed to scare you
Pacing is essential in horror movies, and The Empty Man takes its time constructing a slow-burning story. The 22-minute opening works as a standalone story with completely different characters in a unique setting. It doesn’t absolutely join with Lasombra’s investigation till a lot later within the movie.
The supernatural mysteries are usually not over-explained, as in, for instance, Father Merrin’s journey to Iraq in The Exorcist or the sluggish, languid digicam actions in Alien, which present the deep, remoted house of the Nostromo crew.
This method creates a way of unease, as viewers are unaware of the horror that’s about to unfold. The primary 22 minutes of The Empty Man really feel like a separate movie, solely loosely related to Lasombra’s 2018 investigation.
But David Prior makes use of each minute successfully, build up the dread that implies a dire final result for the group of associates trapped on the mountain. With minimal music, the howling wind and the group’s isolation add to the sense that one thing is deeply unsuitable.
The cosmic horror of ‘The Empty Man’ is disturbing
When Paul hears a faint whistle that solely he can hear, curiosity causes him to fall right into a crevice, the place he comes throughout an enormous skeleton fused into the wall of a cave.
The picture is deeply disturbing, because the skeleton seems unnatural and historical. Creature and character designer Ken Barthelmey created this disturbing picture, impressed by surrealist painter Zdzislaw Beksinski’s The Trumpeter and the Area Jockey in Alien.
The skeleton represents one thing older than humanity, a troublesome reality on the coronary heart of cosmic horror. When Greg tries to assist Paul, his good friend warns, “In the event you contact me, you’ll die.” The shrine has a maintain on Paul that neither Greg nor the viewers absolutely understands.
Greg ignores the warning and helps Paul out of the fissure, however Paul falls right into a catatonic state. His girlfriend, Ruthie, stays by his facet and no matter occurs to him quickly infects her as properly.
The tales of HP Lovecraft and different creators of cosmic horror typically discover unimaginable horrors that shatter the minds of mortals. Aaron Poole’s portrayal of Paul captures the extreme inside wrestle and the alien management the traditional entity has over him. He barely manages to warn Greg, hinting on the cosmic horror that can quickly eat the group.
‘The Empty Man’ leaves an enduring impression
The Empty Man wasn’t successful when it got here out, however it showcased David Prior’s potential to inform compelling horror tales. He not too long ago directed a section in Guillermo del Toro’s Cupboard of Curiosities , which additionally facilities on a supernatural horror thriller.
“The Post-mortem” is a worthy companion to The Empty Man, particularly throughout the remaining half-hour, when Dr. Carl Winters (F. Murray Abraham) performs autopsies on useless miners to find what killed them.
Working alone at night time, Dr. Winters discovers that the perpetrator is an inhuman and hostile drive, creating one other bleak cosmic horror story. What David Prior achieves with the primary 22 minutes of The Empty Man stays distinctive and stands out even amongst his different work.
Whereas the remainder of the movie is creepy, the 1995 prologue is essentially the most mysterious and disturbing half. The traditional creature stays largely unexplained, however it’s clear that the human characters are not any match for its energy.
The Empty Man is at present out there to stream on FX Now within the US
