“Glorious” is a 2022 American horror comedy film directed by Rebekah McKendry. The story is about Wes, a broken man who encounters a mysterious entity called Ghatanothoa in a restroom at a rest stop. Ghatanothoa reveals himself to be a demigod created by his primeval father-god, who accidentally created the universe and humanity. Wes becomes trapped in the toilet as Ghatanothoa explains his purpose to destroy humanity. However, having developed affection for humans, Ghatanothoa hides from his father. Ghatanothoa aspires to ascend to the ethereal plane, but can only do so if its physical form is “satisfied” by the Glory Hole in the cabin. Wes is sceptical at first, but eventually agrees to help Ghatanothoa. However, their actions attract the attention of Ghatanothoa’s father, causing chaos and destruction. In a desperate attempt to save the universe, Wes sacrifices himself by offering a piece of his liver through the Glory Hole. Ghatanothoa transcends, thwarting his father’s plans. When Wes dies, he realises he was a serial killer who killed his girlfriend Brenda after she discovered his box of photos of his victims.
The film explores themes of cosmic horror and offers a mix of black comedy and gruesome imagery. “Glorious” premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival and was released on Shudder. It stars Ryan Kwanten as Wes and J. K. Simmons as the voice of Ghatanothoa. The film received positive reviews for its thoughtful themes and creative approach to the horror genre.
There are some crazy ideas and absurd scenes in “Glorious” that characterise the film. One of the crazy ideas is certainly the existence of a divine entity called Ghatanothoa, who hides in a public toilet and asks Wes for help to ascend to another plane. Another absurd scene is the need for Ghatanothoa to “satisfy” his physical form through the glory hole in the toilet. This combination of cosmic horror and grotesque comedy gives the film a unique atmosphere. It is also remarkable how Wes is ultimately willing to sacrifice a piece of his liver through the glory hole to help Ghatanothoa. These absurd scenes add to the eccentricity of the film and show director Rebekah McKendry’s unconventional approach to the genre.
