A disturbing R-rated psychological thriller that takes you deep underground and won’t let you out
Author: Robert Skuch Published
As a father of young children, I want my children to strive to be the best version of themselves. I’m also worried about putting enough pressure on them that I’ll crush their confidence and make them hate me for trying to give them the opportunity to grow that I wish I had when I was younger. 2021 John and the hole These parents’ fears are pushed to the most extreme as we witness a 13-year-old boy finally crack under the pressure and take it out on his family in the worst possible way.
A slow-burn psychological thriller, John and the hole The family relationship falls apart when the protagonist holds his parents and sister hostage in an underground bunker and acts like a complete psychopath. The most disturbing scenes in the movie actually take place during the build-up rather than during the second and third act escalations, which made me wish for a more satisfying resolution.
John is scary
set to John and the hole It’s all simple, just keep things running smoothly. John (Charlie Shotwell) comes from a wealthy family, but he is constantly pressured by his parents, Brad (Michael C. Hall) and Anna (Jennifer Ehle). He practiced math relentlessly and worked out in grueling tennis lessons to qualify for the tour. He was also forced to take piano lessons when all he really wanted to do was play video games. By all accounts, John’s family meant well, but in an effort to ensure his potential wasn’t wasted, they pushed a little too far.
After discovering an incomplete bomb shelter on his family’s sprawling property, John hatched a plan. He drugged Brad, Anna and his sister Laurie (Taissa Farmiga), dragged them into a cement hole, and returned to feed them just enough food and water to keep them barely alive. John, who has his own house and access to the family bank account and car, goes to pick up his friend Pete so they can enjoy their new freedom by playing video games and trying to drown each other.
Charlie Shotwell’s portrayal of John is the main reason you’ll want to watch it John and the holelargely because of his persuasiveness in playing a young psychopath. My favorite early sequence is when John listens to his family’s voicemail greetings for research purposes and then calls those who may be worried about the sudden lack of communication. He imitates their voices with near-perfect pitch and rhythm that is deeply disturbing.
It’s never entirely clear what John’s endgame is, or if he knows if he intends to let his family off the hook. All he did was buy himself time so he could fix the problem. Unfortunately for him, it didn’t take long for people to start snooping around and asking where his family might be.
Lost the plot in the worst way
I won’t destroy John and the hole To you, but one major element that I deliberately avoided mentioning is the framing device in the opening scene of the film. This frame appears intermittently through brief sequences, and I really wish there was an edit in the movie that removed them entirely. These moments soften the emotional impact of the story, undermining rather than heightening the tension.
The real story here is John and his family, his hostility towards them, and his growing fear of being caught after he realizes he may have made a mistake by trying to bury them alive. Every time the film strays from its central conflict, the stakes are reduced rather than increased.
All in all I really enjoyed it John and the holebut I could have avoided taking those narrative detours that eliminated the story’s tiny margin for error. If you’re looking for a scary character study that doesn’t have a solid landing, and you’re willing to value the journey over the destination, you can stream John and the hole As of this writing, it’s free on Tubi.
