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John and the Hole

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1:36

John and the Hole

R

Released Aug 6, 2021

1h 44m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

59%

Tomatometer

127 Reviews

25%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

A desperate game of survival unfolds after 13-year-old John traps his family in a hole in the ground in this unsettling psychological thriller.

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Critics Consensus

John and the Hole's enticingly unique premise and disquieting atmosphere are often at odds with a meandering story that prevents this thriller from fulfilling its creepy potential.

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Clarisse Loughrey

Independent (UK)

It's both tantalising and deliberately unsatisfying. You're never given the comfort of knowing what comes next.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 13, 2021

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

While the result may not be quite as deep as the cavern at the centre of the story, it has an enticing sliver of ice at its heart.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 10, 2021

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

A sterile, supercilious, derivative exercise in sub-Euro-arthouse ordeal. But there is no ordeal because nothing is at stake.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 6, 2021

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…John in the Hole is absolutely infuriating…an open-ended story that, for one reason or another, the film-makers have absolutely refused to resolve…

Rated: 2/5

Oct 2, 2024

Full Review

Rory Doherty

InSession Film

Sisto wants you to engage with his film as a piece of fiction – asking us what it says thematically and what lessons the story is trying to teach us.

Rated: A

Jun 13, 2024

Full Review

Aaron Neuwirth

Why So Blu

While not groundbreaking, it’s the sort of film that can be watched and appreciated for what it attempts to do while being frustrating at the same time.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 3, 2023

Full Review

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Mary

Terrible movie, everyone in the theater was making comments…..including us. People behind said that was 2 hours of wasted time she can never get back. Others ‘F’d up waste of money’

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/06/21

Full Review

Jamie S

what a pointless move. And what was the other story in the movie all about?

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/28/25

Full Review

huxaiphaer I

Worst movie, I have ever seen in my life

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/22/25

Full Review

Brandon S

Worst movie I've ever seen. I made an account just to rate it. -100000/10. I'm never watching another movie with anyone associated with this movie again. The fact that this has anything above a 1 star blows my mind.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/27/25

Full Review

Penelope A

While the long shots, film styling, and sound design hint at artistic ambition, the execution feels lazy. The story lacks stakes entirely, and the characters are frustratingly flat, inhabiting a narrative that, though visually appealing, plods along without purpose. The plot progresses not because of the characters’ choices or motivations but simply because it’s required to. A poorly integrated B plot is haphazardly thrown in, adding nothing of value to the main story. Instead of enhancing the narrative, it creates a sense of narrative indigestion, leaving the psychological “thriller” label feeling hollow. The repeated defense from critics that “it’s intentionally infuriating” feels more like an excuse for poor filmmaking. It’s possible to create a deliberately frustrating experience while still delivering a strong, engaging story. Here, the director undermines the audience’s trust, resulting in a deeply disappointing experience.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/10/25

Full Review

Cyndi W

WORST MOVIE EVER!! I want my life back!! You are forced watch the most ridiculous situation ever and you are waiting for a resolution that makes sense of the absolutely stupid premise and then……………………………………NOTHING!!!! It’s the stupidest, sorry, who paid for this? Who read this script and went, YES!! A movie WITH NO POINT, that’s going to be a HIT! FU to everyone involved in this pile of garbage.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/28/24

Full Review

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Pascual Sisto

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John and the Hole: Trailer 1

1:36

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Synopsis

A desperate game of survival unfolds after 13-year-old John traps his family in a hole in the ground in this unsettling psychological thriller.

Director: Pascual Sisto
Producer: Elika Portnoy, Alex Orlovsky, Michael Bowes
Screenwriter: Nicolás Giacobone
Production Co: IFC Films, Mutressa Movies, 3311 Productions
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 6, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 6, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.0K
Runtime: 1h 44m

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