The premise of a movie where a young teenager inexplicably traps his family in a hole is undeniably striking. “John and the Hole” immediately grabs attention with its bizarre scenario. However, the unsettling act committed by young John is unfortunately where the intrigue peaks, quickly descending into a familiar pitfall of prioritizing stylistic choices over meaningful narrative development. Director Pascual Sisto crafts a film that strives for an atmosphere of unease, yet beyond the initial shock value of the family’s confinement, the movie struggles to articulate a profound message, leaving viewers in a void of vague metaphors and underdeveloped characters. Ultimately, “John and the Hole” becomes a frustrating exercise in cinematic style that sacrifices genuine storytelling, making the act of watching John and the hole feel like an aimless endeavor.
John, portrayed by Charlie Shotwell, is presented as an atypical 13-year-old, marked by a quiet peculiarity. In a chilling sequence of events, he drugs his parents, played by Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Ehle, and his sister, Taissa Farmiga. He then callously drags them to an unfinished bunker near their home, lowering them into a deep hole. When they awaken to find John looming above, their pleas are met with silence. Abandoned and trapped, the family’s days become a slow, agonizing wait, punctuated by John’s sporadic visits with minimal supplies, all while he freely spends their money and fabricates stories of their absence to the outside world. Adding a layer of narrative detachment, a seemingly arbitrary framing device emerges thirty minutes into the film, where a mother, played by Georgia Lyman, recounts the tale of “John and the Hole” to her daughter, played by Samantha LeBretton.
This framing device essentially relegates the initial thirty minutes of the movie to an extended, sluggish preamble, underscoring the film’s deliberate pacing. It signals to the audience that “John and the Hole” is intended as a fable, a story meant to reveal a deeper truth. However, the “larger truth” that Sisto appears to chase – the exploration of adolescent struggles with adulthood – remains frustratingly nebulous. John’s character lacks any substantial depth beyond a surface-level creepiness, preventing any genuine connection or understanding of his motivations. Consequently, the characters exist within this fable-like realm, serving merely as symbolic figures within an ill-defined metaphor. The core issue is that this central metaphor lacks both clarity and compelling interest.
The sense of déjà vu when watching John and the hole stems from its reliance on well-worn tropes of style-driven filmmaking. It’s a hallmark of directors who prioritize aesthetic over narrative substance. “John and the Hole” consistently aims for a creepy and ominous tone, but this relentless atmosphere becomes monotonous, devoid of genuine suspense or emotional resonance. The film operates on broad thematic strokes, expecting the audience to fill in the narrative blanks and construct their own meaning. One could, for instance, interpret John as an indifferent deity abandoning humanity (his family), offering only the bare minimum for survival amidst their cries for help. Yet, such interpretations feel forced, more a product of external imposition than inherent to the film’s underdeveloped narrative.
While the initial concept of a boy imprisoning his family holds a dark allure, drawing viewers in with its unsettling nature, “John and the Hole” ultimately squanders this promising foundation. Sisto’s failure lies in his inability to develop this premise beyond its shock value, retreating into abstraction and relying on vague metaphorical gestures. Hooking the audience with an intriguing concept is only the first step; the true challenge lies in delivering a compelling narrative that justifies that initial hook. Within the opening minutes, it becomes painfully apparent that “John and the Hole” lacks a clear direction, hoping that a brooding atmosphere will suffice for thoughtfulness. Instead, the viewing experience becomes an exercise in endurance, leaving one wishing for escape from this protracted and ultimately shallow cinematic endeavor.
Rating: F
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