Yep, scoot over, I’m jumping on the THE EMPTY MAN bandwagon too.

VAGUE THE EMPTY MAN SPOILERS

I’ve seen various influences discussed, most frequently J-Horror and Fincher, but I haven’t seen what seems to me to be the central influence mentioned anywhere: Alan Parker’s ANGEL HEART. It’s all-but a remake. (Which is a good thing.)

It’s hard to sustain tension in a horror movie that goes over two hours but I gotta say this one gripped me. Maintained a pervasive sense that the characters were slowly being chewed up by much larger cosmic gears they couldn’t hope to affect.

THE EMPTY MAN SPOILERS

The gear-shift from THE RING-mode to WICKER MAN-mode didn’t totally click for me because it created a bit of confusion about what the monster wanted: to kill or to collect acolytes? Maybe a second viewing might help.

But Jesus, the sequence at the camp is clearly the work of a director with major horror chops. I hope the cult rediscovery lands him another shot.

This thread brought to you by middle-aged insomnia!