Hell Hole - New Release Review
Director: Toby Poser, John Adams
Starring: Olivera Peruničić, Toby Poser, John Adams, Bruno Veljanowski, Anders Hove
Written by: Toby Poser, John Adams, Lulu Adams
Produced by: Justin A. Martell, Matt Manjourides
Cinematography by: Sean Dahlberg
Original Score by: John Adams
Synopsis:
An American-led fracking crew that uncovers a living French soldier frozen in time from a Napoleonic campaign, whose body hosts a parasitic monster.
Thoughts:
When it comes to DIY filmmaking in the horror genre, the one name that stands out above all others is The Adams Family. Together they immerse themselves in every facet of filmmaking producing some of the most unique films within the genre in recent years. What is most astonishing about their work to date is the manner in which they seem to work without limits. You need to look no further than their 2021 film 'Hellbender' which was made and released in the midst of the COVID pandemic or their 2023 film, 'Where the Devil Roams' which is a cross country period piece impressively made within a limited budget. Their latest effort appears to be their most ambitious yet with 'Hell Hole'.
Set on an isolated fracking site in Siberia, an American led crew make a startling discovery in the ground. A French soldier from the Napoleonic war that is somehow still alive. A remarkable discovery in and of itself that defies all sense of logic, the group soon discover that something more sinister is at play as the soldier is a host for a parasitic creature that threatens the lives of the entire team.
Depsite it being their biggest film yet in terms of scope, 'Hell Hole' does not lose the independent spirit that is a trademark of the Adams' work as they team up with 'The Last Drive In' crew from Shudder.
The opening prologue set in 1814 perfectly sets up the bloody yet tongue in cheek tone of the film as a horse explodes and the creature takes residence in the nether region of one of the soldiers around some frenetic camera work. Fast forward to the present and we are introduced to the fracking team and the environmental conservationists who are overseeing the dig. Instantly the scope of the film comes into play with the decrepit buildings at the site and the sense of how remote the location is through the use of some drone shots.
At the head of the project is Emily (Toby Poser) whose failed solar business has soured her to the point she is now working in the field of fracking. Poser carries a no bullshit attitude with the character and does a wonderful job in the lead amongst the ensemble. For all of her character's sarcasm and barbs there is a genuine warmth to her character that shines through the cold location. Opposite her is John (John Adams), the other American fracking worker. Armed with a crude mouth Adams instils a roguish charm to the character and revels in the ensuing chaos. Together they strike a conflict with the environmental workers Sofija (Olivera Peruničić) and Nikola (Aleksandar Trmčić) feeding into the environmentalist theme that hangs over the entire film.
Once the creature is introduced into the film, it really comes alive not just in terms of the impressively gooey gore effects on display but other thematic elements. There are touches of the paranoia you get with something like 'The Thing' but what stands out is the feminist slant to the invasive nature of the creature in how it only targets men. This allows the film to discuss ideas around the area of bodily autonomy in a way you would not normally expect from a low budget creature feature, but it does so in a manner that is in keeping with the dark humour of the script. On the script there is a lot of exposition involved with the creature that causes some scenes to drag but some quick cuts to the action whilst this is happening makes sure it doesn't slow down the pace too much.
Whilst the squid like creature may not be the most convincing monster ever put on screen, the artistry and puppetry involved is admirable. Once it is on the loose the chaotic energy that is introduced to the film makes you instantly forget about any shortcomings in that respect as bodies explode into mush in a rip roaringly fun manner. Even when it is not on screen it's presence is felt mainly due to the score from John Adams. As it growls, distorted guitars clang as a reminder of the threat it carries. The manner in which the score ties up with the jolts in the camera work adds to the energy of the film and the underlying mayhem. Having said that there are some issues with the logic of the film as the poor decision making of some characters stands out at times.
'Hell Hole' may not be the Adams' best film to date but it marks a change in direction for the creative family in trying out something different and expanding their creative toolkit within the genre. They really let their hair down with the film surrendering to the madness of the story in a way that makes it a highly enjoyable low budget creature feature. Their own stylistic and creative touches in terms of the script is what elevates it above standard fare within this subgenre as they stay true to their unique voices.
Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
-Joseph McElroy
'Hell Hole' is available to stream exclusively on Shudder on August 23rd
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