The month of April is a milestone for The Horror Syndicate. On April 15th, 2017, our beloved website turns 1! It’s been a fast and exciting year. I have written many articles over the past year. All of which are special in their own way. But a certain select few, were ones that I was truly excited to write about. The Neon Demon (2016), The Barn (2016) are just a couple. Now boils and ghouls, comes another one of those times. I have been completely ecstatic to review this film, ever since I saw the magnificent trailer a month ago. With that said, I now have the honor of screening a sneak peek of Astron – 6 alumni Jeremy Gillespie and Steven Kostanski’s The Void (2017). As always, it’s time to dim the lights, pop some popcorn and crack open an adult beverage. Will my heavy-handed enthusiasm and excitement be brought back down to earth and stomped on? Let’s find out!
Spoiler Free Synopsis
Sheriff Daniel Carter (Aaron Poole, The Last Will and Testament of Rosalind Leigh) is out on a late-night patrol, everything is quiet and peaceful. Until a man stumbles out in front of him, bloodied and disoriented. Carter proceeds to take the barely conscious man to the nearest hospital. But, once he steps foot inside the hospital, it sets in motion what will be a night he will never forget. Strange hooded figures are being drawn towards the desolate hospital. Something mysterious is manifesting amongst the patrons of the hospital. Something… EVIL. With the help of two strangers, can Daniel face the unknown of THE VOID?
This is Gillespie and Kostanski’s first feature since they co-directed their gory and inappropriately hilarious Father’s Day (2011). These two are back with a vengeance this time, pulling no punches. Do not go into this looking for laughs. This film is PURE TERROR! The Void co-stars Daniel Fathers (Pontypool), Kathleen Munroe (Survival of the Dead) and Kenneth Walsh (The Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Fog). A very full-bodied cast. They all did wonderful jobs in their respective roles, in particular with Poole and Fathers’ performances really driving the film.
All around production on this film was top notch. The effects team, led by SFX coordinator Stefano Beninati, truly had some breathtaking practical special effects. The creature designs the team conjured up are those monsters that hide in your worst possible nightmares, come to life. Which is exactly the kind of work that has been missing in recent horror! Very little CGI involved at all. The Original score lead by Blitz//Berlin was the last bloody piece to this amazing puzzle. Broody and downright chilling music that set the landscape of horrors unknown from the very beginning of the film, with almost trance-inducing precision. A truly intense opening that had me on the edge of my seat, before the credits even fucking started!
“The Void is intense and horrifying, easily the best horror film in 25 years.”
–Ray Marek III, President, The Horror Syndicate
The Void is an ambitious love letter to the likes of horror maestros Lucio Fulci, John Carpenter and Clive Barker. A very well crafted homage to 1980’s creature horror, yet still giving us a very fresh idea for the new generation to fall in love with. The Void was a twisted, blood-drenched thrill ride. At times, it was a hypnotic introspective nightmare. Blurring the lines of dream and reality. A relentless shock to the senses! I whole-heartedly stamp this film with my seal of horror approval. I cannot wait to see what Gillespie and Kostanski still have up their sleeves. These two, are filmmakers to keep your eye on.
I’m just going to go ahead and say it, I agree with our humble leaders’ statement; this film is a modern cult classic. It will be remembered for years to come. The Void exceeded all of my expectations. A true masterpiece in independent filmmaking. This flick was balls to the wall from beginning to amazing end.
I was completely transfixed by the horrors that lie beyond, the mysteries that lurk within…. THE VOID.
The Void premieres with a limited release in theaters today! It is also available on VOD through iTunes and other streaming services. See this film any way you can!
IMDb: 6.0/10 (Only 435 ratings so far)
ZombiSurvivor: 9.0/10 (I FUCKING LOVED IT)
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-ZS
