2022 has been an exceptionally strong year for the horror genre. With outputs like Scream, X and Prey, horror hounds have been blessed with quality content to quench their thirst for dread. However, I can say with extreme trust, that 2022 has given us nothing else like Glorious. And that kind of over-the-top weirdness is just what we needed to fill the void left by films like The resuscitator and Company.
Wes (Ryan Kwanten) is going through a rough patch. He lives in his car as he travels aimlessly and struggles to get over the trauma of a recent relationship. Finding himself at a small empty rest area, Wes drowns his sad memories in a bottle of whiskey. He wakes up the next morning, predictably, hungover and rethinking his life choices.
After throwing himself violently into the dirty toilet of the restroom bathroom, Wes finds himself stuck; trapped in the small confines of the break room with only a disembodied voice to keep him company. This voice, claiming to be the god Ghatanothoa (JK Simmon), comes from the nearby stall and tells Wes that the fate of mankind rests in his own hands.
Glorious leans into his absurdity, and he takes advantage of it. Its title is hilarious and clever once you realize how much its plot revolves around the glory hole between two toilet stalls. I walked into this movie blind, with no prior knowledge, and so the joke inside its title didn’t immediately register. The hole, which is adorned with imagery of an unknown tentacled creature, acts as the primary vessel of communication between Wes and the voice in the adjoining cabin.
Fans of HP Lovecraft will no doubt see his influence throughout Glorious; from the indescribable form of Ghatanothoa, to the imminent threat of a creature beyond our comprehension. Calling a movie “Lovecraftian” sounds like a tired, unremarkable comparison. However, few movies have been more worthy of that title than this one. Glorious is a madhouse, a horror show unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years; a love letter to the bonkers, above the pinnacle of the 80s horror experience.
Wes is the only character seen on screen in the majority of Glorious’ Duration. The film’s failure or success largely rests on Kwanten’s shoulders and his ability to sell the experience. Fortunately, he is ready for the task. Oscar-winning actor JK Simmons also does spectacular voice work. Acting without using movement or facial expressions takes a certain level of skill that many possess. Simmons’ voice is distinct and powerful enough to carry the weight and prominence it needs here.
Glorious uses a single setting and two characters to create a unique and captivating story. It’s a welcome throwback to genre films of the past while still managing to stand on its own. It’s weird, quirky, gory and Absolutely…glorious. 8/10
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