Buena Vista Home Video Hole, The (2001)

Caution: Spoilers Ahead!! You may wish to view the movie and then read this analysis.I have to credit IMDB for my discovery of this fascinating film, as the number of comments posted about "The Saw" proclaiming it a poor imitation of "The Hole" convinced me to purchase the DVD. Not a particularly hard sell because Thora Birch is rapidly climbing to the top of my most talented actress list; so watch out Mia Kirshner and Sarah Polley.What I especially like now about this former child actress is her ability to de-tune her sexiness. This allows her to believably-physically play the "plain Jane" to beauties like Scarlett Johansson and Kiera Knightley, while on another level actually being sexier. The appeal of this is that it allows you to imagine that you are the only one in the audience picking up on that other level, thereby making it seem like a exclusive connection.As has already been much discussed, the trailer for "The Hole" is completely wrong for the movie, making it seem like a slasher film when it a subtle psychological thriller of obsession and misdirection. It illustrates what obsession can produce when taken a step too far. Probably the most chilling scene is the nightclub rest room parody where Liz (Birch) is gleefully prattling on about her seduction of Mike to her girlfriend Frankie (Knightley), utterly oblivious and unconcerned that Frankie is deathly ill.Another great scene is the one used by the director to set up Liz's friend Martin for the blame, Liz is speaking to Martin about what it is like to love someone but not have them know you exist. Martin says everything with his face as he lets you know that this just how he feels about Liz.Director Nick Hamm has pieced together a textbook example of misdirection and the ability of filmmakers to show you only what they want you to see. All the flashbacks (and there are a lot) are POV situations with varying degrees of truth. In this regard Hamm is quite respectful of the audience, manipulating the viewer up to a point but then allowing them free rein to invest each development with their own interpretation. Some have found the ending too predictable because it does not have a twist. But twists have become so obligatory that no twist is a twist. Having Liz win in the end and then going out on her eye contact is simply perfect. Not only does this parallel her claim to have finally picked the lock and escaped, it gives the kind off kilter resolution that the film needs for structural unity. If Peyton had won in "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle", that film would have been a classic instead of just another example of a thriller than ultimately falls short."The Hole" is really more character study than thriller, and the character of Liz with her obsession and evolving motivations is as compelling as Hitchcock's "Marnie". Liz does not plan the deaths of her schoolmates, she is just desperately going after something and things happen. She gets herself trapped in the situation and just goes with it because after a point she has no way out. The two scenes where Mike cruelly rejects her are riveting as Birch artfully starts to show us that Liz is wrapped a little too tight-something no one expected until that point. After that her character's issues are slowly revealed layer by layer.It is interesting that even after those rejections, if Mike had just agreed to go with her for pizza, she would not have locked the exit. Ironically, a bit later his tender support of her causes her to postpone unlocking the exit. This kind of on-the-fence waiting to topple structure makes this a cerebral film viewing exercise.While not normal, Liz is believable. Mike's death disturbs her but on reflection she realizes that it is actually for the best. She was able to get him to fall in love with her but is realistic enough even in her madness to realize that they had no future together. She is pretty much insane after leaving the hole but as she recovers her memory the instinct for self-preservation kicks in.Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

Disc was blemish free. I would buy from these people again.

This movie was a refreshing new twist on an old tale. I have seen parts of this story before, but with this script and cast, it all seemed new. Desmond Harrington is obviously the next American superstar. I think he is at the same stage Tom Cruise was when he did "The Outsiders". I was totally mislead by who the director wanted us to believe was the cuprit. a beleivable surprise in this genre is always welcome. Without an overabundance of special effects and super serial killers, the raw acting is what made this movie very good. I give it a 3.5 rating. When the onscreen actors' emotions translate to the viewers emotions(STEEL MAGNOLIAS), then everyone has done their job well. This is not a new tale, it just seems lik it is.

Im not happy with my order. Brand new disc. Doesn't work in the player

The DVD arrived on time and it was as described by the seller, Thank You.

`The Hole' is not a movie I would normally be interested in. In fact, as I was watching this low budget British production I found myself reflecting on how a film producer friend of mine would find the movie an absolute treat with her penchant for independent movies and rather quirky storylines.So what initially attracted me to this movie. Well it can be summed up in two words - `Keira' and `Knightley.' Yes, I am among the legions of fans that the young British actress has acquired since I first noticed her as Gwyn in the Disney movie `Princess of Thieves.' So, I sat down with a copy of one of her pre-fame films `The Hole' and prepared to indulge myself in a little Knightley admiration.First of all, Keira may not be the star of the movie but her presence is felt throughout. She provides a perfect contrast to Thora Birch's character for whereas Knightley is flamboyant, cheerful and over all popular with the guys, Birch is moody, withdrawn and manipulative - I guess the dictum `opposites attract' held true in their somewhat mixed-up friendship.The story revolves around four students at a rather preppy British private school who decide to spend three days inside an abandoned bomb shelter deep in the woods with an aim to partying and avoiding a dreaded geography field trip to Wales.Yet, Birch's motivations are even deeper. Among the four students will be an American guy, one she has her eyes set on and she sees the time in `the hole' as an opportunity to get closer to him.But, when the three days are up the four find themselves trapped in the underground shelter and as tempers fray and the supplies dwindle, events begin to spiral out of control and emotions run the gamut before all is revealed.The movie attempts to confuse and mislead the viewer for most of the first half of the picture and we have two "witnesses" with wildly different accounts of the earlier events that led to the four being down in the shelter. However, this viewer had it all figured out within minutes of the movie opening (as I also did with `The Sixth Sense') so it's hard to say exactly how successful the producers were.Performances are universally excellent by all concerned and yes, this is the only movie so far in which Knightley does appear topless (blink and you'll miss it though).This is a quirky, strange movie and a well crafted thriller. Its definitely a must for fans of independent movies, Knightley and people who like intense plot twists.

Thriller!

This was my favorite movie when it first came out, and I still love it.