There’s no doubting that the Sci-Fi and Horror genres are experiencing a resurgence right now. There have been a string of genre movies like Get Out and Arrival that have successfully won the hearts of fans while gaining critical acclaim at the same time. This is all great news, but if you want a new movie that harks back to the days when Sci-Fi and Horror were bloody and weird, we’ve got just the recommendation for your next trip to the theater: The Void.
The Void is written and directed by Jeremy Gillespie and Steven Kostanski, both of whom are known more for their visual effects and make-up artistry than their filmmaking. But, far from being a weakness, Gillespie and Kostanksi’s experience in the art departments of movies like Suicide Squad and Pacific Rim is The Void‘s secret weapon. This is an excellent watch for anybody who is even remotely passionate about practical effects in film. From Lovecraftian tentacles to some incredible moments of gore, it all feels very real– as real as any movie with this type of premise can, at least.
The Void centers on events at a remote hospital where a police officer has just delivered a badly injured man who he found struggling down a deserted road. Once at the hospital, the officer discovers that, one by one, something terrible is happening to the patients and the skeleton staff working within its walls. Before long, a bizarre crowd of cult-like figures surrounds the building forcing the remaining survivors to move deeper into the hospital’s eerie confines. During their journey, the group are subjected to bizarre horrors as they discover a gateway to an unknown form of evil.
The premise alone is reminiscent of 80’s favorites like Hellraiser and From Beyond, but as many reviewers have pointed out, the visual style conjures up memories of other greats from that era, like John Carpenter’s The Thing. But The Void isn’t a mere copycat, it also does a brilliant job at raising the stakes to a level that genre legends such as Carpenter and Romero would be proud of. Put simply, The Void is a must watch for any Sci-Fi Horror history buff, but even casual fans will get a kick out of its brutally trippy action.
The Void is out in theaters and On Demand this weekend.
