The Empty Man Ending Explained
tl;dr: The Empty Man (2020) is a psychological horror film that blends cosmic horror, cult mythology, and existential dread. The ending reveals that the protagonist, James Lasombra, is not a real person but a tulpa-a thought-form created by a cult to serve as the vessel for the Empty Man, a malevolent entity. After uncovering the truth, James is consumed by the entity, and the cycle of the Empty Man's rebirth continues. The film leaves audiences questioning reality, identity, and the power of belief, with ambiguous clues scattered throughout the narrative.
The Ending Explained in Detail
The finale of The Empty Man is a mind-bending twist that recontextualizes the entire film. James Lasombra, a former detective investigating a series of disappearances linked to a mysterious cult, gradually uncovers the truth about the Empty Man-a supernatural entity that manifests through human hosts. The cult, the Pontifex Institute, believes the Empty Man is a godlike being summoned through collective belief and ritual. As James delves deeper, he discovers that his memories are fabrications, and he is actually a tulpa, a being conjured into existence by the cult's rituals. His entire life-his grief over his family's death, his detective work-was an illusion designed to lead him to his inevitable role as the Empty Man's vessel.
The climax occurs in a remote cabin where James confronts the cult's leader, who reveals the horrifying truth. The Empty Man is not just a legend but a real force that requires a host to sustain its existence. James, as the latest tulpa, is meant to replace the previous host, who is now decaying. The film's final moments show James accepting his fate, his body transforming as the Empty Man takes over. The cycle repeats, implying that this process has happened countless times before and will continue indefinitely. The last shot lingers on James's face, now hollow and lifeless, as the cult's chants echo in the background, signaling the entity's triumph.
Unresolved Questions and Possible Answers
Is the Empty Man a real entity or a psychological construct?
- Possibility 1: It's a real cosmic horror, an ancient force that feeds on belief.
- Possibility 2: It's a mass delusion perpetuated by the cult, with tulpas being victims of shared psychosis.
How many times has this cycle occurred?
- The film hints at a long history, with newspaper clippings and missing persons cases suggesting decades of repetition.
What is the significance of the bridge and the whispering?
- The bridge may be a liminal space where the tulpa's consciousness is imprinted, and the whispers could be the cult's collective will shaping reality.
Why does James seem to remember a past life if he's a tulpa?
- Tulpas in occult lore often inherit false memories to make them believe they're real. The cult may have implanted these to ensure his compliance.
Themes and Symbolism
The film explores themes of existential dread, the power of belief, and the fragility of identity. The Empty Man represents the void-both literal and metaphorical-that humans try to fill with meaning. James's journey mirrors the audience's questioning of reality, as the film constantly undermines what's "real." The cult's rituals echo real-world conspiracy theories and urban legends, suggesting that belief alone can manifest horror. The bridge, a recurring motif, symbolizes the threshold between existence and oblivion, where the tulpa is born and the Empty Man lurks.
Personal Opinion
The Empty Man is a criminally underrated horror film that rewards multiple viewings. Its ending is a masterclass in slow-burn dread, subverting expectations by revealing the protagonist as an unwitting pawn in a larger, incomprehensible game. The cosmic horror elements elevate it beyond typical cult narratives, and the existential twist lingers long after the credits roll. However, the film's pacing and dense mythology may alienate some viewers. For those willing to engage with its themes, it's a haunting meditation on the nature of self and the terror of realizing you're not who you think you are.
Final Thoughts
The ambiguous ending ensures The Empty Man sticks with you, inviting interpretation and debate. Whether read as a supernatural tale or a psychological allegory, it's a film that challenges the viewer to question reality alongside its protagonist. The cyclical nature of the story suggests an inescapable horror-one that mirrors our own fears of meaninglessness and predestination. In the end, James's fate is a bleak reminder that some forces are beyond understanding, and some voids can never be filled.