PIC of the Week – The Hole in the Ground
Article series by Ray Schillaci
Once in a rare while we get a little indie that from the moment it starts we know we’re in for something unique that is going to thrill us, and maybe even make us squirm. I felt this way when first seeing Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room, Robert Eggers’ The VVitch and recently Ari Aster’s Hereditary. Now, with little fanfare, Lionsgate offers an unsettling tale from Ireland on DVD, The Hole in the Ground.
At first, I was confused thinking this film had yet to be released. The reason: the first trailer for James Gunn’s Brightburn appeared similar to the trailer to Hole. Both are intriguing concepts and have creepy kids. But, writer/director Lee Cronin is ahead of the game achieving an all-around creepfest that gives you a far more satisfying ending than 2014’s much ballyhooed Goodnight Mommy.
Writer/director Cronin displays a visual flare the moment the credits roll, and it’s all accentuated by the sound design and Stephen McKeon’s music score. Cronin and his co-writer Stephen Shields have weaved a paranoid thriller that echoes the nightmares delivered by the 50’s classics Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Invaders From Mars. But, they’ve skirted the science-fiction elements, and avoid giving pat answers as to what is transpiring, all to maximum effect.
A single mom, Sarah, lives in the Irish countryside with her young son, Chris, and struggles with fixing up their rented home, as well as their new lives, after an uncomfortable divorce (or separation). The split between Sarah and her husband is subtle, with suggestions of abuse. The film as a whole is full of subtleties making it all the more unsettling. The rented home is near a dense forest, and deep within is what appears to be a gigantic sinkhole.
The sinkhole is discovered after Chris and Sarah have an argument over his father. He runs off into the forest with Sarah chasing after him. Sarah discovers this massive hole in the ground while searching for her son, and of course we all think the worst until Chris shows up behind her.
Chris has a hard time adjusting to his new home, a new school, and the life his mother chose for him. In their travels, Sarah and Chris cross paths with a creepy old neighbor who lost her son at a young age. The rumors of his passing are disturbing with the old woman having claimed that her son was not hers. Eventually, this becomes an obsession of Sarah’s, and she begins to suspect that her son’s odd behavior may prove to be that Chris is not HER son.
For those that appreciate the genre, telling you anything more would be a disservice to your viewing pleasure. There are many twists and turns supplied that lead to something quite unexpectedly chilling. For me, the most disturbing part of it all was the mystery that never really nails down a full explanation, which felt akin to whatever possessed Regan in The Exorcist. Most of the time, I feel cheated by such a story. But, The Hole in the Ground is so effective I felt fulfilled by the end, as I did with Friedkin’s film. Hopefully, I have not built this up for disappointment. While viewing this indie, I could not help the references that came to mind. And, this is probably largely due to writer/director Lee Cronin and his co-writer Stephen Shields who delivered a solid and disturbing thriller that stays with you long after it is over.
Surprisingly, Lionsgate only offers a DVD at this point, which is a huge disappointment considering the dynamic visual flare and sound design. So, we’re limited with this presentation. Only a 16×9 enhanced 2.40 widescreen aspect ration. A picture that at times struggles with some of the darker scenes, but not so much to disturb us in the moment. I just wish the film was given a sharper presentation.
The Hole in the Ground
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Audio-wise, we are given a standard Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack that manages to deliver the chills with some depth at some of the more eerie moments. And, Lionsgate skimps on bonuses as well with only a making of featurette. We can only hope that the film gains enough in popularity that some other distributor nabs it and gives it the presentation it deserves. But, this is what we have for now. Surprisingly, The Hole in the Ground is modestly priced, not available at Redbox, and available free to Prime members!
Lowest Price – $12.96 – Walmart and Amazon
