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Entertainment • Film

The Empty Man

The Empty Man is a 2020 supernatural horror film written, directed, and co-edited by David Prior in his feature directorial debut.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Empty Man is a 2020 supernatural horror film written, directed, and co-edited by David Prior in his feature directorial debut. It is based on the Boom! Studios graphic novel by Cullen Bunn and Vanesa R. Del Rey and stars James Badge Dale as a former police officer investigating disappearances linked to a cult and an urban legend. The film was released in U.S. theatres on October 23, 2020.

Premise

The film centres on a former police officer who investigates a missing girl and discovers a secretive occult group linked to an urban legend and a supernatural entity.

Production and source material

The Empty Man is based on the graphic novel created by Cullen Bunn and Vanesa R. Del Rey and published by Boom! Studios. David Prior wrote and directed the film, also serving as co-editor.

Release

The film was released in U.S. theatres on October 23, 2020. Later digital and streaming availability was reported by entertainment listings and store pages.

Cast

Principal cast members include James Badge Dale, Marin Ireland, Stephen Root, Ron Canada, Robert Aramayo, Joel Courtney, and Sasha Frolova.

Key facts

  • The Empty Man is David Prior’s feature directorial debut.
  • It was adapted from a Boom! Studios graphic novel by Cullen Bunn and Vanesa R. Del Rey.
  • The story follows a former police officer investigating missing persons and a secret cult.
  • James Badge Dale plays the lead role of James Lasombra.
  • The film was released theatrically in the United States on October 23, 2020, with a runtime of 137 minutes.
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Canadian context

The film is relevant to Canadian readers as an English-language theatrical release from 20th Century Studios that circulated widely through North American home-entertainment and streaming channels.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Empty Man?
The Empty Man is a 2020 supernatural horror film directed, written, and co-edited by David Prior.
What is it based on?
It is based on the Boom! Studios graphic novel The Empty Man by Cullen Bunn and Vanesa R. Del Rey.
Who stars in the film?
The film stars James Badge Dale, Marin Ireland, Stephen Root, Ron Canada, Robert Aramayo, Joel Courtney, and Sasha Frolova.
When was it released?
It was released in U.S. theatres on October 23, 2020.
What is the plot about?
A former cop investigates disappearances in a Midwestern town and uncovers an occult group tied to a local legend.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empty_Man_(film)
    Supports: Identifies the film, its 2020 release, David Prior’s roles, and its basis on the graphic novel.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_empty_man
    Supports: Provides release date, runtime, genre, rating, and synopsis.
  3. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/the-empty-man/umc.cmc.6mosuxkkut5fc2ctyaprexaw
    Supports: Synopsis, cast, runtime, and director credit.
  4. 20th Century Studios — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk6u9X1bW30
    Supports: Official trailer describing premise, source material, and cast.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empty_Man
    Supports: Identifies the original comic book series and announcement of film adaptation.