The Hole in the Ground

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The Hole in the Ground

R

Released Mar 1, 2019

1h 30m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

89 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

One night, Sarah's young son disappears into the woods behind their rural home. When he returns, he looks the same, but his behavior grows increasingly disturbing. Sarah begins to believe that the boy who returned may not be her son at all.

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Critics Consensus

The Hole in the Ground artfully exploits parental fears with a well-made horror outing that makes up in sheer effectiveness what it lacks in originality.

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Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

In this creepy Irish-Finnish co-production, that fear combines with more modern concerns about the traumas of parenting in a way that freshens up the soil.

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 10, 2019

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

The Hole in the Ground is filled with all the tropes of the "sinister child" subgenre, but first-time feature director Cronin... deftly weds it with the same rural Gothic sensibilities that have made Irish horror such a vibrant and unsettling scene.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 8, 2019

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Mark Kermode

Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

Well-edited set pieces... this gave me the creeps.

Mar 5, 2019

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JD Duran

InSession Film

Although The Hole in the Ground brought nothing new to the horror genre, it’s still a decent movie that was fun to see on the big screen. It’s worth a try if you’re looking for a solid horror movie...

Rated: C+

Aug 19, 2024

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Requires quite a bit of heavy-lifting from Kerslake, who is onscreen nearly all the time, and she pulls it off, planting seeds of anxious doubt every step of the way.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 20, 2024

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Kristy Strouse

Film Inquiry

With some genuinely terrifying imagery and set design and moments that definitely speak to our mental fragility and awareness of who we think we know best, The Hole in the Ground strikes a nerve. It’s a hidden gem.

Oct 17, 2022

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acsdoug D

I enjoyed watching the beautiful Seána Kerslake for ninety minutes. The rest of the movie, not so much.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/12/25

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Dahlia N

This is the absolute best representation of changeling fae lore I've ever seen in a film. Wonderfully creepy and oh, that ending! Definitely worth watching.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/26/25

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Tilman G

While I appreciate how The Hole in the Ground manages to create suspense and creepiness without gimmickry, the movie lacks a bit of substance. Loved the premise, hated the poorly done day-for-night shots.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/25

Full Review

Felipe M

No gore! no CGI!,.. this is how a horror film should strike the nerves, is a great horror film, it stands out among all the rest, great photography too, it doesn't need to explain what the creatures are or where do they come from. Very creepy movie.. all the sick gore and cgi a movie can muster rarely brings you a film that stays with you.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/25/25

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Waniya S

Wasn't scary at all!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/18/24

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Jens B

🎃 A pleasant, simple, and slowly told spooky tale—essentially a decelerated form of horror. That doesn't mean it doesn't have its handful of escalations, whether it's due to the strange woman in the woods or the creepiest child in a horror film in quite some time. 🪞 Cynical souls might point out that Cronin's Irish folk horror is little more than a string of elements borrowed from THE BABADOOK, THE SHINING, and ORPHAN, or just a new episode of LORE. I, on the other hand, had a good time, even if I briefly dozed off at some point.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/03/24

Full Review

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Lee Cronin

Director

Seána Kerslake

Sarah O'Neill

James Quinn Markey

Chris O'Neill

James Cosmo

Des Brady

Kati Outinen

Noreen Brady

Simone Kirby

Louise Caul

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The Hole in the Ground: Trailer 1

2:03

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Synopsis

One night, Sarah's young son disappears into the woods behind their rural home. When he returns, he looks the same, but his behavior grows increasingly disturbing. Sarah begins to believe that the boy who returned may not be her son at all.

Director: Lee Cronin
Producer: John Keville, Conor Barry
Screenwriter: Lee Cronin, Stephen Shields
Distributor: A24
Production Co: Bankside Films, Head Gear Films, Wrong Men North, Metrol Technology, Savage Productions
Rating: R (Some Disturbing Images)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 1, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 26, 2019
Runtime: 1h 30m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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