← Twisted Tales with Heidi Wong
Twisted Tales with Heidi Wong
The Internet Myth That Refused to Stay Fiction (The Empty Man Explained!)
00:32:58
Loading summary
Transcript25 lines
- [00:01]
Heidi Wong
Hey, it's Heidi.
- [00:02]
Sarah Turney
Looking for your next true crime podcast to listen to? There's a new Crime House show for
- [00:06]
Heidi Wong
you to check out.
- [00:06]
Sarah Turney
It's called the Final Hours, hosted by Sarah Turney and Courtney Nicole. Sarah is an advocate for missing and murdered victims whose sister disappeared in 2001. And Courtney is a true crime storyteller who has seen firsthand how crime can change a family forever. Together, they bring lived experiences to every case, examining the moments just before a person disappears. The routines, the timelines, the small details
- [00:31]
Heidi Wong
that often get over overlooked because every
- [00:34]
Sarah Turney
disappearance has a moment where everything still feels normal. Until it doesn't. Listen to and follow the Final Hours on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or
- [00:44]
Heidi Wong
wherever you get your podcasts.
- [00:46]
Sarah Turney
New episodes drop every Monday.
- [00:57]
Crime House Announcer
This is crime house,
- [01:04]
Heidi Wong
A snow covered mountain in the Himalayas that hides something ancient and evil. A message board in 2009 where a fictional legend comes to life. One is the plot of an indie horror film that became a cult classic. The other is an Internet legend that inspired a real life stabbing. But they have one terrifying thing in common. They're both about monsters that become real because we believe in them. Welcome to Twisted A Crime House Original. I'm Heidi Wong. Every week I'll take you deep into the true stories behind horror's biggest legends. From vengeful ghosts to bloody slashers to alien encounters and more, these real life accounts are guaranteed to keep you up at night, but scary stories aren't any fun if you're telling them alone. If you've ever had a haunted moment or a twisted tale of your own, I want to hear about it. Drop it in the comments. The creepier the better. Crime House is made possible by you. Follow Twisted Tales and subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts for ad free early access. Today I'm diving into one of the most ambitious horror films you've probably never the Empty man. Released in October 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic, it bombed at the box office, but since then the Empty man has become a cult classic. And for good reason. The movie explores a terrifying concept called tulpas, imaginary beings that become real through collective belief. Sounds wild, right? Well, in 2014, two 12 year old girls in Wisconsin became convinced that they were servants of a tulpa known as the Slenderman. And although he might not actually exist, the Slenderman caused some very real violence. Let's start with the Empty man itself, because this movie is unlike anything you've ever seen.
- [02:48]
Collars Co. Advertiser
I have to admit that one of my style Pet Peeves especially when layering is when guys shirts bunch up under sweaters and it gets all wrinkled and bulky, it can look slightly haunted. That's why you have to check out Collars Co, the makers of the original dress collar Polo. These shirts are honestly a game changer. They're four way stretch, buttery, soft polos but with a firm dress shirt collar built in so you get that clean, polished dress shirt look with the comfort of your favorite polo. You can wear them under a sweater, throw one on with a blazer, or wear it solo as an elevated polo seriously works for any occasion. They're perfect for the office, the golf course or a night out. And there's a reason this brand is exploding. They went viral on social media and even landed a $1 million shark tank investment from Mark Cuban and Peter Jones. Plus, the collars actually stay sharp all day. No flopping, no spreading. And it's not just polos. They've got great sweaters, quarter zips, pants and outerwear too. If you're looking for a performance dress shirt or polo that looks great all day, check out collarsandco.com use promo code HEIDI for 20% off any purchase of a hundred dollars or more.
- [03:59]
Progressive Insurance Advertiser
This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. What if comparing car insurance rates was as easy as putting on your favorite podcast with Progressive, it is. Just visit the Progressive website to quote with all the coverages you want. You'll see Progressive's direct rate. Then their tool will provide options from other companies so you can compare. All you need to do is choose the rate and coverage you like. Quote today@progressive.com to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Comparison rates not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy.
- [04:37]
Heidi Wong
Most horror movies open with a quick scare and then get into the main story. Not this one. The emptyman has a 23 minute opening sequence set in the Himalayas. It's practically a short film all on its own, and it's absolutely mesmerizing. In 1995, two American couples, Paul, Ruthie, Greg and Fiona, are hiking through the mountains of Bhutan. They're young, adventurous and completely unprepared for what they're about to encounter. As they trek through the barren, freezing landscape, the hikers pass a cart of Buddhist monks. The monks stare at them with these blank, almost judgmental expressions. It's a direct visual reference to another movie that opens with an ominous encounter in a foreign land. The Exorcist. It's our first hint that they're trespassing somewhere that they shouldn't be. The cinematography here is gorgeous and unsettling. Director David Pryor, who spent two decades working with David Fincher, fills the frame with these massive wide shots of the landscape. The hikers look tiny and insignificant against the vastness of the mountains. Prayer flags flutter in the wind. The sky starts to darken. Lightning flashes in the distance. Then Paul starts hearing something. A low, guttural hum that no one else can detect. It's described in the script as almost seductive, like a siren song pulling him forward. But before we dive into what happens to him, I want to talk about something real. That this moment draws inspiration. Third Man Syndrome. Third Man Syndrome is a documented phenomenon experienced by explorers and people in extreme survival situations. It's when you feel a presence with you, even though you're completely alone. And this presence isn't just in your head, it guides you, encourages you, sometimes even saves your life. The most famous case of this is Ernest Shackleton's 1916 expedition to Antarctica. After he got trapped in ice. Shackleton and two friends had to trek across the island of South Georgia for over 36 hours through brutal conditions. As they traveled, all three men felt like there was a fourth person with them. This wasn't a hallucination from exhaustion. All of them felt it separately, and it gave them hope when they needed it most. They believed this mysterious fourth presence helped them survive. And they're not the only ones who felt something like this. The writer John Geiger spent five years collecting stories from people who experienced Third Man Syndrome. He wrote about them in his book the Third Man Surviving the Impossible. One of the most powerful accounts comes from Ron DeFrancesco, who was on the 84th floor of the South Tower during when the second plane hit. Ron tried to escape, but couldn't find a safe exit. He was ready to give up, to just lie down and die. And that's when he heard a voice. He didn't recognize it, called Ron by name and told him to get up, saying, hey, you can do this. But it wasn't just a voice. Ron felt a physical presence lift him up and guide him to the stairs. Ron made it out alive. He was one of only four people to escape from above the 81st floor. So is Third Man Syndrome a guardian angel, a psychological coping mechanism or something else entirely? No one really knows. But whatever causes it, Third Man Syndrome is very real. And the Empty man takes this phenomenon and turns it on its head, transforming it from a source of inspiration into something terrifying. Back to the movie. When Paul hears that mysterious sound. He follows it, transfixed. And suddenly the ground gives way beneath him. He falls into a hidden cavern in the rock. Greg rappels down to rescue him and what he finds down there is bone chilling. The cavern is pitch black, except for Greg's flashlight beam. The darkness presses in on him, almost like it's alive. Tiny insects crawl across the stone. And then the light hits Paul. Paul is sitting in a perfect lotus position, completely catatonic, staring at this massive skeletal figure embedded in the cavern wall. This thing has multiple arms spreading out beside it like a spiderweb, with impossibly long multi jointed fingers interlocked in front of his chest. It's meant to evoke a bodhis bodhisattva, a thousand armed enlightened being. Except this one is dead. Corrupted. Wrong. When Greg reaches for his friend, Paul speaks his only words of the if you touch me, you'll die. Then a tear runs down Paul's cheek. Whatever this thing is, it's already inside him. But Greg doesn't listen. A massive snowstorm is rolling in fast. The group has no choice but to carry Paul to an abandoned stone house to wait it out. And this is where the film transforms into pure psychological horror. Director David Pryor has said that he was influenced by films like the Shining and the Thing, movies about isolation and paranoia. And it shows. Over the next three days, marked by increasingly ominous title cards, reality starts to break down for these four friends. Paul remains motionless during the day, but at night he whispers to Ruthie. We never hear what he's saying, but it's clearly affecting her. She's sleep deprived, terrified and on the verge of a breakdown. She starts seeing things, hearing footsteps outside. One night she steps out into the blizzard, only in her socks. And that's when she sees it. A towering dark figure, cloaked and hooded, made of what looked like black rags fluttering in the wind. They lock eyes and then it sprints towards the house in this jerky, unnatural way. Ruthie screams and runs back inside. The others think she's losing it. The isolation, the stress of caring for Paul, the fear. It's all too much. But we know the truth. Whatever possessed Paul is spreading like an infection. By the third day, Paul is a complete shell of himself and Rusi's consumed by whatever message he's been transmitting to her. The ending of this prologue is brutal and hopeless. The entity claims everyone. The house becomes a tomb. And Paul, he survives. But his fate might be worse than death. Because for the next 23 years, Paul will lie in a hospital bed, catatonic, while something ancient and terrible uses his body to broadcast its message to the world. That opening alone could be its standalone piece. It's that complete and that devastating. But it's also just the setup for what comes next, the story of how a thought can become flesh and how belief itself can create a monster. So what exactly is a Tulpa? In modern paranormal lore, a Tulpa is a being that begins in the imagination but becomes physically real. It's created either through deliberate willpower or, unintentionally, through the collective thoughts of many people. Basically, if enough people believe in something hard enough, it becomes real. Sounds like something out of a fantasy movie, right? But the history of this concept is absolutely fascinating and way more complex than you might think.
- [11:40]
Rosetta Stone Advertiser
Spring is when plans start becoming real. Trips get booked, calendars fill up. And if learning a new language has been on your your list, starting now means that by summer you'll already feel more confident speaking and understanding it. That's where Rosetta Stone comes in. For over 30 years, they've been a trusted leader in language learning. Their immersive, intuitive method helps you naturally absorb your new language. No memorizing random vocabulary lists and no relying on translations. Instead, you learn by connecting words, visuals and meaning in context, the way language is meant to be learned. With 25 languages to choose from Spanish, French, German and Japanese and millions of users worldwide, Rosetta Stone is the go to tool for real language growth. Plus, lessons are simple and easy to fit into your day, whether you have five minutes in the morning or a quick break in the afternoon. Ready to start learning a new language this spring? Visit Rosetta Stone.com RS10today to explore Rosetta Stone and choose the language that's right for you. Go to rosettastone.com RS10 now and begin your language learning journey.
- [12:50]
National Debt Relief Advertiser
Do you have $10,000 or more in credit card debt? Maybe you're even barely getting by by making minimum payments. With credit card debt hitting record highs, National Debt Relief offers real debt relief solutions for people struggling to keep up. These options may reduce a large portion of credit card debt for those who qualify. You don't need to declare bankruptcy, and you may be able to pay back less than you owe regardless of your credit. National Debt Relief has already reduced the credit card debt for more than 550,000 consumers, so don't wait if you owe or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in credit card debt, you can now take advantage of this financial debt relief as the cost of living increases. To find out how much you could save. Visit nationaldebtrelief.com that's nationaldebtrelief.com
- [13:39]
Heidi Wong
let's start at the beginning, or at least where Westerners first learned about this concept. The story begins with a woman named Alexandra David neel. Born in 1868, she was a Belgian French explorer, anarchist and Buddhist who became the first European woman to visit Lhasa, Tibet's Forbidden city. In the 1920s, Alexandra journeyed through Tibet studying mystical practices. She was fascinated by these tulpas, as the monks called them. Although scholars now believe that she might have misunderstood or even romanticized what she learned in traditional Tibetan Buddhism, the concept is much more specific. Monks would create temporary entities through meditation, usually formless or in the shape of common animals, to help overcome attachments. So let's say a monk was scared of spiders. He might create a tulpa that would approach a spider fearlessly to show that there was nothing to be worried about. The tulpa would serve its purpose and then be dissolved. They were tools teaching aids, not permanent beings. But in 1929, Alexandra published a book called Magic and Mystery in Tibet, where she described something much more dramatic. According to her account, she decided to try and create a tulpa herself. He would appear in her peripheral vision like a ghost, flitting through the real landscape. With more practice, the vision grew clearer and more solid until you couldn't tell it apart from physical reality. And then things got weird. The tulpa started appearing when Alexandra hadn't summoned it. She'd be going about her day. Then suddenly, there he'd be. The friendly monk started getting thinner. His features became sharper, more sinister. His kind expression turned cruel. Eventually, Alexandra's friends, who didn't know about her experiments, started asking about the stranger who'd joined their group. They could see him too. At that point, Alexandra panicked. She'd created something she couldn't control, and now it was visible to others. She spent weeks using different techniques to absorb the creature back into her mind. The tulpa resisted. It didn't want to be destroyed. But eventually, Alexandra won. Modern scholars have pointed out that Alexandra's account probably wasn't accurate to actual Tibetan Buddhism. Her description sounds more like fantasy about Eastern mysticism than real Buddhist teachings. And there's a good reason for that. What Alexandra David Neill was actually describing came more from Theosophy, a Western occult movement that was hugely popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Theosophy was founded by a woman named Helena Blavatsky in 1875. It claimed to capture the wisdom of all of the world's religions and philosophies into one universal truth. And not only that, but theosophists believe that secret spiritual teachers were guiding humanity and that with enough practice, you could develop psychic abilities. And most importantly for our story, they believe that there are other dimensions beyond our physical world. In theosophy, thoughts aren't just things that happen in your brain. They're real structures that exist on what's called the astral plane. The more focused a thought becomes, the stronger it gets. If you concentrate hard enough, these thoughts, thought forms, can actually become real in the physical world. And in the process, you could bend reality itself. In late 1887, one of the most influential occult organizations in history was formed. The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. That year, a London coroner and freemason named William Wynn Westcott got his hands on a mysterious document called the cipher manuscripts. Their pages were filled with weird symbols and coded messages in English, French, Latin, and Hebrew. Whether these manuscripts were authentic ancient wisdom or completely made up by Westcott is still debated. But real or fake, Westcott used them to turn the golden dawn into a powerhouse of the occult. What made the golden dawn so different was how it approached magic. Previous occult societies had focused on summoning external spirits or demons. The golden dawn shook that formula up, a bit like in theosophy. It thought that the imagination was a real creative force that could affect the material world. Your thoughts, properly focused and visualized, could literally manifest on what they called the inner planes. So when you say I manifested that, you're using Golden Dawn's favorite phrase. And this wasn't just some abstract idea. We have a real story from someone who tried these techniques and lived to regret it. In 1919, a woman named Violet Firth joined a branch of the Golden Dawn. She was intelligent, well read, and very interested in the occult. When she joined, Violet got to choose a new magic name. She chose Dion Fortune, which is a shortened version of the Latin phrase that means God, not chance. Dion was expecting to learn profound mysteries of the universe. Instead, she found an organization that was falling apart. The branch's original founder had died. His widow, Moyna Mathers, was now running things, and apparently not very well. Dion spoke out about her concerns, which Moyna didn't like. In 1922, Dion was expelled from the order just three years after she joined. But according to Dion, Moyna wasn't content with just kicking her out. She wanted revenge. One morning in 1922, Dion was coming upstairs when she saw a gigantic tabby cat on the staircase. This thing was enormous. She later described it as being twice the size of a tiger. But when Dion saw it, she froze. There was no way this cat could be real. But Dion really felt like it was there, looking down at her. And then, after what felt like an eternity, it vanished into thin air. Dion immediately recognized what she'd seen. A Tulpa sent by someone with occult knowledge and evil intent. Thankfully, it wasn't powerful enough to physically attack her. Dion was definitely freaked out. She was sure that Moyna has sent the cat and Dion was ready to fight back. She gathered her magical tools, symbols and protective talismans and performed an exorcism right then and there in her home. Now, did Moyna Mathers actually send a supernatural cat to attack Dion Fortune? In the end, it doesn't really matter, because Dion believed it happened. And in the world of Tulpas, belief is everything. If you experience them as real, then in a practical sense, they are real. And this concept wasn't left behind in the early 1900s. It continues today. And it is more terrifying than ever. As technology evolved and we became more connected, the power of collective belief grew even stronger. In 2009, someone created a Tulpa on the Internet. And for a pair of 12 year old girls, this creature became so real, it drove them to attempt murder. On June 10, 2009, a user named Victor Surge posted two black and white pictures to the Something Awful Internet forum. Something Awful is a comedy website known for its edgy humor. They were holding a Create Paranormal Images Photoshop contest where users would manipulate ordinary photos to make them creepy. Victor Serge's submission showed groups of children in what looked like vintage photographs. In the background of each photo, barely visible in the shadows, was a tall, thin figure in a black suit. It had no face. The captions were chilling. We didn't want to go. We didn't want to kill them. But its persistent silence and outstretched arms horrified and comforted us at the same time. And one of two recovered photographs from the Sterling City Library Blaze, notable for being taken the day which 14 children vanished and for what it is referred to as the Slender Man. What made Slender man so effective is how real it seemed. The vintage look of the photos, the specific details. Sterling city library blaze. 14 children vanished. It felt like documented history. And the Something Awful community immediately recognized the genius of it. Within hours, other forum users started creating their own Slenderman content. New photos appeared, each adding details to the mythology. He was impossibly tall, somewhere between 8 and 15ft, inhumanly thin. He wore a black suit like a businessman, and his limbs were too long. His face was also completely blank, just smooth pale skin where eyes, nose and a mouth should be. And he had tentacle like appendages that would sprout from his back, reaching out for his victims. Most terrifying of all, he targeted children. If you saw him, you were marked doomed. The legend grew on its own, with people adding new details and building on each other's ideas. Slender man lived in the woods. You could teleport or appear in multiple places at once. He would stalk you for days or weeks before taking you. Within weeks, Slender man had exploded. Beyond the Something Awful forums, fan art flooded the Internet. There was fan fiction cosplays, entire wikis, and dedicated to documenting every piece of Slender man lore. By 2012, just three years after Victor Serge's original post, Slenderman was a full blown cultural phenomenon. And here's where the topa of it all comes into play. People started claiming that Slender man wasn't just a fictional character. Some people claim that he existed in folklore all along under different names, one being the German Der Grossman, a tall, faceless figure that stalked children in the Black Forest. But here's the Most of these ancient connections were fabricated by fans themselves. They created fictional folklore and invented historical stories to make Slender man seem more legitimate. They were writing the very history that they claimed to have discovered. Others took it even further. They claimed that even if Slenderman had started as fiction, the collective belief of millions of people had given him real existence as a tulpa. By 2014, millions of people had been thinking about Slender man, concentrating on his image and visualizing him in great detail. According to Tulpa theory, that should be more than enough to manifest him into reality. And then something happened that seemed to prove it.
- [24:04]
Crime House Announcer
What does leadership really look like? On the Power of Advice, a new podcast series from Capital Group. In the club, you'll hear from athletes, entrepreneurs, and executives who've led on the field, in the boardroom, and in their communities. It's not about titles, it's about impact. Discover what drives them and the advice they carry forward. Subscribe and start listening today. Published by Capital Client Group, Inc. Why
- [24:33]
Angie.com Advertiser
have I asked my H Vac guy I found on Angie.com to change my grandpa's trachea tube? Because I was so amazed by how quickly he replaced our air ducts, I knew I could trust him to change Pop Pop's tube while I was on vacation.
- [24:45]
Progressive Insurance Advertiser
Make it quick, young man.
- [24:48]
Angie.com Advertiser
Aw, see? Pop up trusts you.
- [24:51]
Angie.com Announcer
I think we should call a doctor. Connecting homeowners with skilled pros for over 30 years. Angie the one you trust to find the ones you trust. Find pros for all your home projects@angie.com
- [25:03]
Grace (Redrum True Crime Podcast Host)
Some crimes are shocking, some are unthinkable, and some stay with you long after the headlines fade. I'm Grace, host of Redrum True Crime Podcast. Join me as I dive deep into some of the most shocking crimes. Fiona Beale seemed like any other primary school teacher until the day she became the last person anyone expected to commit murder. What drove her to the edge and what really happened behind closed doors? Her diary entries would tell police all they needed to know or dive into the tragic case of Nada Altantolli. Nada was a devoted mother, but one night in the house she called home, her life was destroyed by one person she trusted. The her own family member. From twisted family betrayals to the darkest corners of human obsession, Redrum dives deep into real crimes. The victims, the suspects, and the haunting aftermath. With two brand new episodes every single week. Redrum R E D R U M that's murder backwards.
- [26:08]
Heidi Wong
In 2014, two 12 year old girls in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Morgan Geiser and Anissa Weier, had become best friends with another girl named Peyton Lautner. The three were classmates at Horning Middle School. Morgan and Anissa were a little on the out socially, and they bonded over a shared interest in horror stories, particularly ones from the website called Creepypasta Wiki. Peyton thought the stories were terrifying, but for Morgan and Anissa, they became an obsession. And around December 2013 or early January 2014, the two girls started planning something horrific. They wanted to become proxies or servants of Slender Man. They believed that to earn that right, they needed to kill someone. So they chose their friend Peyton. The girls kept their plans secret for months until May 31, 2014, the morning of Morgan's 12th birthday party. The night before, the three of them had a normal sleepover. They went to a roller skating rink, came back to Morgan's house, played dress up, and ate breakfast together. After that, they asked Morgan's mom, Angie if they could go play in the woods near David Park. Angie didn't see why not. She later told ABC News that it just seemed like an innocent walk. There wasn't any reason for her to think something was off because her daughter was just at a sleepover with her two besties. But if she really knew what Morgan and Anissa were planning, she would have never let them go. Peyton later described what happened when the girls got to the park. They lured her into the woods for a Game of hide and seek. Anissa told her to lie down on the ground and cover herself with sticks and leaves as a way to conceal herself. But it was really just a trick to get her down there. When Peyton was looking away, Morgan secretly showed Anissa the 5 inch kitchen knife she'd taken from her house. They stabbed Peyton 19 times in the arms, legs and torso. Morgan did the stabbing while Anissa egged her on, telling her to keep going. When they were done, they left Peyton to die. The attack was brutal. One stab wound came within a minute millimeter of Peyton's heart. Somehow, she managed to crawl out of the woods to a bike path, where a passing cyclist found her and called for help. Peyton was rushed to the hospital, barely clinging to life. Meanwhile, Morgan and Anissa, who thought they just killed their friend, calmly walked to a nearby Walmart bathroom to wash the blood off of their hands. Then they just wandered around Waukesha for hours. Their plan was to walk to Slender Man's mansion to meet their new master, which they thought was somewhere in northern Wisconsin's Nicollet National Forest, about 200 miles away. Which is crazy. But the girls didn't get very far. Police found them that afternoon walking along Interstate 94 just outside of town. They were arrested on the spot. When the officers took Morgan and Anissa into custody, they told investigators they believed Slender man would kill their families if they didn't follow through with the murder. They genuinely thought they had no choice. This was topa belief taken to the most extreme end. The thought form had become so real in these girls minds that they attempted to commit murder for it. The trial was heartbreaking and complicated. Both girls were charged as adults with attempted first degree intentional homicide. During the police investigation, Morgan showed no empathy for what she'd done. Anissa showed some guilt. But both maintained that the attack was necessary. Slender man required it. Both girls were eventually found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Morgan was sentenced to 40 years in a mental institution. Anissa received 25 years. But in 2021, after nearly four years at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, Anissa was released to live with her father under GPS monitoring. She'll remain under state supervision until 2039, when she'll be 377 years old. In a letter to the court, Anissa wrote, I am sorry and deeply regretful for the agony, pain and fear I have caused. I hate my actions from May 31, 2014. But through countless hours of therapy, I no longer hate myself for them. I vowed after my crime that I would never become a weapon again. And I intend to keep that vow. Morgan remains institutionalized as of this recording, though there have been recent hearings about her potential release with conditions. And as for Peyton, she survived and is now in college pursuing a career in medicine, inspired, she says, by the doctors who saved her life that day. She chose not to let what happened to her define her future, which is pretty remarkable. But the case raised disturbing. Would Morgan and Anissa have tried to kill their friend if Slender man didn't exist? If Victor Surge hadn't made Those Photos In 2009, it is very likely, at least in my opinion, that their mental illnesses probably would have fixated on something else, and they probably would have ended up hurting someone else. The line between fiction and reality had blurred so completely that it resulted in bloodshed. And that brings us back to the Empty Man. The Empty man takes all of this Tulpa lore and weaves it into one of the most philosophical horror films ever made. After that devastating prologue in Bhutan, the film jumps forward to Missouri in 2018. We meet James Lasombra, a former detective grieving the recent death of his wife and child in a car accident. His neighbor asks him to investigate the disappearance of her teenage daughter, Amanda. She and her friends had been messing around with an urban legend about the Emptyman, a monster you can summon by blowing into a bottle on a bridge at night. First you hear him, then you see him. Then he takes you. As James investigates, he discovers a series of teen suicides are connected to a mysterious organization called the Pontifex Institute. Pontifex means bridgemaker in Latin, and that's exactly what this cult believes, that they're building a bridge between thought and reality. The cult members have been keeping Paul, that hiker from the prologue, alive in a hospital bed for over 220 years. He's still catatonic, still possessed by the entity from the cavern, which they called the Other. But Paul has become more than just a victim now. He's a transmitter. The call chants by his bedside. You transmit, we receive. You transmit, we receive. They believe Paul is broadcasting a message from beyond reality itself, a signal that carries the truth of nothingness, of the void. And they're using that signal to create a tulpa. This is where the film gets really wild and philosophical. It quotes the ancient philosopher Gorgias. Nothing exists even if something can be known about it. Knowledge about it can be communicated to others. Even if it can be communicated, it cannot be understood. The Pontifex Institute has embraced this nothingness. They've decided that the only thing that matters is the Empty man, the entity speaking through Paul. And they've spent years creating the perfect vessel for it. A new Empty man to replace Paul when he dies. Throughout the film, we've been following James as he investigates all this. We've learned about his tragic backstory, his mistakes, his guilt over his family's death. But in the final act, we discover the truth. Spoiler alert. None of it is real. James isn't who he thinks he is. He's a tulpa, a thought form created by the Pontifex cult just three days ago. Every memory he has, his wife, his child, his career as a detective, his entire life, all of it was implanted, created through ritual and collective belief. The cult needed someone filled with guilt and pain and emptiness to serve as the next transmitter. So they literally willed him into existence. I think therefore I am, goes the famous saying. But the Empty man flips it around. They think, therefore he is. James has no free will, no real past. He's just a vessel waiting to be filled. And in the film's final moments, when Paul is killed, James becomes the new Empty man, the new transmitter for the other's unknowable message. It's one of the bleakest endings in horror cinema. No hope, no escape. Just the realization that you. You never really existed in the first place. Now, did the Empty man find a huge audience when it was released? No. It barely made any money at the box office, and most critics dismissed it. But over the last few years, it's gotten a bigger audience. Horror fans who gave it a chance started spreading the word. It became a genuine cult classic because at its core, the Emptyman is asking a terrifying question that feels more relevant than ever in a world of social media, where millions of people can fixate on the same ideas simultaneously. What happens when collective belief becomes powerful enough to manifest reality? We've already seen it with Slenderman. Two girls believe so completely that they tried to commit murder. In a world where everyone is isolated and desperately searching for connection, we're vulnerable. We're looking for something, anything, to fill the void. And maybe that void is the looking back. Thanks so much for joining me on this episode of Twisted Tales, a Crime House original. I'd love to hear from you. What did you think about today's stories? Anything you're dying for me to COVID Leave a comment or review wherever you're tuning in. And be sure to follow Twisted Tales so we can keep building this community together. I'll be back next week with another unbelievable true story. Until then, stay curious and remember there's no reason to fear the dark unless you try to hide from it. Hi, it's Heidi.
- [35:53]
Sarah Turney
If you want more true crime stories, check out the new Crime House original about disappearances, the Final Hours, hosted by Sarah Turney and Courtney Nicole. Listen and follow the Final hours on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever
- [36:08]
Heidi Wong
you get your podcasts. New episodes drop every Monday.