The Hole in the Ground
A mother in rural Ireland confronts an uncanny threat that makes her question whether her young son is still himself.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- eerie
- foreboding
- claustrophobic
- late night horror
- rainy day
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's effective atmosphere and performances, especially its exploitation of parental fears, while finding its premise familiar.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Sarah becomes increasingly unable to trust the disturbing changes in her son Chris after the encounter near the sinkhole.
The ominous sinkhole in the forest functions as the central supernatural presence surrounding Sarah and Chris's home.
The film turns the mother-son bond and Sarah's fragile new household into a sustained arena of suspicion.
The backwood town, forest border, and isolated home create an oppressive visual geography for Sarah's nightmare.
Films like The Hole in the Ground, and why
The Witch
shared folk horror atmosphere, parental fear, rural isolation, and supernatural ambiguity
Goodnight Mommy
shared psychological horror, domestic mistrust, child-centered dread, and unsettling rural imagery
The Babadook
shared slow-burn supernatural horror, fractured family dynamics, and ominous landscape
Movie Details
- Director
- Lee Cronin
- Release Date
- 2019-03-01
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (781)
Cast
- Seána Kerslake
- James Quinn Markey
- James Cosmo
- Kati Outinen
- Simone Kirby
- Steve Wall
- David Crowley
- Eoin Macken
- Sarah Hanly
- Andrew Bennett
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Hole in the Ground about?
- A mother in rural Ireland confronts an uncanny threat that makes her question whether her young son is still himself.
- What is The Hole in the Ground like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Hole in the Ground as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Hole in the Ground violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Hole in the Ground as mild.
- What did critics think of The Hole in the Ground?
- Critics broadly praised the film's effective atmosphere and performances, especially its exploitation of parental fears, while finding its premise familiar.
- Which films are like The Hole in the Ground?
- Films with a similar feel include The Witch, Goodnight Mommy, and The Babadook.
- How long is The Hole in the Ground?
- The Hole in the Ground runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Hole in the Ground?
- In United States, The Hole in the Ground streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max.
