This mostly routine horrorshow gets a definite lift from its talented cast – even the actors who only get a few minutes screen time succeed in creating interesting, particular characterizations, and the kid is especially good. The direction is solid, hitting all the usual creepy marks effectively.
There’s a kind of gothic slow-burn, atmospheric horror flick that is comfort viewing for me, and I suspect many other people. I love the shadows and stairs and cracked mirror bullshit as much as anyone. And it’s a plus when things actually get a little squicky, too.
My problem with The Hole in the Ground is that the only way it stands out (aside from the acting) is that it really punches its creepy-kid-as-postpartum-depression metaphor. And for me, that kind of kills the comfort viewing and just makes it sad. At the same time, the horror beats are so ingrained and uninspired that it’s hard to take the film too seriously. The silly climax in the hole doesn’t help, either.
I wouldn’t exactly recommend this one, but if it’s your kind of thing… you’ve seen worse.
in the dark 