The Empty Man

In the final moments of The Empty Man, it is revealed that James, the troubled protagonist, is actually a tulpa—a construct of collective belief created by the cult, the Pontifex Institute. Throughout the film, James has believed himself to be a real person on a mission to stop the supernatural entity known as the Empty Man, but the truth is much darker. The cult engineered James to serve as a vessel for the Empty Man, and over time, they manipulated his perceptions and realities, making him believe in his own existence and his quest. When James finally confronts Amanda in the hospital, she reveals that he is a tulpa—an idea brought into flesh by the cult’s collective belief—and that his purpose now is to become the new host for the Empty Man.

In a disturbing turn, James accepts this fate without resistance, fully embracing his role as the vessel. The film’s ending visually demonstrates this transformation: James shoots Paul, the previous host, dead—symbolizing the transfer of the Empty Man’s consciousness—and is then shown being worshiped by cult members disguised as hospital staff. This scene signifies that James has become the embodiment of the entity. The final shot leaves viewers questioning what is real—are the characters’ interactions genuine, or are many of them illusions crafted by the cult? The hospital is empty, and James’s interactions with others seem questionable, emphasizing how much of his life and experiences might have been fabricated.

Director David Prior purposely designed the ending to be ambiguous and unsettling, reflecting the cosmic horror themes inspired by Lovecraft. It leaves audiences with a lingering sense of dread, as the cycle of the cult’s influence appears endless. James’s acceptance confirms that he was never truly an individual separate from the cult’s collective mind but rather a vessel created for the Empty Man’s purpose—an embodiment of the horror that can persist and evolve through belief and thought alone. This bleak conclusion fosters reflection on how fragile the line between reality and perception can be, especially when shaped by forces beyond human understanding.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:00