A Violent Man

The Empty Man is a 2020 supernatural horror film directed, written, and co-edited by David Prior in his feature directorial debut, based on Cullen Bunn and Vanesa R. Del Rey's graphic novel The Empty Man published by Boom! Studios. Starring James Badge Dale and Marin Ireland, it follows an ex-cop who, upon an investigation into a missing girl, discovers a secret cult. Originally filmed in August 2017 as an international co-production between the United States, South Africa, and United Kingdom, the film received poor scores at test screenings and distributor 20th Century Fox lost faith in its commercial prospects. The final product, theatrically released in the United States on October 23, 2020, was still considered a rough edit by Prior. Released in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film grossed $4 million worldwide against a budget of $16 million. It received mostly negative reviews from critics at the time of its release, but then critics later received it positive generally. Reception improved after home video and streaming service releases, and it was reported by some publications that The Empty Man gained a cult following.