The Empty Man (film)

Plot

In 1995 in the Ura Valley, Bhutan, four friends—Greg, Fiona, Ruthie, and Paul—go hiking. Paul hears a strange whistling and falls into a crevice, where Greg finds him staring at a massive ancient humanoid skeleton embedded in the cave wall. Paul warns Greg not to touch him, but Greg carries him out. The group takes refuge in an empty house during a snowstorm.

The next day, Ruthie is chased by a tall robed creature that disappears. That night, the paralyzed Paul whispers something into Ruthie's ear. The following morning, Ruthie stabs Greg, slices Fiona's throat, pushes them off a cliff, then throws herself off after sharing a look with Paul, who sheds a single tear. In Missouri 2018, former detective James Lasombra, grieving his wife and son, investigates the disappearance of his neighbor Nora's daughter Amanda, who left a message reading "The Empty Man made me do it."

James finds a flier from the Pontifex Institute with the word "tulpa" on it. Amanda's friend Davara explains they summoned the Empty Man by finding an empty bottle on a bridge, blowing into it, and thinking of the entity. James finds the bottle, blows into it, and discovers the hanged bodies of Amanda's friends. Davara is killed by the Empty Man, ruling her death a suicide.

James researches the Pontifex Institute, a cult with beliefs originating from Bhutan and in tulpas. He attends a talk by cult leader Arthur Parsons, who claims the Empty Man provides followers with what they want as long as they do his bidding.

Production

On February 9, 2016, 20th Century Fox acquired the graphic novel The Empty Man for a feature film, with David Prior hired to write and direct. Ross Richie, Stephen Christy, and Adam Yoelin produced. James Badge Dale was cast on July 7, 2016, as the ex-cop lead, and Aaron Poole was cast on September 27, 2016, to play Paul. Creature designer Ken Barthelmey designed and sculpted the cave skeleton and other elements, hired in 2016 with a short time to work.

Prior sought qualities of "ancient age, authority, menace, and subtly more than human," sending Barthelmey paintings by Zdzisław Beksiński and referencing the Space Jockey in Alien. Barthelmey sculpted the model in 3D, which was 3D printed and built on set by production designer Craig Lathrop. Principal photography took place in South Africa in late 2016, with the final week set for Chicago to double for St. Louis. After two feet of snow fell overnight, Prior paused production.

Fox executive vice president Mark Roybal, essential to the film's greenlighting, left the studio during this time. Production resumed in September 2017 in Edwardsville, Illinois, with filming at the Madison County courthouse and the Chain of Rocks Bridge. The budget was $16 million, with about $11 million used on the shoot.

Release

The Empty Man was theatrically released on October 23, 2020, by 20th Century Studios, though it features the former 20th Century Fox logo. Originally scheduled for August 7, 2020, it was delayed to December 4 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, then moved up to October after Death on the Nile shifted. In the United Kingdom, the film skipped theatrical release and was released on Disney+ via Star Hub and other VOD services on February 19, 2021.

Reception

The Empty Man grossed $3 million in the United States and Canada and $1.8 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $4.8 million. It opened to $1.3 million from 2,027 theaters, finishing fourth. Analysts attributed the low box office to audience assumptions of a teen horror film like Slender Man, pandemic-related hesitation, and zero marketing push. The film fell 57% in its second weekend and made $294,350 in its third.

It was not screened in advance for critics. Initial reviews were mostly negative, but the film underwent critical reappraisal as a modern cult favorite, appearing in best-of lists from Polygon and The Ringer. On Rotten Tomatoes, 76% of 29 critics gave a positive review, with an average rating of 5.8/10. Barry Hertz of The Globe and Mail gave 2/4, calling the film empty.

Nate Adams of The Only Critic gave a D−, calling it a total bore. Michael Gingold of Rue Morgue gave a positive review, noting the film is not what its trailers sell. Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com gave 2.5/4 stars, calling it a surreal and strange piece of work. Miles Surrey of The Ringer called it one of the best horror films in years.