“The Empty Man” is billed as a horror film, but it’s more of a psychological thriller inspired by the supernatural.

“The Empty Man” is based on the graphic novel, aka comic book, of the same title, with 14 issues 2014-2019, by writer Cullen Bunn and artist Vanesa R. Del Rey (with Jesús Hervás inking, 2018-2019).

In “The Empty Man,” in Webster Mills, Mo., near St. Louis, former police officer, James Lasombra (James Badge Dale), tries to help his friend, Nora Quail (Marin Ireland), locate her missing daughter Amanda Quail (an impressive Sasha Frolova).

James crosses paths with investigating police officer, Detective Villiers (Ron Canada), and confronts guru, Arthur Parsons (Stephen Root), of the Pontifex Institute, a cult-like spiritual organization.

The followers of the Institute believe in The Empty Man, the concept of which Arthur explains to James in a scene replete with philosophical mumbo-jumbo.

Before all of this, a lengthy prologue amidst spectacular Bhutan, Eastern Himalayan Mountains, introduces us to Paul (Aaron Poole), who becomes catatonic after a fall into a cavern during a high-altitude trek with three friends.

Meanwhile, back in the present, several young persons are found dead under a bridge, and another young student, Davara Walsh (a memorable Samantha Logan), dies.

Bridges are shown throughout “The Empty Man”: a wire-grid bridge swaying across a gorge (seen during the prologue), a bridge from which plunges the vehicle driven by James’ wife and in which their son is a passenger, and the bridge where teens are found after they gathered to blow into an empty bottle to summon The Empty Man.

Unfortunately, these are bridges to nowhere. The film lacks cohesiveness. The Ben-Day dots of the original comic book don’t connect.

As should happen with comic-book to movie adaptations, film-makers need to fill in what’s between the panels. In a comic-book, a character’s interior life is left to the reader’s imagination. In a movie, the characters need to filled in with more than ink.

As with most movie screenplays, this can be accomplished in dialogue (where a character’s back story is revealed, providing depth), plot arc (whereby the protagonist rises to a challenge or task) or by the actor interpreting the role (facial expressions, gestures, body language).

Unfortunately, David Prior, who directs (in his narrative theatrical feature directorial debut) from the episodic screenplay that he wrote based on the comic book, does little of the aforesaid.

Psychological thrillers with a supernatural twist are supposed to be perplexing. “The Empty Man” is perplexing, but not in a good way.

The use of finger-pointing flashbacks interwoven with the death of the wife and son of James the police officer becomes gratuitous filler rather than character exposition.

It’s too bad because “The Empty Man” has lots to recommend it. “The Empty Man” has several good performances.

As James the police officer, James Badge Dale (“13 Hours,“ 2016; “Iron Man 3,” 2013; “World War Z,” 2013; “The Departed,” 2006) has a riveting screen presence as a beleaguered widow and former police officer who’s lost everything and now might be losing his sanity.

His friend Nora Quail (Marin Ireland TV’s “Homeland,” 2011-12) is a welcome sanctuary of sanity for James.

Technically, “The Empty Man” is excellent, especially the cinematography by director of photography Anastas N. Michos (director of photography, “The First Purge,” 2018; “Freedomland,” 2006; “Death to Smoochy,” 2002; “Man on the Moon,” 1999).

The minimalist techno music by Brian Williams (as Lustmord, “First Reformed,” 2017) and Christopher Young bolsters the film’s tension.

“The Empty Man” holds a certain fascination.

Is “The Empty Man” half-full or half-empty?

You decide. I made my decision (See Popcorn Boxes at end of this review).

Credit Readers Anonymous:

“The Empty Man” was filmed in Edwardsville, Madison County and Chicago Illinois, and Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.

“The Empty Man,”

MPAA rated R (Restricted Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.) for violence, disturbing images, language, some sexuality and nudity; Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror; Run time: 2 hr., 17 min. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

At the Movies:

“The Empty Man” was seen at AMC Center Valley 16, The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, Upper Saucon Township. The advance-purchase QR code ticket scanning worked flawlessly. The theater is very well-kept. I wore a face mask during the screening, as did others who were socially-distanced in the auditorium.

Movie Box Office,

Oct. 30-Nov. 1: The Fegleys of Allentown, Pa., dominated the theatrical movie box office, with the horror film, “Come Play,” starring Winslow Fegley, opening at No. 1 with $3.1 million, on 2,183 screens, and the comedy, “The War with Grandpa,” starring older brother Oakes Fegley, dropping one place to No. 3, with $1 million, on 2,365 screens, $11.2 million, four weeks, as “Honest Thief,” starring Liam Neeson, lost its two-week grip on No. 1, dropping one place to No. 2, with $1.3 million, on 2,360 screens, $9.5 million, four weeks.

4. “Tenet” dropped one place, with $885,000, on an undisclosed screens number, $53.8 million, nine weeks. 5. “The Empty Man,” dropped two places, $551,000, on 2,051 screens, $2.2 million, two weeks. 6. “Hocus Pocus” stayed in place, $456,000, on 1,130 screens, $4.8 million, five weeks, 2020 re-release. 7. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” dropped two places, $386,000, 1,222 screens, $2.2 million, three weeks, 2020 re-release. 8. “Monsters, Inc.” dropped one place, $232,000, on 1,237 screens, $726,000, two weeks, 2020 re-release. 9. “Spell,” $210,000, on 369 screens, one week. 10. “The New Mutants” stayed in place, $145,000, on 552 screens, $23.3 million, 10 weeks.

Box office statistics are from Box Office Mojo.

Unreel,

Nov. 6

“Let Him Go,”

R: Thomas Bezucha directs Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Lesley Manville and Kayli Carter in the Crime Thriller. A retired sheriff and his wife, whose son has died, attempt to located their only grandson.

“Mortal,”

R: André Øvredal directs Nat Wolff, Priyanka Bose, Iben Akerlie and Arthur in the Adventure Fantasy. A young man discovers he has supernatural powers in Norwegian mythology.

Opening dates are from Internet Movie Database.

In memory of:

This movie review is dedicated to Sean Connery (1930-2020). He was more than Bond, James Bond, the movie role of British Agent 007 that he originated. I interviewed Connery in person for the movie, “The Hunt for Red October” (1990). He was all-man, with huge forearms that a female interviewer at the round-table couldn’t resist asking if she could touch. He graciously obliged.