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Glorious (2022) Movie Review

Horror / Thriller

By Diresh SheridPublished about a year ago 4 min read
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86% Rotten Tomatoes | 5.6/10 IMDb

“Glorious” is a darkly comic horror film that tells its single-location story in an intriguing, yet trippy and icky way. It is simultaneously highfalutin and down-and-dirty, which makes it stand out in the genre. The film tells the story of a disheveled, middle-aged man named Wes, played by Ryan Kwanten, who finds himself locked inside a remote rest stop bathroom. His car is crammed with his belongings, including a teddy bear and a mysterious red box. Over the course of the night, he will remain there, burning everything he owns in a drunken rage. When he awakens the next morning, hungover and pantsless, he staggers into the bathroom to vomit, only to be disturbed by the sound of a friendly voice coming from the adjacent stall. This is where the story begins to take a bizarre turn.

The mysterious voice belongs to J.K. Simmons, and he says his name is Ghat. Wes and Ghat's banter is playful at first, which is surreal given the squalid setting. Simmons uses the full range of his rich resonance to portray his character, who is kind and inquisitive, even a little hokey in his humor, until he becomes more sinister and insistent. The back and forth between these two characters, and between reality and fantasy, comprise the majority of the film. Their conversations are witty and strange, and you'll never be able to predict where this story is going. Is Ghat a real person? An inebriated hallucination? The devil himself? This ambiguity keeps the audience guessing along with Wes.

One of the film's strengths is Ryan Kwanten's performance. He is tasked with developing his character while essentially acting alone in a cramped space, and he rises to that physical and emotional challenge. We know Wes is needy and volatile, but he also has to maintain some mystery. Here's where the tricky part of these one-location movies comes in: how to develop a character within such a limited setting. In the case of "Glorious," there's not much to Wes, despite a few flashbacks, and there can't be until the very end. That makes it difficult for us to care about whether he makes it out of the bathroom alive—or at least with his sanity intact.

The script, written by David Ian McKendry, Joshua Hull, and Todd Rigney, is weird and witty, but it might have packed more of a punch as a short or an episode of a “Twilight Zone”-type series. At a brisk 79 minutes, "Glorious" feels like an intriguing idea that's been stretched thin to feature length. However, the performances in what is essentially a two-hander remain intriguing, and the film deserves credit for its originality.

Director Rebekah McKendry uses the limited space in inventive ways. For example, the colorful mural around the glory hole grows animated to depict Ghat's history. Additionally, the use of dramatic pink lighting indicates impending cosmic doom. The interior of the bathroom is a frightful mélange of bodily fluids, and the eventual blood and guts on display will turn your stomach. If you are squeamish about such things, beware.

As the night wears on, the stakes get higher, and the conversation between Wes and Ghat becomes more intense. Ghat reveals that he is not from this world and that he needs Wes's help to save the universe from a cosmic threat. Wes initially dismisses Ghat's claims as the ravings of a madman, but he soon realizes that there may be some truth to Ghat's story. Wes must decide whether to trust Ghat and take action to save the universe or remain skeptical and ignore the warnings.

The tension between the two characters is palpable, and the viewer is kept on edge throughout the film. The pacing is slow at times, but it builds to a satisfying and surprising conclusion. The script is witty and dark, with plenty of humor to balance out the horror elements. The use of a single location is effective, and the creative use of lighting and animation adds to the surreal atmosphere.

Ryan Kwanten delivers an impressive performance as Wes, portraying a man on the brink of despair with depth and nuance. J.K. Simmons is equally impressive as the mysterious and enigmatic Ghat, bringing his trademark gravitas to the role. The chemistry between the two actors is excellent, and their banter is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Overall, "Glorious" is a unique and ambitious film that offers an engaging and entertaining experience for fans of horror and sci-fi. While it may not be perfect, it is a testament to the creative vision and talent of its filmmakers. The film explores themes of trust, belief, and the nature of reality, and it does so in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. If you're looking for a mind-bending horror movie with a twist, "Glorious" is definitely worth checking out.

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Diresh Sherid

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