The Hole in the Ground

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The Hole in the Ground

R

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

Apr 10, 2019

3.5/5

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.

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

Mar 8, 2019

3/5

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.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

Mar 5, 2019

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

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JD Duran

InSession Film

Aug 19, 2024

C+

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...

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Jul 20, 2024

3/4

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.

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Kristy Strouse

Film Inquiry

Oct 17, 2022

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.

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Dina L

@Dinal Aug 20, 2026

First hour was atmospheric and promising: adorable kid, devoted mom, Ireland but dark and bleak. Last half hour was a real letdown, formulaic and not thrilling for a thriller.

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Kevin S

@SayHeyKid1230 Aug 13, 2026

So they just forgot to explain the hole? How long has the hole been there? How come nobody in the town has noticed the giant hole? Why didn’t they warn her about the giant hole that swallows kids?

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Kayleigh T

@RT89903085 Jul 18, 2026

This movie is worse than any other movie I have ever experienced I would rather jump into the hole than have to watch this movie or ever hear about it ever again

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Tim M

@tgmacman May 30, 2026

The Hole in the Ground isn't unlike its contemporaries, but some solid atmosphere announces Lee Cronin as a horror auteur to watch.

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Jon R.

@JuantheBaptist Apr 26, 2026

Decent, wish it had given a little more lore or backstory to the hole itself but was an alright film

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Keith B

@Okbullard Apr 2, 2026

Considering the good reviews I expected much more, they borrowed a lot from many similar films over the years. The ending was pretty lame as well, don't bother with this one.

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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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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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