A promising set-up with some sprightly, well-edited scripting by Mark L. Smith goes sadly awry in the movie's second half, degenerating into a series of contrived, loosely connected vignettes when each of the young protagonists must face separate horror scenarios. Hackneyed and lackluster, the result is depressingly reminiscent of HOUSE, TROLL, WAXWORK, and all such tepidly similar episodic monster flicks from back in the '80s. Director Joe Dante has since claimed that his intent was a return to "suburban horror" of 30 years ago; even if true, the movie would have been best left in its time capsule, wrapped in Hammertime harem pants.
Review of The Hole
