One of earliest treats from Filmland 2023 was “Ghosts of the Void”, a slow-burning indie thriller written and directed by Jason Miller. This (mostly) two-hander is built around a rather simple premise, yet one that’s rich with a slew of themes that make it a little more than a straight genre movie. It’s smart, surprisingly crafty, and thoroughly enthralling entertainment that’s as frightening as it is thought-provoking.

Miller opens his film with a revealing George Carlin quote — “The reason they call it the American Dream is because you have to be asleep to believe it.” From there we meet Jen (Tedra Millan) and Tyler (Michael Reagan), a young married couple who have been crushed in their pursuit of that very dream. She’s an aspiring photographer; he’s a struggling writer. Neither have found the success they had hoped for. Even worse, mounting debt has led to them being evicted from their home.

Their scenario is dire from the outset. But as we can easily surmise, things are going to get worse. On a cold November night, with nothing but their old car, a few personal belongings, and forty bucks in their pockets, the couple drive through a residential area and park at a small playground at the end of a street. There they hope get a night’s sleep before coming up with a game plan in the morning. It’s easier said than done.

Miller’s story uncoils over that dark, cold evening as Jen’s anxiety and Tyler’s frustration slowly reveals the cracks in their fragile relationship. Through their intensifying interactions and some well implemented flashbacks, we learn a lot about both characters as the pieces of their backstory begin to click into place. Miller takes his time revealing his entire hand and he does a good job keeping us locked in and eager to see their situation play out.

But there’s another element to the film that slowly begins to rear its sinister head. “Ghosts of the Void” embraces the horror genre, playing like (as Miller himself succinctly put it) a home invasion movie but minus the home. Thoughts of 2008’s “The Strangers” immediately come to mind once three figures, all wearing hideously unsettling masks, begin terrorizing the young couple. Who they are and what they want plays a big part in the film’s final third.

Things really get fun once Miller starts playing around with our genre expectations. He leans into several common horror tropes, utilizing them in some effective ways. Keen camera choices along with some strategic uses of music and sound help ratchet up the tension. It all works towards an ending that takes a really big swing – one that I’m not sure fully works but that I appreciated. But the trick is in how Miller always leaves things up for interpretation.

While Miller’s direction is key, “Ghosts of the Void” would sink without Millan and Reagan. Their revealing and layered performances bring an organic quality to the film’s fundamental central relationship. Both fit well within the movie’s seemingly cynical worldview and are essential in bringing the story’s message to light. As for that message, occasionally it’s too overt; other times its slyly subtle. Either way it’s effective. Toss in some genre seasoning and you have a flavorful horror thriller that routinely impresses.

VERDICT – 4 STARS