The Hole in the Ground (2019)

Director: Lee Cronin
Stars: Seana Kerslake, James Quinn Markey, Simone Kirby
Runtime: 90 minutes

Synopsis: 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 neighbor shatters her fragile security, throwing Sarah into a spiraling 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.

Performances: 6/10
Screenplay: 5/10
Costumes/Makeup: 8/10
Editing: 7/10
Cinematography: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 6/10

Verdict: A24 has blessed us with some of the greatest horror films to come out in recent times with instant classics such as "Hereditary" or "The Witch". Their most recent release, which also serves as Lee Cronin's directorial debut, may not be as absorbing as its predecessors due to more than just a few cheesy lines of dialogue, generic horror elements, and at times unconvincing acting from its two leads, but still remains a filmmaking marvel that surely proved that Cronin's career is one to look out for. From beautiful scenery to unsettling images, the Irishman made a film that is both pleasing to look at and yet difficult to process. His contribution behind the camera is by far the most interesting aspect of a horror film that is, unfortunately, let down by a weak script that only caught my attention in its final act. "The Hole in the Ground" is certainly not a film I'd recommend to anyone, and I can even see people finding it extremely frustrating, but if technical elements are of interest to you, then maybe give it a shot.

FINAL GRADE: 6/10