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The Hole in the Fence

Play trailer 1:52 Poster for The Hole in the Fence Released May 26, 2023 1h 42m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
At a secluded exclusive summer camp in the Mexican countryside, under the watchful eyes of their adult guardians, boys from a prestigious private school receive physical, moral and religious training to turn them into tomorrow's elite. The discovery of a hole in the fence sets in motion a chain of disturbing events as the boys devolve into a Lord of the Flies-like mob mentality that creates and spreads hysteria in this profoundly disturbing coming-of-age drama that unravels like a horror movie while drawing on actual events.

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The Hole in the Fence

Critics Reviews

View All (25) Critics Reviews
Claudia Puig FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles) A smart and disturbing thriller, artfully made. Jun 6, 2023 Full Review Carlos Aguilar Los Angeles Times Del Paso formulates an intellectually rich critique on a thorny subject for a country still reluctant to face its entrenched moral vices. May 26, 2023 Full Review Jackson Weaver CBC News A dark coming-of-age tale about ... youth and burgeoning masculinity. Much of its strength comes from the surprisingly strong performances of its young stars ... which will inevitably be compared to Lord of the Flies, even if it is slightly more surreal. Rated: 4/5 Oct 16, 2023 Full Review Sarah Vincent Cambridge Day The slow burn, something of a harrowing mixture of “Midsommar” (2019) and “Jesus Camp” (2006), may not be graphic, but the psychological effect of witnessing the snuffing out of the boys’ few redeeming qualities is chilling. Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 30, 2023 Full Review C.H. Newell Father Son Holy Gore The Hole in the Fence is a quietly disturbing and powerful critique of how boys are groomed by men to become the masters of society, the next generation of patriarchal monsters who’ll terrorise the world. Rated: 4/5 Aug 19, 2023 Full Review Allyson Johnson But Why Tho? A Geek Community Director Joaquín del Paso delivers a disturbing story told with mounting dread in The Hole in the Fence. This horror, fable-like film, shot with urgency and inescapable sensation of foreboding, excels in direction but falters with a script.... Rated: 6.5/10 Jun 21, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (7) audience reviews
ELB S This is not a horror film, even though it is streaming on Shudder currently. It is, however, a powerful and deftly-made film about the horrors that happen when privilege and power go unchecked, and outer appearances matter more than inner motives or actions. One can look at this as a blistering indictment of the Catholic church's multiple levels of abuse, from colonial attitudes blindly tearing indigenous villages, lives and families apart to those church leaders in power wielding it to harm members of its own 'flock' and then cavalierly brushing any evidence under the carpet. It also serves as a chilling portrayal of what happens when kids are left to their own devices with no actual social guidance. There more than a little Lord of the Flies going on here. This is a difficult watch, but one that is important, and all-too-real with the many abuses we've found out about the Catholic church (and the Southern Baptists for that matter.) Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/18/24 Full Review PinkyFucking S *Spoilers ahead*. Overall a good film, great direction, cinematography, acting. It gets to be a little Lord of the Flies toward the end. The obvious brainwashing and religious indoctrination is appalling. Certain boys are treated terribly, especially amongst themselves. Most of the adults are manipulative, physically and emotionally abusive and commit grooming. It's indeed a wonderful critique on wealthy society and their privileged children. My one beef with this film, is why, just why, would you take an innocent, already mangled, mentally and emotionally damaged little boy and subject him to rape & murder? There was zero reason for that boy to go thru what he did, I don't see how it contributed to the script. Other than to shake the boys up to also murder a child. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/28/23 Full Review Brian S The weirdness is the only thing this movie has going for it but, I mostly feel unsatisfied. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/28/23 Full Review james n It helps to read the reviews before watching the movie, as it seems disjointed to me and how the different concepts and characters flow or don't flow together!? I really don't understand why the boy that has been in an accident (on a crutch) is involved with this story and why one of the older male protagonist seems to kill him in the end? You're not really sure? Especially when the monstrous peasant cuts off the boys cast and the boy seems ok? And the peasant girl that the boys may have raped then put a bucket over her head and workers come the next day. Do they find her? Is she dead? Do they fill in the hole with her in it these are very perplexing to me and the villagers must be Involved with this school for decades and generations so once a year they get donations so they allow this to happen. I understand that concept. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/29/23 Full Review meyer420 b I am the main provider of marijuana strains and all other products. I am the best plug and I bet your search for a reliable plug and socket supplier has come to an end. Where is it located and how much do you want? We sell at different prices but we negotiate according to the minimum order and the client's recommendation. how to reach us telegram.....Meyer420 whatsapp/text or call+18622315278 For an immediate response. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/27/23 Full Review StephenPaul C The greatest 01 hour: and 42 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Hole in the Fence

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Movie Info

Synopsis At a secluded exclusive summer camp in the Mexican countryside, under the watchful eyes of their adult guardians, boys from a prestigious private school receive physical, moral and religious training to turn them into tomorrow's elite. The discovery of a hole in the fence sets in motion a chain of disturbing events as the boys devolve into a Lord of the Flies-like mob mentality that creates and spreads hysteria in this profoundly disturbing coming-of-age drama that unravels like a horror movie while drawing on actual events.
Director
Joaquin del Paso
Producer
Fernanda De la Peza, Joaquin del Paso
Screenwriter
Joaquin del Paso, Lucy Pawlak
Distributor
Altered Innocence
Production Co
Amondo Films, Polski Instytut Sztuki Filmowej
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Spanish
Release Date (Theaters)
May 26, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 26, 2023
Runtime
1h 42m
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