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This edition of Sundance has already delivered a few ambiguous, atmospheric films (Human Factors, In The Earth), but none has surprised or impacted me in a positive way so far. John and the Hole comes close to get a good reaction from me, but it also holds another massive bunker filled with way too many open questions. Itâs always challenging to review a movie with an underlying, vague story that I donât fully understand. In all honesty, thereâs an entire storyline Iâm either just scratching the surface of something greater, or itâs indeed an underwhelming, insignificant part of the screenplay. Since I canât put my finger on what itâs truly about, Iâm going to ignore it for now and come back later in a second viewing.
Nevertheless, almost the whole film deals with something (apparently) separated from the subplot above. This is where the movie fails to deliver a more captivating narrative. NicolĂĄs Giacoboneâs screenplay is packed with intriguing premises and setups, but its respective developments and outcomes are far from extraordinary or surprising. Throughout the entire runtime, Iâm waiting for a major energy burst or an impactful event, but these rarely arrive. The viewer follows Charlie Shotwellâs character as the young kid finds himself responsible for everything in his life, but despite the admittedly suspenseful atmosphere keeping me at the edge of my seat (couch), I still hoped for something more substantial to occur.
Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Ehle, and Taissa Farmiga are formidable, transforming a small bunker into the most interesting place in the film due to their fascinating interactions. Seeing their characters trying to stay sane proved to be surprisingly entertaining. However, Shotwell steals the spotlight as expected from such a protagonist-centered narrative. Outstanding performance. Technically, Paul ĂzgĂźrâs cinematography offers some memorable shots that elevate a few particular sequences, but itâs Caterina Barbieriâs unique score that really generates the tense environment, which kept me curious until the very end.
Pascual Sistoâs direction also deserves praise, but until I see his movie a second or even third time, I donât believe itâs fair for me to criticize a film I donât wholly understand for leaving so many questions unanswered. Still, I believe thereâs a forced attempt at being entirely ambiguous instead of balancing this aspect with more straightforward elements.
John and the Hole is yet another ambiguous entry in this yearâs edition of Sundance, but this time, it actually comes close to satisfy me. Ignoring a particular storyline that I donât fully understand yet (second viewing required), Pascual Sistoâs direction and NicolĂĄs Giacoboneâs screenplay leave too many pending questions to my taste, but I canât deny some of them generate quite an interesting debate within myself. Either Iâm just scratching the surface of something greater, or the underwhelming, uneventful, basic developments of intriguing situations are nothing more than exactly that. The phenomenal performances from everyone involved (and I genuinely mean everyone), the exquisite camera work, and the addictive score all add to the incredibly suspenseful atmosphere that kept me invested until the very last second. Still, that ending⌠I donât know.
Rating: B-