THE VOID (2016)
With special guest John DeVore
Intro, Math Club, and Debate Society (spoiler-free) 00:00-29:22
Honor Roll and Detention (spoiler-heavy) 29:23-1:03:19
Superlatives (spoiler-heavier) 1:03:20-1:24:18
Director Jeremy Gillespie & Steven Kostanski
Screenplay Jeremy Gillespie & Steven Kostanski
Featuring Stephanie Belding, Mik Byskov, Daniel Fathers, Art Hindle, James Millington, Grace Munro, Kathleen Munroe, Aaron Poole, Evan Stern, Kenneth Welsh, Ellen Wong
Released April 9, 2017
Budget $151,042
Box office $368,372
SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS
It’s late one night in America, and two men are chasing tweakers from a local meth den. One escapee, James, gets away. The other, a girl, is set on fire by the men before they drive off. Meanwhile, local police chief Daniel Carter is dozing on the job when he spots James crawling out of the woods, and transports him to the nearest medical facility, Marsh General, where he estranged wife Allison works as a nurse. The hospital is on the verge of closing after a fire took out most of it, and they’re working with a skeleton crew: besides Allison, there are two nurses, Kim and Beverly; one doctor, the mysterious Richard Powell; and only two patients, Cliff and the pregnant Maggie. It’s upon Daniel’s arrival that the world tilts on its axis: strange robe-clad figures emerge from the forest, Beverly is caught performing impromptu surgery on Cliff, and Maggie goes into labor. What happens from here defies logic, description and expectation, but as Daniel and Allison determine to face the wickedness that comes their way, they soon find themselves enmeshed in a plot that goes way beyond medical science, and maybe, beyond the reaches of time and space itself.
SPOILER-FREE GUEST BIO
John DeVore is a two-time James Beard award-winning essayist and editor. He currently writes a column for Decider called 'Is It Woke?' and his first memoir, 'Theatre Kids,' will hit bookstores in 2024. His favorite movie is 'Fiddler on the Roof,' followed by 'Hellraiser.' Favorite recess snack: Lunchables.
EPISODE NOTES
Music from “The Void” by Jeremy Gillespie.
Listen to our other episode recorded with John, on The Dunwich Horror (1970), here.
Why did Professor Louryk choose this film? Find out in our Blog.
BAD CLOSED CAPTIONING CORNER
Who is God’s name is she referring to here?
NOSTALGIA CORNER
Far right: John DeVore (standing) and Eric Winick (kneeling), February 1999. Also pictured: Michael Gardner (far left), David Cote (second from left), and John Clancy (standing, 2nd from right)
TRAILER
SUPERLATIVES
The Gaspar Noe Award for Most Disturbing Scene
John: Father and Son shoot the young female tweaker in the back and set her on fire
Eric: Nurse Beverly performs surgery on Cliff’s eye with scissors
Bradford: When the “jangly man” emerges and scampers off with James
The Ellen Ripley Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Live
John: Allison
Eric: Allison
Bradford: Sarah Powell
The Michael Myers Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Die
John: Trooper Mitchell
Eric: Vincent/The Father
Bradford: Kim
The Ken Russell Award for Most Baroque Screen Moment
John: The glimpses of The Void
Eric: Our first look at Allison as the Borg Queen/Alien mother
Bradford: Final moment, Daniel and Allison in the abyss
The Brad Dourif Award for Character Who Could Have Been Played by Brad Dourif
John: Dr. Powell
Eric: Dr. Powell
Bradford: Trooper Mitchell
FINAL LETTER GRADE
John: B+
Eric: B-
Bradford: A-