THE VOID: Discovering A Chilling New World

As someone who adores horror movies, one of my favorite things to do is search through the libraries of various streaming sites, and pluck out the random gems I’ve never heard of. Some of these end up being mainstream pictures I never got to see while they were out, but a lot of them are straight to DVD/streaming releases or indie-funded projects.It just so happens that during one of these evenings, I came across The Void.

The Canadian horror film was funded via Indiegogo, and saw a limited release in theaters before hitting Netflix. Written and directed by Steven Kostanski and Jeremy Gillespie, The Void follows a group of people that try to live through the night fighting back cultists and demons.  By the time the ending credits began rolling, I was left with mixed feelings.

Much of the film reminded me of other work that I enjoy as a horror fan. When it comes to the strengths in The Void, the movie captures some damn fine elements of horror. And When it comes to the parts where the picture falters, things become bland and wasteful.

Who Are You Again?

The movie begins with a young man and woman escaping a house, with two perpetrators behind them. After the woman is killed, the young man is found by a police officer and taken to a nearby hospital. It is at the hospital that we meet the entire cast. We learn that the officer Daniel (Aaron Poole) and the nurse Allison (Kathleen Munroe) are husband and wife, and beyond that we get a sidebar of numerous other characters.

What kicks things into high gear is when these cultists begin to show up and surround the hospital. In the beginning we are led to believe that they have something to do with the young man that was brought in, but as time goes on, others in the hospital are not who they appear to be. The set up to all of this is pretty interesting, and the cultists look damn creepy. They are dressed in white cloaks, a black triangle printed on their face.

At first, I found myself really invested in the scenario and looking forward to see how characters would react and what would be revealed. The let down to this, though, is that due to the amount of characters involved, no one gets enough time to become fully fleshed out. Eventually, the movie splits into so many underlining stories attempting to portray different ideas, that it becomes difficult to follow anyone’s character arc; it hurts one’s ability to sincerely latch onto anyone and relate in any way to the characters. We learn that there are issues between Daniel and Allison, and then we learn about the story with the two perpetrators from the beginning, and then there’s a story with the hospital’s doctor (and much more).

The cast is provided plenty of witty dialogue, but the picture lacks that connection that allows us to root or care for any individual. When we are first introduced to Daniel and Allison, their distance is more jarring than sad (given that they are still married and struggling through difficulties). It is mostly through Daniel that we get this pushy character that only strives to be rebellious, and it never allows for the couple’s dialogue to go anywhere. We get the idea that something is wrong between the two, but between Daniel’s refusal to have a full on conversation and Allison coming off as emotional as a piece of blank paper, their dialogue is just awkward. Even the movie’s main villain is a bore. When we finally discover who it is and what they want, it all comes through like crazy for the sake of being crazy. They just babble on, becoming another character that we snooze through.

There are some attempts at trying to provide a deep theme of losing children throughout the movie by Kostanski and Gillespie. We learn that this theme is tied to several characters, and while it shows potential at times in providing some substance to the story, it never becomes more than just a talking point. The cast in The Void make up for a big chunk of why the film isn’t perfect. That being said, however, there is still plenty of room for what works.

Inspirations, Chills, And Effects

Veteran horror lovers will immediately pick up on all the movies that The Void wears on its sleeve. The premise of being held up in the hospital by the cultists feels like Assault On Precinct 13, and the leader of the cult and their end goal feels similar to the bad guy in Event Horizon. The film even tosses in some monsters, presenting beings that feel like they came out of The Thing.

Some moviegoers have pointed out that The Void tries too much to be these other movies than focusing on creating its own identity. While the influences are glaring, it’s by blending so many ideas that The Void is able to present its own vibe. What helps to make the movie enjoyable (even if you don’t care for the characters) is that the atmosphere itself is terrific. Later on in the picture, we are shown this other world that the cultists worship, and it looks damn creepy. The chills are similar to that of Hellraiser, making for a visual awe.

The actual world isn’t described in all that much detail, which is a bummer, but its dark and dank aura is enough to create a sense of misery. The Void uses well-rounded lighting to present somber emotions and shades of dread. From this world comes its creatures, and one of the film’s most magnificent strengths. Kostanski‘s ’80s-inspired vision was carried out with the help of costume designer, Tisha Myles and special effects coordinator, Stefano Beninati. The special effects on these beings are absolutely incredible; the monsters look authentically terrifying and gross, and are impressive to watch as they move.

When it comes to the picture depicting action with these monsters, it never shies away. There’s no strobing lights or shaky cam to give the illusion of violence, but instead just steady clear shots depicting the chaos. One scene in particular involving a creature in the hospital attacking a cop shows everything with no hesitation, and makes for a special effects treat.

Cinematographer, Samy Inayeh deserves a round of applause for the terrific energy that The Void breathes. Kostanski and Gillespie‘s direction for the creature effects is outstanding, and shows incredible talent that provides the movie one of its greatest strengths. All of this allows for one to be interested in what’s going on without having a full understanding of the story; despite its plot shortcomings, The Void is a fun work to watch.

A Gateway To Something More

While The Void suffers from underdeveloped characters, it still manages to show promise. The story may appear a little flat, but is still able to lure viewers in due to its atmosphere and creepiness. The film clearly knows what it is doing in the visuals department, as it portrays some of the sickest and most interesting visual effects I’ve seen in sometime.

The Void has the ideas it wants to pursue, but can’t make them fully blossom. Regardless, in the end, it always feels good to see filmmakers succeed in creating the work they wanted. Through Kostanski and Gillespie‘s inspirations and own personal vision, they have crafted a work that serves as a decent blueprint for where to take their craft next.

Did you see The Void? Did the effects remind you of any great horror films of the 1980s?

The Void was released on April 7th, 2017 in the U.S.