Rebekah McKendry’s “Glorious” follows Wes (Ryan Kwanten) as he visits a rest stop after a break up and ends up in a public restroom with a Lovecraftian being named Ghat (J.K. Simmons) who claims he needs Wes’ help to save the world from his father.

With most of its runtime spent in a public restroom, “Glorious” succeeds at filming with one set that constantly changes appearance and also takes on a character of its own. “Glorious” utilizes the bathroom as the main location, similar to James Stewart being stuck in his room for the entirety of Hitchcock’s “Rear Window.” While both differ entirely, each movie makes its setting a living, breathing character with its own arc. Audiences watching “Glorious” witness many changes in the restroom setting, from its normal look to its Lovecraftian makeover to its blood-coated, terror-inducing final design.

“Glorious” utilizes what most modern horror movies fear: colorful lighting. Purples and pinks shroud every inch of this movie’s runtime, especially when shifting focus to more Lovecraft-based elements. Ghat eventually reveals to Wes that he possesses a great power and can’t reveal his true form because it would kill Wes, who understandably disregards this and causes Ghat to show off his powers. This not only locks Wes in the bathroom but also ushers in large amounts of entrancing colored lighting. The movie’s poster even gives audiences a taste of the delicate care that went into properly coloring this terrifying toilet catastrophe.

Horror comedies typically bring in a multitude of audiences. “Glorious” attempts to be a comedy at times but ends up feeling like a horror movie with a series of misplaced jokes. While the comedy doesn’t always land, the stronger elements can be found in serious moments and character-based explorations. At times, the humor stands out and generates chuckles from the audience, but a majority of the jokes fall flat or just feel thrown in as a bonus. One joke gets an entire played-out scene, making it seem like a big climatic narrative shift just for the seemingly serious moment to be turned into a one-second punchline that doesn’t land as much as it could have. 

On the other hand, many funny scenes and darkly comedic moments ensued, like the opening dialogue between Ghat and Wes and the part where Wes tries to escape through a vent that ultimately dumps him back into the bathroom. Since the humor does not serve as the main purpose of the movie, its handful of bumpy moments do not hinder the viewing experience overall.

“Glorious” is an entertaining Shudder Original horror film that will satiate the audience’s desire for more Lovecraftian horror. The unique premise and goofy-yet-believable characters culminate to make an impressive bathroom-based horror story that audiences won’t want to miss.

3 galactic beings outside of time out of 5