Disclaimer: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The Blogging Banshee fully supports those on strike and wrote this review in accordance with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA guidelines. You can learn more about the strikes and how to show your support by clicking the links provided above.

Writer and director Andrew Jara (The Last Ones) is back with his latest award-winning feature film, The Empty Space. In the aftermath of a violent attack, Aimee is plagued with severe anxiety and depression. After she begins seeking help at a support group, an unexpected visitor forces Aimee to come face-to-face with her trauma. Blending elements of horror and science fiction, Jara tells a compelling story highlighting mental health issues. By incorporating the more fantastical elements of these genres, the emotional journey of the protagonist is emphasized to really show how difficult it can be to overcome trauma. On top of telling a powerful story of grief, Jara also creates an interesting mythos that falls somewhere between supernatural and extraterrestrial. It’s a unique concept that forces the audience to contemplate what might exist in the spaces between worlds, while also adding plenty of suspense and intrigue.

While the plot itself tells a powerful story, The Empty Space isn’t without some flaws. There are moments, primarily at the beginning of the film, when the dialogue doesn’t flow naturally. These moments of awkward conversation that don’t sound true to real life might take certain viewers out of the moment, but as the film progresses the dialogue does improve. Another notable issue with the film is a more technical one; and one that surely is due to the film having a low budget. The sound mixing is a bit rough. Audiences will likely notice a lot of background noise as well as fluctuation in how loud certain characters’ dialogue sounds from scene to scene. Even though the sound is distracting at times, it is easier to forgive knowing it likely wouldn’t be an issue had the film been a bigger budget production.

Many other technical aspects of The Empty Space are quite well done. The film features a musical score that hits the emotional notes while also delivering a sci-fi synth sound. There is also a lot of visual interest to the film. Audiences will likely take notice of the creative camera angles, as well as some wonderful lighting choices. The Empty Space features some computer generated elements, which are a little cheesy, though still visually appealing. However, most of the iconic imagery in the climax is achieved by clever editing.

The film features a mixed bag of performances, but the strong performances are definitely the standouts. Valerie Alene makes her debut as Aimee. Alene is able to convey the deep-rooted mental and emotional struggles her character experiences. While Alene plays the more anxious and subdued version of Aimee well, she really shines in the climax as Aimee finds her strength again. Joe Sinclitico (Borderland) plays Aimee’s boyfriend, Noah. At first, Sinclitico’s performance comes across as somewhat insincere. Yet, as the film progresses, the more this feels like an intentional choice that makes sense with the plot. Much like Alene, the climax of the film is when Sinclitico’s performance shines, as well as the earlier moments when Noah drops the façade to show his true nature. Other strong performances come from Rachel Olsen (Dinner for Six) and Austin Savage (I See a Darkness).

The Empty Space blends horror and science fiction to tell a powerful story of overcoming trauma. Jara created a film that many viewers are sure to relate to, making the message all the more powerful. While the film has it’s issues, many of them are easy to overlook when taking the budget into consideration. At the core of the film, there is still a fascinating story being told. The Empty Space also boasts a strong leading performance and interesting visuals to add to the overall appeal. It’s clear that Jara has a unique voice in horror, and he’s a filmmaker viewers should take notice of.

OVERALL RATING: 6/10