Hell Hole Review: In a year filled with noteworthy horror films that range from inventive takes on classic slasher tropes to fresh spins on vampire lore, there’s still room for something delightfully absurd. Enter Shudder’s Hell Hole, which feels like a mashup of John Carpenter’s The Thing and Tremors, but with a self-consuming twist.
Though it may be a bit rough around the edges, this scrappy horror film embraces its imperfections and delivers a fun experience because of them. Directed by Toby Poser and John Adams, who also star in the film alongside co-writer Lulu Adams, Hell Hole makes the most of its limited budget with a confined premise. While it may not reach the haunting heights of their previous work, Hellbender, it’s a gory, amusing ride that keeps the indie monster movie genre alive and kicking.
Hell Hole (2024)
Horror
In Hell Hole, an American crew working on a drilling project in the Serbian wilderness unearths a French soldier encased in rock, inadvertently releasing a parasitic monster. Stranded by flooding, the crew must survive as the creature seeks a new host.
Release Date
July 28, 2024
Directors
John Adams, Toby Poser
Cast
Toby Poser, John Adams, Max Portman, Anders Hove, Olivera Peruničić, Aleksandar Trmčić, Petar Arsić, Bruno Veljanovski
Runtime
115 Minutes
Main Genre
Horror
Writers
John Adams, Toby Poser, Lulu Adams
What Is Hell Hole About?
The film opens similarly to Hellbender, with a flashback to 1814, where starving soldiers under Napoleon’s command are desperately seeking food in Serbia. They encounter a woman in the woods who offers them a horse with a disturbingly sinister smile. This unsettling introduction sets the stage for a gruesome tale that rivals the grim nature of the Trojan Horse myth. Before long, chaos ensues as the soldiers face a horrific fate.
The action shifts to the present, where we meet John (Adams), Emily (Poser), Teddy (Max Portman), Nikola (Aleksandar Trmčić), and Sofija (Olivera Peruničić), working on an American-led fracking project. Local environmental advisors Nikola and Sofija introduce some friction with their conservation efforts, leading to some clichéd dialogue. However, the film truly kicks off when they discover something at their remote dig site and are stranded by flooding. With danger all around, they must figure out what’s happening and how to stop it.
Hell Hole doesn’t attempt to reinvent the monster movie formula but rather offers a playful take on familiar elements. While it may not be groundbreaking, it provides a charming and self-aware riff on the genre’s conventions. The film manages to balance its goofy moments with effective humor, making it enjoyable despite some predictable plot points.
‘Hell Hole’ Is a Playful Horror Romp Unafraid to Embrace Its Own Silliness
A discovery at the dig site introduces drone footage synced with a guitar riff, adding a quirky touch. Though not as gracefully used as in Hellbender, the drone shots become a fun, recurring motif. The film presents some decent practical effects, particularly when a character emerges from a sack in a comical scene. While the plot can become convoluted with repeated settings and disconnected scenes, the film finds its rhythm as the creature begins wreaking havoc.
The visual effects are intentionally over-the-top, with moments that may seem excessive but ultimately add to the film’s charm. A humorous conversation between characters provides some much-needed levity, despite dragging a bit. As the chaos escalates, the monster’s antics become more frenetic and absurd, keeping the audience entertained. Even as the film’s plot becomes increasingly ridiculous, it manages to be endearing and fun, with a metaphor involving an octopus fitting into a hole adding to its delightful absurdity.
