The Empty Man

An ex cop follows a trail of clues after a teenage girl vanishes, only to stumble into a secretive circle rumored to summon something beyond human understanding. What begins as a routine missing persons case widens into a murky investigation into folklore, ritual and a myth that refuses to stay buried. The story threads together small town rumors, seen and unseen dangers, and a city full of people who believe in the same terrifying thing in different ways. As evidence accumulates, the line between reality and superstition thins, pulling the investigator deeper into a conspiracy built on grief, guilt, and a shared need for control. The mystery keeps its cards close, and the film lets dread grow from the air and the unseen. Visuals blend urban textures with unsettling rituals, suggesting something old and unknowable lurks just beneath everyday life.

Directed by David Prior, The Empty Man adapts Cullen Bunn's graphic novel into a feature that blends horror and mystery. Released in 2020 by 20th Century Studios, it expands a cultic premise into a widescreen chase.

At the box office it earned 4,796,993 worldwide against a 16 million budget, marking a modest return for a genre title. Its limited commercial footprint made it more of a cult curiosity than a breakout hit.

Despite its ambition, The Empty Man did not rack up major nominations. Some critics highlighted the performances by James Badge Dale and Marin Ireland, along with the film's eerie atmosphere, but the project largely flew under awards season radar.

Critics were divided about its scope and pacing, yet many noted a patient, dread filled approach that leans on folklore and the weight of grief. The movie asks how belief shapes responses to loss and how town myths shape personal fate. The tension comes from the careful pacing rather than jump scares.