The Void (2016)
October 31, 2018 11:19 PM - Subscribe
Small town cop Daniel Carter happens upon a blood-soaked figure limping down a deserted stretch of road. Daniel takes him to the local hospital, but shit there ain't right: hunted by cultists bearing the symbol of a black triangle, people are undergoing monstrous transformations.
This is a fun little horror story that leans on fairly graphic monster makeup effects, with a dash of something cosmic.
This is a fun little horror story that leans on fairly graphic monster makeup effects, with a dash of something cosmic.
It looks back to a very specific kind of horror film. It gives a medium sized cast relatively quickly trimmed down to a small one, just enough information about main characters to create interest and empathy, a setting both confining and expansive, earnest practical effects, and a story with some cosmic possibilities. Oh, and an ending you can argue about. It also has a super-slack third act with a lot of nonsense. It’s low-budget, but all the money is on the screen.
Well worth a watch.
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:59 AM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
Well worth a watch.
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:59 AM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
Agreed. Not sure what period, but it definitely gave me sort of a retro flashback when I watched it. This is NOT a bad thing, IMO. It means it is not just another grist mill formula moneymaker. Again, IMO, YMMV, IANAPMR (I am not a paid movie reviewer).
posted by Samizdata at 1:11 AM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Samizdata at 1:11 AM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
Memorably horrific. Like a disturbing combination of The Thing and Prince of Darkness.
posted by heatvision at 3:24 AM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by heatvision at 3:24 AM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
I was super-duper unbelievably stoked to see this, but the actual film underwhelmed me a bit. It's early sections, where it's basically Assault on Precinct 13, only with cult members instead of gangs, are its best moments. It lost a tremendous deal of steam when it went all supernatural, to my eyes, anyway.
I didn't want to know more about the cult at all, really. Them being inexplicable was far scarier than the Lovecraftian malarkey we got as the story unfolded.
It's on my list to re-watch though, because I loved the first part so much I want to see if it going a different direction than I expected made me give it short shrift.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:22 AM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
I didn't want to know more about the cult at all, really. Them being inexplicable was far scarier than the Lovecraftian malarkey we got as the story unfolded.
It's on my list to re-watch though, because I loved the first part so much I want to see if it going a different direction than I expected made me give it short shrift.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:22 AM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
I love Lovecraftian crap and ominous geometry; to me that was just what the film needed to make it more than jerks vs. monsters. Though to be honest I spaced out during the villain's monologues. I did also like his ability to fuck with minds (I guess when people fall asleep he can make contact? It seems like it might be that but it's not clear.)
posted by fleacircus at 1:09 AM on November 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fleacircus at 1:09 AM on November 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
This was absolutely one of my favorite films of '16, and a great practical-effects semi-lovecraftian genre piece. Very strong echoes of 'The Case of Charles Dexter Ward', without directly replicating the story beats. I loved that the surly father and son set that kick things off and then show up at the hospital are basically the last surviving PCs from a previous Call of Cthulhu one-shot game, rolling into the next session with injuries and some severe sanity damage but just enough skill to keep things moving. The cosmic malevolence was just inexplicable enough for my tastes.. it's not specifically *what* was being done, or how - just seeing the way it deforms reality in its wake is sufficient.
A++ would transcend the limitations of mortal flesh and embrace the cyclopean architecture of dead gods again
posted by FatherDagon at 8:47 AM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
A++ would transcend the limitations of mortal flesh and embrace the cyclopean architecture of dead gods again
posted by FatherDagon at 8:47 AM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
> FatherDagon:
"This was absolutely one of my favorite films of '16, and a great practical-effects semi-lovecraftian genre piece. Very strong echoes of 'The Case of Charles Dexter Ward', without directly replicating the story beats. I loved that the surly father and son set that kick things off and then show up at the hospital are basically the last surviving PCs from a previous Call of Cthulhu one-shot game, rolling into the next session with injuries and some severe sanity damage but just enough skill to keep things moving. The cosmic malevolence was just inexplicable enough for my tastes.. it's not specifically *what* was being done, or how - just seeing the way it deforms reality in its wake is sufficient.
A++ would transcend the limitations of mortal flesh and embrace the cyclopean architecture of dead gods again"
Yeah, YOU would.
posted by Samizdata at 1:24 PM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
"This was absolutely one of my favorite films of '16, and a great practical-effects semi-lovecraftian genre piece. Very strong echoes of 'The Case of Charles Dexter Ward', without directly replicating the story beats. I loved that the surly father and son set that kick things off and then show up at the hospital are basically the last surviving PCs from a previous Call of Cthulhu one-shot game, rolling into the next session with injuries and some severe sanity damage but just enough skill to keep things moving. The cosmic malevolence was just inexplicable enough for my tastes.. it's not specifically *what* was being done, or how - just seeing the way it deforms reality in its wake is sufficient.
A++ would transcend the limitations of mortal flesh and embrace the cyclopean architecture of dead gods again"
Yeah, YOU would.
posted by Samizdata at 1:24 PM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
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posted by mordax at 12:25 AM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]