The central characters in this 2016 horror release find themselves faced with a nightmarish hellscape from beyond. One of epic, cosmic horror proportions. While its devils aren’t of the traditional Christian variety, the Big Bad, its gnarly minions, and cult followers make it a perfect fit for our second Devil’s Night selection. The Void is a showcase of practical creature effects by way of Lovecraftian horror, making for a unique entry in the decade’s genre offerings.
A labor of love by two of Astron-6’s members, Jeremy Gillespie and Steven Kostanski, The Void opts for serious dread, a departure from the Canadian film production’s usual low-budget independent horror comedies. Like the characters on screen, production proved to be a nightmare behind the scenes- the limitations of time proved incredibly difficult for this creature and special makeup effect heavy project. So, we’re showing appreciation for that labor of love, as well as its take on cosmic horror.
Synopsis: When Sheriff Deputy Carter discovers a blood-soaked man emerging from the woods on a deserted road, he rushes him to the nearest hospital. One that happens to be operating on a skeleton crew for its night shift. As hooded cult-like beings surround the hospital, preventing anyone from leaving, the patients and staff start behaving strangely. Carter has to descend to the bowels of the hospital for answers, and discovers something far more horrific than anyone could have imagined.
Key Players: Actor Aaron Poole leads as Deputy Daniel Carter. Kenneth Walsh plays lead doctor Richard Powell, and Kathleen Munroe plays Carter’s estranged wife Allison. Actors Art Hindle, Ellen Wong, Daniel Fathers, Evan Stern, Stephanie Belding, and Mik Byskov round out the cast.
Why It’s on the List: Aforementioned practical creature effects aside, The Void isn’t afraid to get as weird as it is goopy and gory. Gillespie and Kostanski aren’t interested in hand-holding either; there’s a fascinating mythology, imagery, and world-building at play that’s left up to the viewer to decipher. Great cinematography, unsettling creature designs, and a sense of nostalgia for fans of ‘80s horror all make for an entertaining Halloween treat. A warning, though; there’s a lot of flashing lights and strobe effects that might be triggering for those with extreme light sensitivity or epilepsy.
The Beverly-Thing: A clear sign the night shift is going to experience the worst night of their lives? One of the nurses has an extreme bout of body horror early on. It’s also a sign that the madness is just getting warmed up.
Where You Can Watch: The Void is currently available on Shudder, so join us tonight for the live-tweet at 7pm CST/8pm EST! Just hit play, follow us on Twitter and be sure to use #BloodyHalloween.
