Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- claustrophobic
- brooding
- paranoid
- late night thriller viewing
- horror movie night
What critics said
Critics found a dark, grisly adolescent thriller elevated by Thora Birch's performance but weakened by awkward camerawork and uneven dialogue.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Liz Dunn's story is elicited by police psychologist Dr. Philippa Horwood after Liz emerges from the bunker.
Four teenagers remain trapped in an old war bunker for three days without food, water, or rescue.
The teenagers' party gives way to desperation, accusations, jealousy, obsession, and murder allegations.
Liz's account to the police psychologist frames the mystery while the falsely accused Martin and the surviving teenagers complicate culpability.
Films like The Hole, and why
Lord of the Flies
Shares teen ensemble dynamics, escalating isolation, moral collapse, and survival thriller tension.
The Good Son
Shares claustrophobic confinement, unreliable testimony, psychological manipulation, and dark mystery elements.
Mean Creek
Shares adolescent characters trapped by secrets, shifting culpability, and psychologically oppressive thriller atmosphere.
The Lovely Bones
Shares a retrospective investigation, ambiguous testimony, and a grim crime thriller structure centered on a young woman.
Movie Details
- Director
- Nick Hamm
- Release Date
- 2001-04-20
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (927)
Cast
- Thora Birch
- Desmond Harrington
- Keira Knightley
- Laurence Fox
- Embeth Davidtz
- Steven Waddington
- Emma Griffiths Malin
- Kelly Hunter
- Daniel Brocklebank
- Jemma Powell
Common questions
- What is The Hole about?
- A rebellious school escape turns into a claustrophobic descent into suspicion, obsession, and survival when teenagers are sealed inside an abandoned bunker.
- What is The Hole like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Hole as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Hole violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Hole as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Hole?
- Critics found a dark, grisly adolescent thriller elevated by Thora Birch's performance but weakened by awkward camerawork and uneven dialogue.
- Which films are like The Hole?
- Films with a similar feel include Lord of the Flies, The Good Son, Mean Creek, and The Lovely Bones.
- How long is The Hole?
- The Hole runs 102 minutes.
