Hell Hole Stars (and is Directed by) John Adams and Toby Poser
Review: There might be a fun creature feature somewhere in Hell Hole, but the newest Shudder release doesn’t strike a good balance in tone and narrative. I don’t want to keep trashing on a streaming service that offers many independent filmmakers an outlet to produce their projects, but Shudder is starting to deviate away from a must-have service for fans of the genre.
Hell Hole Review
Despite looking like just another middling Shudder horror movie release on paper, I was actually a bit interested and excited to see Hell Hole, the newest film directed by John Adams and Toby Poser. Adams and Poser have collaborated a handful of times before on movies that I genuinely like. The most recent example is Hellbender, which was a punky tale of witch craft that boasted some creepy imagery and a few promising actresses giving solid lead performances.
And Hellbender was one of my favorite horror movies of 2021 for just that reason. It was a refreshing take on folk horror and indie horror at the same time, providing a breathe of fresh air and proving there was still new ground to uncover in the genre despite its history and longevity.
So I was hoping John Adams and Toby Poser would be able to capitalize on that same magic. But unfortunately, Hell Hole feels mostly like a rehashing of the classics without much bite. The movie is like a The Thing cosplay that aims to turn the gore and violence up a level, but the practical effects and glossy visual style undercut any attempt to make this film feel natural and authentic.
The movie concerns a U.S.-led fracking crew that accidentally unleashes a dormant monster capable of tearing through humans until it finds the right host. A simple yet effective concept on paper that could easily be elevated by sturdy direction and execution. But it’s a pretty muddy attempt in general, hindered by lackluster, kooky performances and a silly tone that never quite makes sense.
Which is a complaint I’ve had with numerous Shudder horror movies recently. Many of the streamer’s recent originals strive to add a bit of humor, but it hasn’t really landed well once. The cheap comedy comes across as corny and amateurish, and for a genre as abundant as horror, I usually don’t like the winking humor that’s never as funny as it thinks it is.
I don’t want to keep trashing on a streaming service that offers many independent filmmakers an outlet to produce their projects, but Shudder is starting to deviate away from a must-have service for fans of the genre. It’s much closer to Tubi in terms of quality as its often relying on acquiring the rights to the classics. The focus has shifted away from serving independent pictures that have some heft to them. There might be a fun creature feature somewhere in Hell Hole, but unfortunately, the title more closely resembled my experience watching the film.
Score: 4/10
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction
Watch Hell Hole (2024) on Shudder
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Hell Hole Film Cast and Credits
Hell Hole Cast
Toby Poser as Emily
John Adams as John
Max Portman as Teddy
Hell Hole Credits
Directors: John Adams, Toby Poser
Writers: Lulu Adams, John Adams, Toby Poser
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Hell Hole movie on Letterboxd
Hell Hole film on IMDb
