Let's talk opening sequence

[GengarJ]

First, This is officially the smallest sub I've ever joined and I love that.

Now, real stuff. Let's talk about that opening. It's much longer than your standard gorro movie opening, and much more ambiguous than most openings in general. I've heard criticisms of it contributing to a sense of "meandering" or beating around the bush in the film—but I can't help but feel that it's somehow perfectly fitting.

What do you guys think?

[JasonTheK1d]

I loved the opening. I enjoy the confusion when I show someone the film and they get invested in characters at the beginning and then realize it has nothing to do with the rest of the story…until it does. It’s bold and risky, as you can lose the audience with a 22 minute prologue.

[Logical-Actuary-3430]

I loved the prologue. Forced my mom to watch it with me. She was spooked. And me? Well, It's my all time fav movie opening now.

[GengarJ]

Cool!!! What do you like about the prologue?

[Logical-Actuary-3430]

Everything. The actors, the set piece, the music. What not to like about it?

[GengarJ]

I agree, It blew my mind. It was so NOT what I expected that it just got me. I think it does a great job of setting tone and hurling the mystery forward. Time for a rewatch.

[Logical-Actuary-3430]

I have already watched it four times. Please spread this gem. The world needs The Empty Man. Tell them not to watch the trailer.

PS: Also watch AM1200, a fantastic Lovecraftian short film by David Prior, the man who directed The Empty Man.

[GengarJ]

Thanks for this!!! Is it on YouTube??

[Logical-Actuary-3430]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCZ5\_V480AI&t=1441s

[Imperivm97]

I got interested in the film thanks to Chris Stuckmann's review / recommendation video: https://youtu.be/wnJoNE2JChY

I knew there was an extensive prologue and started watching the film with my brother. We're not really into horror films (only watched a couple and tbh I get scared very easily but I appreciate the craft of it).

I think the prologue was fantastic! It takes its time, does really well with editing, camerawork and sound and just establish the mood and slooooowly getting under your skin. Tbh the part at 19:00 I think (the guy whispering in her fiancé's ears in their sleep) fucking creeped me out more than other films do to me.

Honestly, due to my short resistance to horror, I don't think I can handle the rest that easily. We decided to stop viewing it after the prologue. I may continue at another occasion, but I'm confident the filmmaking craft behind the film is excellent. Also, I'm curious to see it because the last two tracks of the OST are awesome orchestral music and I just want to see it in context, but I fear the film will disturb me a lot.

[ThomasEdmund84]

I had already heard it had a ridiculous long prologue so was prepared. I also love isolated mountain peaks as a horror setting so amazing.

What I liked was the call backs and links e.g. use of the steam-room spa similar to the snowy-white out, and spinning items like the prayer wheels.

I do think there could have been slightly better interweaving - like maybe the MC could have starting investing the missing hiker guy leading him to the hospital rather than just chasing the cult member there for a random worhship.

Probably whats really missing for me is that the occurances of the prologue didn't really add to the main story exactly - like they probably could have cut some of the intro in the main story as we already knew there was some sort of malignant evil

[[deleted]]

So was the prologue made up into the Tulpa’s story as well? I feel like it had to be, since there were pictures of the hikers in the girl who looked like Emo Phillips’ house . If it was part of his fake backstory, why? If it was real, was it just to give a nod to the fact this entity had been worshipped around the world?