The Void (2016) is a Canadian horror film directed by Jeremy Gillespie and Steven Kostanski. A disturbing blend of cosmic horror, body horror, and survival thriller, it invokes comparisons to the works of John Carpenter and the Lovecraftian genre, creating a tense, atmospheric experience that keeps viewers on edge from start to finish.
Set in a small, rural hospital, the film follows a group of people trapped inside during a strange, nightmarish event. As the night unfolds, the hospital becomes a fortress surrounded by a mysterious cult, while inside, the survivors face increasingly bizarre and terrifying horrors. The story kicks off when a sheriff, Carter (Aaron Poole), brings an injured man to the hospital, only to discover that something much more sinister is unfolding. The injured man is taken in by the hospital staff, but soon the doors are locked, and the facility becomes isolated from the outside world, as cult-like figures gather outside, and horrific creatures begin to appear within.
The hospital’s medical staff, including Dr. Richard Powell (Kenneth Welsh), along with a small group of patients, must fight for survival as they are forced to confront both the otherworldly horrors emerging from the depths of the hospital and the cult that seems intent on bringing about some kind of apocalyptic event. As Carter, along with nurse Alison (Kathleen Monroe), tries to unravel what’s going on, they come to realize that the strange creatures and phenomena they are encountering are tied to a series of horrific occult rituals and an unexplainable cosmic force.
The plot of The Void blends traditional horror tropes with existential dread, drawing inspiration from films like Carpenter’s The Thing (1982) and Prince of Darkness (1987), with the influence of H.P. Lovecraft’s fear of the unknown and the grotesque. The unknown terror here is not just the monstrous beings lurking inside the hospital but the larger cosmic forces that seem to be pulling strings beyond comprehension. As the survivors try to uncover the truth, they must navigate a series of increasingly grotesque and violent encounters with mutant creatures and horrific transformations, leading to an intense and chaotic finale.
One of the film’s standout features is its masterful use of practical effects. The grotesque and nightmarish creatures that populate the hospital are brought to life using practical, old-school special effects, resulting in some truly disturbing imagery. These creatures, some of which are disturbing hybrids of humans and otherworldly monsters, create a visceral, body-horror experience that harks back to the grotesque creatures in Carpenter’s work. The body transformations and nightmarish visions in The Void heighten the sense of dread and isolation, making the hospital feel like a nightmarish labyrinth that the characters cannot escape.
Another strength of the film is its atmospheric tension. The hospital’s dimly lit corridors, combined with the growing sense of claustrophobia as the situation spirals out of control, create a setting that is both confining and terrifying. The cult outside the hospital and the nightmarish creatures within it present two threats that feel equally formidable. The sound design complements this sense of tension, with ominous noises, the sounds of skittering creatures, and muffled cries adding to the oppressive mood.
The Void is not a film that explains everything. It revels in its mystery, leaving much of the cosmic horror unexplained and open to interpretation. This approach allows the film to explore a sense of existential dread, where the true horror lies not in the creatures themselves but in the unknowable forces that govern the universe. The cult, for example, is never fully explained, adding to the feeling that the survivors are simply pawns in a larger, incomprehensible game.
While The Void may not be for everyone, its commitment to practical effects and its refusal to spoon-feed answers makes it an intense, memorable experience for fans of disturbing, cosmic horror. The film’s blend of body horror, occultism, and existential terror provides a unique and unsettling journey into the unknown. It is a terrifying exploration of the human condition, dealing with themes of survival, transformation, and the fear of what lies beyond our understanding of reality. The film’s chilling atmosphere, unsettling creatures, and psychological horror make it a standout in modern horror cinema.
