The Empty Man: A Slow Burn Descent into Madness
The Empty Man is not the film you think it is. Marketed as a typical supernatural horror movie, it quickly unravels into something far more disturbing and cerebral. Directed by David Prior and based on a graphic novel by Cullen Bunn, this 2020 film defies expectations with its layered narrative and creeping dread.
The story follows ex-cop James Lasombra, played with a haunted intensity by James Badge Dale, as he investigates the disappearance of a teenage girl in a small Midwestern town. What begins as a missing persons case turns into a descent into an occult underworld where belief is power, thought is infection, and the line between reality and delusion collapses.
From its cold and haunting 20-minute prologue set in the snowy mountains of Bhutan to its Lynchian unraveling of identity and reality, The Empty Man offers a unique blend of horror, mystery, and existential dread. It takes its time building an atmosphere of isolation and paranoia, and while this pacing may frustrate some viewers, those who stay with it are rewarded with a chilling meditation on grief, control, and the fragility of the human mind.
Unlike many modern horror films, The Empty Man is not interested in cheap jump scares. Its horror is slow, creeping, and psychological. It lingers long after the credits roll, not because of what it shows, but because of what it suggests. It’s a film that asks unsettling questions about the nature of belief and the void we try to fill with it.
Underseen on release, The Empty Man has quietly built a cult following. It may not be for everyone, but for those who enjoy horror that dares to be different, this film is a must-see.
