Determined to uncover the origins of this mysterious entity, James stumbles upon a sinister cult and learns of terrifying events from the past. His own tragic history—losing his wife and son in a car accident—further complicates his journey. But how does the cult know about his personal trauma? Is James being watched? Can he put an end to the terror of the Empty Man? Let’s unravel these questions through the story.
Spoilers Ahead
The Empty Man (2020) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
What Happens to the Four Friends?
The film opens in 1995 when four friends, Greg, Fiona, Ruthie, and Paul, embark on a hike in Bhutan’s Ura Valley. Their journey takes an ominous turn when Paul hears a mysterious whistling sound and falls into a crevice. Greg discovers him staring at an ancient, grotesque humanoid skeleton embedded in a cave wall. Later, Paul’s behavior shifts dramatically. He becomes withdrawn, issuing only a cryptic warning to Greg: “Don’t touch me, or you’ll die.”
The group retreats to an empty house to escape a snowstorm, but the atmosphere grows tense. The next day, Ruthie, who had previously touched Paul, is tormented by a towering robed figure that vanishes like a hallucination. Moreover, the horror intensifies that night when Paul, seemingly under the influence of a sinister force, whispers into Ruthie’s ear. By morning, the group descends into chaos. Paul’s eerie presence triggers Ruthie to brutally murder Greg and Fiona before leaping off a cliff herself. Paul, now completely detached, watches the carnage unfold, unmoved.
Paul’s transformation began the moment he encountered the ancient skeleton in the cave. The discovery seems to awaken a dormant evil, with Paul becoming the medium for its influence. His warning to Greg suggests he is aware, albeit vaguely, of the danger he poses to others. Yet, as the possession deepens, his resistance diminishes, and he succumbs to the malevolent force.
What Happens to Amanda and Her Friends?
Amanda introduces her friends to the ritual for summoning the Empty Man. It involves an empty bottle and a focus on the entity. What begins as an innocent thrill spirals into horror as the group unwittingly invokes a supernatural force. The ritual, seemingly harmless, binds them to the Empty Man, marking them as his targets. Amanda appears to take a leading role, subtly guiding her friends into the ritual. In fact, her behavior after the summoning becomes increasingly disturbing, hinting at a deeper connection to the entity.
The aftermath of the summoning sees Amanda’s friends brutally killed in a ritualistic manner. James finds their hanged bodies, under the bridge, bearing the same ominous message found in Amanda’s bathroom: “The Empty Man made me do it.” This phrase implies possession or coercion, suggesting the Empty Man manipulates his victims into their deaths. Devara, the reluctant participant, meets a similarly gruesome fate. She appears to be attacked by the Empty Man in a spa. But a brief flashback reveals stabbing herself with scissors. This juxtaposition blurs the line between supernatural influence and psychological collapse, reinforcing the entity’s power to dominate its victims’ minds.
Amanda’s disappearance is shrouded in mystery. Her actions of whispering into Brandon’s ear and leading the summoning, indicate she may have been chosen or influenced by the Empty Man. The flier from the Pontifex Institute found in her room, coupled with the word “tulpa”, hints that Amanda’s disappearance could be part of a larger, orchestrated plan involving this cult-like group. She may serve as a conduit or pawn in a greater ritual, leaving her fate uncertain but tied to the entity’s will.
What does James Find Out about the Empty Man?
Through his investigation, James learns that the Pontifex Institute revolves around the concept of tulpas – manifestations of thought brought to life through belief. The cult’s leader, Arthur Parsons, describes the Empty Man as an entity capable of granting desires in exchange for obedience. The group’s origins, rooted in esoteric practices from regions like Bhutan, suggest a deeper, ancient understanding of how belief can shape reality. This belief system fuels the cult’s actions, positioning the Empty Man as a god-like figure central to their agenda.
The Pontifex Institute seeks to expand its influence by using the Empty Man to manipulate its followers. James discovers files on Amanda, her friends, himself, and Paul. It indicates that the cult meticulously selects individuals for their rituals. Amanda’s involvement suggests she has been recruited to serve the cult’s larger goal. Furthermore, the fire ritual James witnesses further emphasizes the group’s attempt to invoke the Empty Man’s power, underscoring their ambition to create a direct link between the entity and its followers.
James’ growing paranoia and hallucinations reflect the psychological grip the Empty Man has on him. His actions become increasingly desperate as he uncovers more about the cult. He confronts a cult member, Garrett, and violently forces him to reveal crucial information. This leads James to a comatose man named Paul, whom Garrett identifies as the transmitter of the Empty Man’s messages. Obviously, Paul’s condition, combined with the cult’s regular visits, reveals that the Empty Man uses him as a vessel to communicate with the cult.
The Empty Man (2020) Movie Ending Explained:
The Transformation of James Lasombra: The Making of the Empty Man
James Lasombra’s transformation into the Empty Man is the culmination of the Pontifex Institute’s deliberate manipulation and ritualistic grooming. Through a combination of supernatural influence and psychological exploitation, James is stripped of his identity and remade as the vessel for an ancient entity. The Pontifex Institute carefully manipulates James’ life to turn him into a new host for the Empty Man. Paul, the current vessel, has been serving as an “antenna” for the entity since his possession 23 years ago. However, his deteriorating state necessitates a replacement.
The cult identifies James as the ideal candidate, fabricating every detail of his life. His affair with Nora, the tragic deaths of his wife and son, and even his recent memories are all constructs designed to fill James with grief, guilt, and vulnerability. These emotions render him a “tulpa,” a thought form devoid of individuality, perfectly suited for possession. Amanda, deeply integrated into the cult, plays a pivotal role in preparing James. She exploits his guilt over the affair with her mother and the subsequent loss of his family, deepening his sense of despair. Her actions, including luring James into investigating the cult and exposing him to the supernatural, are carefully calculated to push him toward his breaking point.
How Does James Lasombra Become the Empty Man?
When James confronts her at the hospital, Amanda reveals the truth: his entire existence is a construct orchestrated by the cult. This encounter, coupled with a series of hallucinations, shatters James’ sense of reality. He realizes that his identity is a fabrication and succumbs to the cult’s influence. At this moment, the Empty Man fully takes over his body, erasing any remnants of the person James once was. The Pontifex Institute members kneel before him, signifying the completion of their ritual and the successful creation of a new vessel for the entity.
The Pontifex Institute’s actions highlight their unwavering dedication to bringing the Empty Man into the world. By exploiting James’ fabricated trauma and dismantling his sense of self, they achieve their ultimate goal. The process underscores the cult’s mastery over belief and manipulation, proving the terrifying power of their doctrine.
