THE VOID

GROSS HORROR FILM

Film Review by Fiore 

THE VOID is, without question, one of the strangest, and weirdness films I’ve seen in quite some time.  It’s gross.  It’s sacrilegious.  And, it’s a lot of fun to watch, if you have a severe sense for the macabre.  Several times, while watching THE VOID in my private screening room, I uttered, out loud, “what the hell is happening in this movie?”

Let’s begin by saying Directors and Writers Jeremy Gillespie and Steven Kostanski have a huge bro-mance with John Carpenter.  The creatures and scenes borrow heavily from the look of John Carpenter’s THE THING and THE MOUTH OF MADNESS.  When the action shifts to the hospital, the film looks like HALLOWEEN II (with the alluring and always sexy Jamie Lee Curtis) and PRINCE OF DARKNESS.  There is nothing wrong with this; in fact, it is a good thing.  You can never err by imitating one of the true masters of horror. 

The film begins as a routine night for Officer Carter, played by Aaron Poole, when suddenly, a bloodied drifter stumbles in front of his car.  Carter’s attempts to save the man by taking him to the closest hospital, unveils a cult of devil worshipers determined to take over the town and transport it to another, evil dimension.  

Ah, but this is not your typical devil worship.  These cultists worship a New Age Satan.  Gone are the cloven hoofs and horns.  This devil is symbolized by a black triangle which leads to a void that causes humans to mutate into grotesque creatures with savage intent.  And, while Carter and his band of survivors, hack and dismember the creatures, they continue to mutate and transform into more hideous incarnations.  It’s really pretty gross.

1.1        KEY SCENES TO LOOK FOR:

1.      THE SUB BASEMENT

2.      THE CREATURE ROOM

3.      THE BASTARD BIRTH

In addition to Poole, THE VOID features Kathleen Munroe, Ellen Wong, Kenneth Walsh, Daniel Fathers and Grace Munro.  THE VOID earned selection status at Fantastic Fest, London Film Festival, Toronto After Dark (a favorite festival of the Soska Twins), the Mordibo Fest and the Abertoir Horror Festival.

The whole spin of a new, more powerful Satan, born of the New Age Philosophy is pretty cool.  It brings horror out of the Biblical context and shoves it in the grill of Millennials.  Everything in the story of THE VOID is just wrong, and that’s what makes it so fun to watch.

Let’s take a look at the report card for THE VOID:

ACTING = B

CINEMATOGRAPHY =B

SOUND/MUSIC = C

EDITING = A

LIGHTING = B

SCRIPT = B

SFX = A

ACTION = B

If you’re looking for a good gross-out that doesn’t involve inbred hillbillies or Muslim Jihadists, THE VOID will provide the shivers you’re looking for, and then some.