THE VOID

Signature Entertainment, £12.99 (Blu-ray), £9.99 (DVD)

In recent years, horror has largely abandoned the practical effects of decades past in favour of terrors of a more psychological variety, and effects-based horror using CGI have often provoked laughter and groans rather than shocked gasps. Crowdfunded Lovecraftian horror The Void is therefore a welcome homage to old school body horror, often showcasing visuals reminiscent of both John Carpenter’s 1982 classic The Thing and Clive Barker’s 1987 Hellraiser. Thankfully, the film manages to be its own entity rather than an imitation of classic horrors, but while the gruesome visuals impress and the ambiguity of the film’s depiction of time and place emphasises the Lovecraftian elements, things are severely lacking in the plot department. While this is evidently a choice that was made to ensure the audience would feel as if they were in the characters’ shoes, the lack of depth and a clear conclusion may frustrate some viewers, just as the acting performances generally do very little to elevate the The Void from lovingly nostalgic mimicry to a truly great tribute. LM