The Empty Man came and went with no fanfare in 2020, but it's already on its way to being a cult favorite. While horror fans may adore movies like John Carpenter's The Thing or Event Horizon, it's easy to forget that both were box-office duds upon release. Sometimes it takes a little while for even beloved films to get their due, and in the case of The Thing - which was largely critically reviled upon release - it took the better part of a decade for it to start getting its due.
The term cult film gets thrown another a lot now, but it's one that definitely applies to The Empty Man. This 2020 release was loosely based on the Boom! Studios graphic novel. The story follows an ex-cop named James Lasombra (James Badge Dale, 13 Hours), who is hired by a friend to track down her daughter Amanda when she goes missing. James soon learns of a link between her disappearance and an urban legend about "The Empty Man," a being who, once summoned by blowing into a bottle, will stalk and kill those who took part in the ritual within three days.
While The Empty Man may sound inspired by similiar creepypasta-inspired horror like The Bye Bye Man, it's something altogether different. It was actually shot in 2017 and produced by 20th Century Studios, with the studio initially on board for director David Prior's vision but they shelved it following bad test screenings. Empty Man was later caught up in the Fox/Disney merger and eventually dumped in theatres in late 2020, following a misleading trailer selling it as another Slender Man-inspired teen horror. It received bad reviews and did poor business - but it soon found a second life on digital.
The Empty Man is a world away from the jump scare-led horror of The Conjuring or Paranormal Activity franchises, and with a runtime of over two hours and 20 minutes, it demands an audience's full attention. The movie begins with a seriously creepy, extended opening before switching to James's story, as he gradually peels back more and more layers, including a cult that worships the seemingly Lovecraftian being. While it moves at a more deliberate pace it's far from boring and delivers several unsettling horror sequences, including a sauna attack or James stumbling upon a cult who suddenly start chasing him.
The Empty Man is full of big ideas and concepts and feels like a blend of the work of David Lynch or cosmic horror films like Prince Of Darkness. It's such a unique, arty film it's not only strange it was produced by a major studio, but that it's also the final movie to bear the original 20th Century Fox logo. Following its digital release, positive word of mouth has seen the movie rapidly build a cult fandom.
Even those who don't particularly enjoy The Empty Man can't deny it's at least a well-crafted and ambitious film and deserved much better than a token theatre release with no promotion or fanfare. The movie's cult following is only going to grow - which is a little ironic, given the themes of the story - and curious horror fans should definitely check it out.