HELL HOLE Is Way Too Talky to Be Anything Close to Scary (Fantasia Fest Review)

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As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I hold a deep respect for independent filmmakers who consistently deliver unique and authentic works in the horror genre. Osgood Perkins and The Adams Family are prime examples of this dedication to their craft. However, while I admire their prolific output and distinct style, I must admit that their films have yet to leave a lasting impression on me.

1. I admire independent filmmakers who consistently produce their own unique content, particularly in the horror genre where this individuality adds to the excitement. For instance, Osgood Perkins has demonstrated that a distinct approach can lead to success and maintain artistic integrity, as evidenced by his recent scary movie productions. Likewise, I hold great respect for The Adams Family, a horror film collective, who are prolific in their output. However, personally, their films haven’t resonated with me much. Among them, the one I appreciated most was Hell Hole, which I watched at Fantasia International Film Festival 2024. To be honest, it was my favorite of theirs, albeit not a significant favorite.

1. The Adams clan comprises John Adams (the father), Toby Poser (the mother), and their daughters Lulu and Zelda Adams. All or almost all of them are involved in writing, directing, and acting in their movies. They are undeniably gifted, especially in recent times. Their past horror productions include “The Deeper You Dig” (2019), “Hellbender” (2021), and “Where the Devil Roams” (2023). These films share a visually unsettling quality and subdued tone. However, their narratives are usually thin to the point of driving Rhode Island through them. “Hell Hole” offers a more substantial storyline and dialogue, but it’s still lacking that certain something.

In Eastern Europe, an American fracking team makes a startling discovery: they unearth bizarre, parasitic creatures resembling ceaphelopods. More intriguingly, they stumble upon a French soldier from the Napoleonic era, who is remarkably well-preserved and harbors one of these organisms within him. The creatures spread like an epidemic or contagion, leaping from host to host as the fracking team and their environmental advisors grapple with this unsettling situation.

1. In summary, that’s the entire tale, reminiscent of various extraterrestrial films, particularly ‘Alien’. The storyline primarily delves into the question: should ancient beings like these be spared, even if it leads to the host’s demise? Essentially, imagine a scenario where facehuggers took longer to gestate aliens within the body instead. The result is some grisly body ruptures and a rather unpleasant creature design, but that’s what ‘Hell Hole’ essentially entails.

As a gamer, I’d rephrase it like this: I play the role of Poser, the wise and capable leader of our group, who understands that letting the locals handle their own issues is the best course of action. John Adams portrays John, another member of our American team, and Max Portman brings Em’s nephew to life, a young cook with a growing affection for Sofija, one of the two scientists. The ensemble delivers impressive performances, given that half of them are working in their non-native language.

As a gamer, I must confess that despite my initial enthusiasm for this movie, it fell short in delivering the thrill and excitement I was anticipating. Don’t get me wrong; the narrative flowed well, the cast delivered convincing performances, and the creature was effectively chilling. However, the pacing felt off. It seemed like we were often left standing around, engaging in lengthy dialogues, waiting for the action to unfold.

I hope the Adams Family make movies forever, and I hope I eventually like even one of them.

Hell Hole is coming to Shudder on August 23. Maybe you’ll find more to like about it than I did.

⭐ (2.5 of 5)

1. Kyle Anderson serves as the Senior Editor at TopMob. Every week, he delves into the world of pop culture through his podcast, Laser Focus. To read his insights on films and television shows, check out this section. Keep up with him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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2024-07-30 04:02