The Void (2015) #474

Few films present cosmic dread and utter horror in such an effective way as “The Void”. From the very first scene the mood is set, from the violent death and follow through to the eerie background music and the credit sequence, the viewer is made aware that they are about to watch something special. With its indescribable creatures, a haunting silent cult, and cosmic dread that leaves you feeling that humanity is just a speck in the void, pardon the pun, it’s easy to compare this to something that could have been written by H.P. Lovecraft. And with its use of practical effects and make-up, spooky and unsettling soundtrack, and no-holds barred violence in the vein of “The Thing” and “Prince of Darkness”, it feels like this could have been directed by John Carpenter. The two masters of cosmic horror would be proud of writers/directors Jeremy Gillespie and Steven Kostanski.

 

The film is set in a desolate backwoods hospital that is nearing its scheduled closure. The emptiness and seclusion creates an immediate sense of dread, and when mysterious cult members arrive like phantoms in the parking lot, the horror escalates to chilling heights. Inside the hospital people become possessed without reason, unknown monsters lurk in the basement, and two armed strangers take the hospital staff and patients hostage. From every angle fear and dread seep throughout the film, “The Void” is a non-stop thrill ride into the unknown. 

Cosmic horror is at the forefront of “The Void”, leaving the characters feeling insignificant and hopeless. The first sign are the mysterious cult members, silent and haunting as they wait patiently around the hospital. How many of them are there and what are they planning to do? What have they done before the movie begins? The second example of the cosmic horror are the monsters; creepy, malformed, and deadly

When a sherif deputy comes across a man crawling along the street covered in blood, he quickly takes him to the nearest hospital. The hospital is operating with a skeleton crew as it prepares to permanently close down. Before anyone can even breathe, chaos ensues when a nurse becomes possessed by something and two strangers with a gun come looking for the blood covered man. Everyone becomes trapped when mysterious cultists surround the hospital. Finally, a bizarre basement is discovered hiding dark, hidden dangers.