Lovecraftian horror may have never felt as grimy as it does in Glorious, a strange horror film of cosmic proportions. Glorious feels epic, even when almost the entire movie takes place in a single location. Despite the scope of the movie, the zany story could have been amplified if a bit more was added to the brisk 79-minute runtime. Still, Glorious is a fun and icky cosmic horror film that takes a fairly simple premise and turns it into a wild horror-comedy opus that has cult classic written all over it.
Directed by Rebekah McKendry from a script by Joshua Hull, David Ian McKendry, and Todd Rigney, Glorious follows Wes (Ryan Kwanten), a sad sack living out of his car after having been recently dumped by his girlfriend. After Wes enters a rest-stop bathroom, he encounters a bizarre being (J.K. Simmons) that is hidden behind a glory hole in a locked stall. Wes soon finds himself trapped in the bathroom with the unknown being that claims to be a god and is forced into nightmarish situations far beyond imagination. Wes will have to dig deep into his own memories and commit atrocious acts in order to survive his horrendous predicament.
The central idea of Glorious is so much fun that it would be hard not to make it entertaining, but director McKendry manages to turn the vibrant script into an electrifying movie that features mainly one actor throughout the film's runtime. It's incredibly impressive that most of this movie takes place in a public restroom since it transports the viewer to a completely new world. The simplicity of the story could enable this film to be adapted into a play, but in order to capture the extravagant essence of Glorious, it would be one of the most expensive plays ever made. The film's budget may not be high, but the stakes are, and all aspects of the production are utilized very impressively.
Kwanten holds his own here, but it's Simmons, who only lends his voice to the film, who really helps Glorious rise to greatness. The iconic actor mixes an inhuman menace with calm humor, creating a brilliant contrast that really helps sell a character that is almost never shown on-screen. Only an actor of Simmons' talent could pull the weight of a film as essentially just a voice behind a bathroom stall, and he does it with finesse. The special effects are another highlight, offering fun, '80s-esque designs that really help flesh out the film's world. The lighting and cinematography are also characters in themselves, helping the film's location feel as terrifyingly endless as it does claustrophobic.
The only real improvement that could have been made to this film was to develop the characters and situations even a bit further. There is a twist at the end involving Will's character that works, but if it was expanded, it could have tied the film together in a whole new way. However, even though the film is so enjoyable that it's easy to be left wanting more, perhaps its brief runtime serves it by presenting an intense, right-to-the-point experience in such a small package.
Like any great addition to the subgenre of cosmic horror, Glorious raises big questions about the universe while still delivering gross-out gags and existential dread. The script manages to take an outrageous idea and make it feel human while still delivering the unhinged delights that fans of movies of this nature crave. Overall, Glorious is a great cosmic horror movie that tackles heavy themes while still being the over-the-top monster movie that many audience members need right now.
Glorious will make its world premiere at this year's Fantasia International Film Festival on July 21.