← Back to results
The Hole in the Ground
2019 90 min Belgium, Finland, Ireland, United Kingdom R 18+
★6.1
Horror
Director: Lee Cronin
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
Description
Trying to escape her broken past, Sarah O’Neill is building a new life on the fringes of a backwood rural town with her young son Chris. A terrifying encounter with a mysterious neighbour shatters her fragile security, throwing Sarah into a spiralling nightmare of paranoia and mistrust, as she tries to uncover if the disturbing changes in her little boy are connected to an ominous sinkhole buried deep in the forest that borders their home.
US Gross:
$21,072
Worldwide:
$3.37M
Starring
Seána Kerslake
Actor
James Quinn Markey
Actor
Kati Outinen
Actor
Awards
2 wins & 16 nominations total
Key opinion
The Hole in the Ground is a polarizing atmospheric horror film that excels in its visual craft and tension but suffers from a lack of narrative originality. While some viewers appreciate its subtle, slow-burn psychological approach, many find the plot derivative and frustrated by unresolved story threads.
| Cinematography | The film features high-quality cinematography that makes effective use of a muted, atmospheric palette and vivid Irish forest landscapes. | |
| Originality | The script relies heavily on well-worn genre tropes, drawing unfavorable comparisons to films like The Babadook and The Omen. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative leaves many central mysteries and plot threads unexplained, which some viewers find intriguing and others dismiss as lazy writing. | |
| Pacing | The film's slow, contemplative pacing builds a sense of dread for some, while others find it tedious and dull. | |
| Acting | Performances from the two leads are largely seen as solid anchors, though some critics found the acting uneven throughout the film. | |
| Ending | The climax is viewed by many as a weak, conventional resolution that fails to capitalize on the film's established potential. |