THE EMPTY MAN

US, 2020, 137 minutes, Colour.

James Badge Dale, Maren Ireland, Stephen Root, Sasha Frolova, Ron Canada.

Directed by David Prior.

This is a very strange film, science fantasy in many ways, touches of science fiction, touches of horror, touches of the supernatural. And, unexpectedly, it is quite a long film at 2 ¼ hours.

The title does not come on screen until a prologue lasting 20 minutes is complete. This prologue is very effective and could have been a short film in itself, some American hikers in Bhutan, beautiful mountain scenery, a strange episode the touches the psyche and behaviour of one of the travellers, the concern of the others but an outbreak of strange violence – the affected man having fallen down a well and then sitting, blank, in front of a skeleton image.

Then to Missouri in 2018. The focus is on a former policeman, played effectively by James Badge Dale, now running a store. He has had a relationship with a woman in the town and her daughter comes to see him, speaking strangely, and then disappearing, with mirror graffiti that: The Empty Man made me do it. There are also brochures and images of The Pontifex Institute.

On the one hand, the film is a police investigation as to the disappearance of the young woman, one of her friends telling a story about their blowing on a bottle and listening to the melody, then there disappearing, discovered hanging under the local bridge. The former policeman also finds the building of the Pontifex Institute, there are intriguing sequences of the young people there, something like a cult, the behaviour of the officials, the philosophical speech by the leader (Stephen Root) with all kinds of talk about creation, unity, emptying oneself, the image of the Empty Man.

There is a strange sequence in the hospital where the affected man from Bhutan lies in hospital, some of the young people coming and kneeling before him in the hospital.

The ending is unexpected, the supernatural, conspiracies, more worship and the former policeman emerging as The Empty Man.

1. The title? The audience waiting for the explanation? The deaths, graffiti on the wall? Going to the Pontifex Institute? The philosophical and cosmic explanations? Becoming concretised at the end with James as The Empty Man?
2. The prologue, 20 minutes, the trek in Bhutan, those travelling, the surroundings, Buddhist atmosphere, scenery, the bridge, Paul and the sounds, his reaction, falling down the hole, the skeletal statue, Greg and the rescue, the mysterious presence, the deaths of the travellers, the killer falling? The later discovery of Paul, anonymous, in the hospital, 23 years, the disciples coming and bowing down?
3. 2018, Missouri, the town, small town, the surroundings, the bridge, the river? Homes? Streets? Downtown buildings? The Pontifex Institute? Police precincts? The musical score?
4. James and his story, memories of growing up in San Francisco, police work, flashbacks to the tragedy, in his store, kind to its customers? His age, at home by himself? The past relationship with Nora? On the seat, Amanda talking with him, the mystic talk, her leaving home, the graffiti, The Empty Man, her mother’s reaction? Indication of the Pontifex Institute? James and his wanting to continue the investigations, collaborating with the local police, discussions, their knowing who he was, warning him that he was not on the force? Comforting Nora, her bringing the food, memories of the past? Amanda not knowing?
5. James, going to the school, discussions with the student, in the car, her observations, telling the story, blowing into the bottle and the sound, on the bridge, the group, the dare, her perfunctory whistling? The ominous presence, the chase? Her being at home, going to the sauna, scissors and her face, suspected suicide? James, the bridge, discovering the bodies hanging under the bridge?
6. James, going into town, the Pontifex Institute, the disciples sitting in rows, the young people gathering, the receptionist and her reaction, James following the group, listening to the talk by Parsons, the group applauding?
7. Parsons, the philosophy of the Pontifex Institute, unity, disunity, harmony, communication in the universe? And the symbol of the open person, the Empty Man? James and his discussions with Parsons, searching the building, observing, his being ousted? The conversation with the young man outside, information about Amanda? The young man in the group, getting into the car, James following them, the hospital, seeing them in the ward and their bowing down?
8. James and his own experiences, the nightmares and memories? The sense of presence, waking, the baseball bat? Indications that he had been to the Institute before?
9. The hospital, investigations about the man in coma and the presence of the students, Amanda present, their talk?
10. James, the strange experiences? His discovery about his life story in the archives, they created story? His being groomed to be The Empty Man? The disciples and bowing down before him?
11. The blend of horror, science fiction, futuristic speculation, cosmic philosophising?