John and the Hole is a coming of age psychological thriller that plays out the unsettling reality of a kid who holds his family captive in a hole in the ground. From my knowledge this was one of the most anticipated Sundance entries this year, and my most anticipated. I will say that I'm not disappointed. This is an experience; one that will either click with you or just be too much. Oscar-winner Nicolás Giacobone writes a great screenplay with such natural and unsettling dialogue. The comedic tone landed well with me, but I just really like a dark comedy. John is my favorite part of the whole thing. His character is so far from normalcy, but I felt a connection with him throughout. He's struggling with the concept of adulthood and responsibility that he resorts to a sociopathic nature. I loved the acting from everyone. A family that is so far from being close feels close in these strange times. At the end of the first act we're introduced to a new character and storyline that does feel a little off. I understand where it's going, but it wasn't exactly needed. I still didn't have a huge issue with it. This is definitely a slow burn, especially in the second half of it. At some points it feels like it doesn't have a structure, and that's fine with me. The absurdness just makes the watch more interesting. The cinematography is great, the score is really fitting, and the hole feels like a second home after a little bit. Not everyone is going to like Pascual Sisto's direction and what this film has to say. To me it has strong A24 vibes that will gain a cult following. Go and watch John and the Hole upon its release.
Review of John and the Hole
