Horror 2022 Countdown: The Hole (2009)

The Hole (2009), dir. Joe Dante, Bold Films/BenderSpink/The Hole

Joe Dante's career has been one of ups and downs, but would this one be one of the former?

The Thompson family has settled into the quaint little Illinios town. Mother Susan (Teri Polo), 17 year old Dane (Chris Massoglia) and 10 year old Lucas (Nathan Gamble) are adjusting as best they can; Dane and Lucas make friends with the girl next door Julia (Haley Bennet) but the real neat thing that the kids find is the door. 

Specifically, the door over the hole. In the basement they find a heavy door, outfitted with multiple locks over a hole which is apparently bottomless. After that the kids are haunted by their greatest fears. Seeing one apparition crawl into the hole prompts the kids to find the house's previous owner. "Creepy" Carl (Bruce Dern), who now lives in an abandoned glove factory surrounded by ever lit lamps. 

Yeah, not a good sign. 

Carl yells at them for releasing 'the evil' and that it will kill Dane. When Dane goes back to recover his notebook, he finds the lamps busted and Carl gone. 

Also not a good sign.

With spooky happenings increasing, can the kids figure it out before it's too late?

Pretty good; Dante does his greatest hits, but they were hits for a reason. This film wasn't a hit and that's a shame.