Written and directed by Javier Cano Larumbe, co-written by Blai Domenech, all children are afraid of the dark, but for Félix, this darkness is different. It is dense, corporeal, and hides something sinister. A terrifying presence has taken up residence in his house, threatening to destroy what he loves most. Starring: María Valverde, Javier Beltrán and Tomeu Artigas.
The concept for Void is superb because to a child seeing that drastic change in their parents during the period of separation and divorce must seem to them like their parents are possessed. To be unable to truly process that turn for the cold and distant or the animosity and anger, and unable to help, could be a haunting experience. So, to interpret that through horror feels entirely unusual but also perfectly logical. In that sense, it’s a fairly simple story but it has a layered foundation to help build such great tension and fear.
Immediately as you enter the world of Void, it makes a strong visual impression. The tone is established right from the very beginning and it’s excellently consistent all throughout the film. Javier Cano Larumbe’s directorial style taps into so many familiar elements of horror, especially with flickering lights and slowly creeping shots which linger in moments. It’s strong work, even more so as it’s supported by some terrific cinematography from Àlvar Riu Dolz. It uses the darkness to its advantage, rather than being enveloped by it. The way that they also choose to focus on Tomeu Artigas’ Felix also adds a rife sadness to the atmosphere.
Undoubtedly, in turn that’s strengthened by Artigas’ performance. He brings an impressive presence given that a lot of his portrayal is not about the dialogue but his body language. He’s able to communicate the confusion and fear, without relying on words to express it. María Valverde and Javier Beltrán present familiar roles with their parting parents. The arguments and the exasperation, they’re both good performances but in this case their role is more to set the scene for Artigas, as it’s all about Felix, and none of them disappoint.
Void is a creative, thoughtful, inventive exploration of a child’s view of divorce. The direction is superb and confident, the atmosphere is dense with tension and fear. The choices are clear yet hold onto a subtlety. There’s a great movement to it, that’s supported by strong editing. The performances are all emotionally charged and Tomeu Artigas does a brilliant job for such a young actor. It’s a terrific concept and it was very well executed.
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