John and the Hole

Name: John and the Hole
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Released: August 6, 2021
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Ben O'Brien, Charlie Shotwell, Georgia Lyman, Jennifer Ehle, Lucien Spelman

2021

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 8 Ratings

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5.6

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5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 8 Ratings

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John And The Hole

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: August 6, 2021 | NR

Starring: Ben O'Brien, Charlie Shotwell, Georgia Lyman, Jennifer Ehle, Lucien Spelman, Michael C. Hall, Pamela Jayne Morgan, Samantha LeBretton, Taissa Farmiga, Tamara Hickey

Summary: While exploring the neighboring woods, 13-year-old John (Charlie Shotwell) discovers an unfinished bunker—a deep hole in the ground. Seemingly without provocation, he drugs his affluent parents (Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Ehle) and older sister (Taissa Farmiga) and drags their unconscious bodies into the bunker, where he holds themWhile exploring the neighboring woods, 13-year-old John (Charlie Shotwell) discovers an unfinished bunker—a deep hole in the ground. Seemingly without provocation, he drugs his affluent parents (Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Ehle) and older sister (Taissa Farmiga) and drags their unconscious bodies into the bunker, where he holds them captive. As they anxiously wait for John to free them from the hole, the boy returns home, where he can finally do what he wants. [Sundance]… Expand

Director: Pascual Sisto

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller

Rating: NR

Runtime: 98 min

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Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Tomris Laffly

Aug 6, 2021

It’s exciting, quietly volatile stuff that digs refreshingly deep into the fears of the coming-of-age genre. Read full review

Polygon Matt Patches

Aug 6, 2021

The level of craft John and the Hole brings to its ideas makes it worthy of chewing on. Read full review

Anthony Lane

Aug 2, 2021

Sisto picks up the spell that is cast by Lowery’s tale, verdant with danger, and continues to weave. Read full review

Jeannette Catsoulis

Aug 5, 2021

Chilly, enigmatic and more than a little spooky, John and the Hole patrols the porous border between child and adult with more style than depth. Read full review

The Independent Clarisse Loughrey

Oct 14, 2021

Director Pascual Sisto has achieved something a little more clever than pure imitation. He takes his audience’s expectations, that his film can only lead to bloodshed and despair, and leaves them hanging in the air for as long as he likes – it’s both tantalising and deliberately unsatisfying. You’re never given the comfort of knowing what comes next. Read full review

Sarah Bea Milner

Mar 15, 2022

Ultimately, John and the Hole is an interesting film that encourages contemplation. Those looking to be thrilled or disturbed will likely be disappointed; yet, audiences who appreciate a strong aesthetic, or simply want to see Michael C. Hall covered in mud, will find John and the Hole satisfying. Read full review

Brianna Zigler

Aug 4, 2021

A completely detached exercise in bewilderment that’s enigmatic nature comes off less Lynchian and more “unfinished scriptian,” director Pascual Sisto’s feature debut aims for intrigue but settles comfortably in mediocrity. Read full review

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User Reviews

OlivierPiel

Aug 22, 2021

Very well crafted, concise essay on modern teenage nihlistic angst. Very similar to Lanthimos work with less edge but smoother lighting and photography. Would deserve higher if the concept would have focused a bit deeper on the other protagonists and maybe interpersonal relations.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

JLuis_001

Aug 14, 2021

It lacks the psychological and ideological complexity to express the complete alienation of its main character. Especially since the film never seems to be sure what it wants to do with him.

Is he a psychopath or a sociopath? Quite ambiguous and totally anticlimactic. Obviously there'sIt lacks the psychological and ideological complexity to express the complete alienation of its main character. Especially since the film never seems to be sure what it wants to do with him.

Is he a psychopath or a sociopath? Quite ambiguous and totally anticlimactic.

Obviously there's something extremely disturbing about the main character, but the lethargy of its development, and the poverty of resolutions only give the idea that perhaps there's a monster behind the facade, but only that.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

livinmediocre

Nov 17, 2021

I’m gonna be repetitive as hell and say how much this feels like a Yorgos Lanthimos movie. With the out there plot, as well as a dark and sinister feel.

I honestly didn’t expect much from this, mostly just joking: “What if there was a hole”. And I probably still will. But I liked this moreI’m gonna be repetitive as hell and say how much this feels like a Yorgos Lanthimos movie. With the out there plot, as well as a dark and sinister feel.

I honestly didn’t expect much from this, mostly just joking: “What if there was a hole”. And I probably still will. But I liked this more than I thought that I would! It has a hole! And John! What more could you ask for?

I do think this film would have been bumped up for me had the ending changed. It does feel a bit weird to have a.. happy ending for lack of a better term. It just doesn’t feel right for this movie. I think that last pool scene should have been it.

But alas, it was not. Charlie Shottwell was pretty good in this. A bit stiff at times with dialogue but overall I liked the performance. Everybody else was pretty good too. I bet this is gonna be picked up by Blumhouse. I don’t think it has the appeal of A24 like people are saying it does. But I bet Blumhouse could market this pretty well!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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