Director – Robert W. Filion (Psychic Brats, Athena)
Starring – Jaysen P. Buterin (The Devil’s Lettuce, Bombshell Bloodbath), Amie Henry (Dead Men and Devil’s, Coloring Girl), and John R. Sexton (Grave Talk, Fish Out of Water)
Release Date – 2026
Rating – 3/5
Anthologies really excited me. I grew up with what I would consider some of the best horror anthologies to ever exist. Films like Creepshow, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, From a Whisper to a Scream, And Twilight Zone: The Movie. These are fantastic films with strong segments that do a phenomenal job bookending the film.
Several weeks ago I was asked to review the indie horror anthology Echoes from the Void from director Robert W. Filion. Like I said, I love horror anthologies and quickly added this one to my October horror binge. I want to thank Robert for sending this one over.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a doctor who is sent to interview a prisoner. He tells her that he is a self-proclaimed master storyteller but doesn’t tell his stories to just anyone. After a round of introductions he clarifies that they are now friends and can spin his craft for her. The first story follows a young woman struggling mentally and kills several therapists before she is able to wrestle her demons. The second story follows two men. One is obsessed with a woman who was struck down sometime ago by a drunk driver. The other is a man trying to reclaim his life after a drunk driving incident. A little black magic brings the woman back where she kills the man who resurrected her because his obsession is the reason she was hit by the drunk driver. The third tale is about an old man who is hiring a young woman to rob his elderly ex-wife but he doesn’t reveal everything to her before she visits her home. The final story is about two siblings on a getaway when their parents disappear. Alone and low on supplies, they try to find out what happened to their parents but it’s too late. **Spoiler Alert**
I’m a bit more critical of horror anthologies than I am other sub-genres because they have so many chances to deliver between the wraparound segments and the shorts included. Typically, if an indie horror anthology has a weak wraparound segment then it’s a weak anthology but that’s not always the case. Echoes from the Void doesn’t really deliver on the wraparound segment but still has some fun scattered throughout.
The acting in this one is great. I really enjoyed the acting in the wraparound segment. Jaysen Buterin and Amie Henry’s performances are top notch. They work so damn well together and I loved how their characters clashed on screen. The other segments are solid for the most part but there was a few instances where the dialogue was a bit flat with little to no conviction behind the delivery.
The stories for this one are a bit inconsistent but I did enjoy some of them. The wraparound segment may be the best acted segment but it’s not that enjoyable from an anthology point of view. An inmate telling stories is nothing new. In fact, the telling stories angle has been done so many times before now with some of the classics like From a Whisper to a Scream, Tales from the Crypt, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, and many more using it as a way to tie everything together. As for the segments themselves, the first and last story are the weakest in the film with the second and third tale being phenomenal. These two shorts made the film for me. I don’t want to go too deep into without giving stuff away but these two segments are absolutely phenomenal.
Finally, the film has a little blood and some light make-up effects but that is about the end of it. We don’t have the most graphic deaths and practical effects to enjoy. The film clearly has a small budget and it looks like very little went into the kills. Overall, Echoes from the Void may not be for everyone. I stuck with it and found myself really enjoying it but there was a few moments where I questioned my decision. Check it out if you dig anthologies and imaginative deaths are not your thing.
