The Hole (2009 - released 2012)
Starring: Teri Polo, Haley Bennett, Bruce Dern, Chris Massoglia, Nathan Gamble, Dick Miller(!!!)
Category: New
Plot Tags: ghost, child(ren) in peril
Original release: 2009 but actually 2012 (sort of)
Format viewed: DVD - rented from Vulcan, naturally
Directed by: (the great) Joe Dante
Written by: Mark Smith
Distributed by: Bold Films, Big Air Studio
So, for many serious and meaningful reasons, there is no justice in the world. But for silly and superfluous reasons (like in the entertainment industry) there is no justice in the world. Case in point, Joe Dante. The man who brought us The Howling, Gremlins, Explorers, Innerspace, The 'Burbs and the Roger Corman classic, Piranha, seems to have trouble getting major projects done. This is speculation, of course, but it seems like his name isn't attached to many upcoming projects. Maybe freaking production companies can stop hiring music video and commercial directors with a perma-twitch and no discernible attention span to direct their projects and hire a damned legend instead. Might have better results. Ranting over.
Anyway, I've been waiting for an opportunity to see his latest project for some time now. It has been rumored for a release, then supposed to be included in this festival or that one and on and on from there. Finally it was released on VOD and DVD on October 2nd and I took the first chance I had to get ahold of it. God love Vulcan Video - they are the best. While the overall film is not without flaws, I absolutely loved the small touches that brought out the charm of the story in the form of family values and earnest healing in the face of loss.
The story surrounds a single mom, Susan (Teri Polo - Meet the Parents) moving to a new town in, essentially, middetown USA. Her boys, the younger Nathan and older and moody teenager Dane are adjusting in different ways. Nathan looking to his brother for fun and companionship and Dane bemoaning the move and leaving friends behind and all the rest. One of the many things I liked about the boys' relationship is that Dane is not all together cruel and mean and Nathan is not all together sweet and saccharine. That gets a little tired. Nathan is sweet but whip smart and Dane seems to see the world for what it is, despite not being what he wants. Also, Susan is not uber-mom either and is a bit scattered so, all in all, the family dynamic makes some sense and has depth. As she transitions to the new job, the boys are left to sort out their surroundings including a padlocked door in the floor of the cellar and a teenage girl next door. I rank these things together because for both the boys, these things represent fear and that is a overlying theme in the film. Julie (the next door girl - Haley Bennett) is quite friendly and once things start to go screwy after the basement door is opened, she becomes intricately involved. Bruce Dern makes an appearance as a former resident of the house with a thing for lightbulbs and the great Dick Miller makes an uncredited appearance that made me grin.
The middle part of the film gets slightly confusing because we're faced with possibly demonic toy (with direct or indirect homages to the Puppet Master films), a possible ghost girl and another menace. It is disorienting because you're thinking it is one thing, then it changes with little word as to why or what is next. This turns out to make more sense as the film gets into the final act but I've decided I don't want to go into what is going into or coming out of the hole and why. The more I've thought about it, the more I think it is just better to let things come together for you if you choose to see it. While one thematic element (personal fear) has been addressed many times, the theme of abuse in the context of a separated survivor felt more new.
I don't want to talk out my butt, but, I got the feeling that some decisions were budget based. There were some that were utterly charming (puppet stuff) and others that were a little much (backgrounds towards the end) but I guess because of the 3D aspect of it, they had to shoot digital. Personally, Id've loved for them to shoot on film because the unique way Dante arranges shots and works around objects gets lessened with the digital sheen. Again, I might be butt talking but some someone who handles the shots and assembles a film the way he does, I wished there was more natural ambiance and creepiness in the air. Regardless, you can see his touches throughout and it gave me a good bit of joy to find them. I loved that Dick Miller showed up briefly, however I wished he was delivering a smushed pie (a la Gremlins 2). Regardless, glad he was in there.
Bottom line, this is not a jump and scream and get nauseated type of movie. If you've got a 11-13 year old, they should be fine with it. The themes surrounding family and healing from loss and the direct nature of things like fault and abuse are good topics to discuss with children. All in all, this film didn't deserve the bouncing around that it has had over the last few years and I'm glad to have had a chance to see it. Here's hoping for more films by one of Corman's guys.
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