Netflix strikes once more with an under-the-radar horror movie. Hellhole is a 2022 Polish exorcism film that has lastly been seeing extra gentle of day due to the algorithm. Initially launched in October 2022, Hellhole is directed by Bartosz M. Kowalski who had success together with his horror comedy No one Sleeps within the Woods Tonight in 2020. The unique title, Ostatnia Wieczerza means “The Final Supper,” foreshadowing the non secular components of the movie. The film is a ugly and jaw-dropping instance of how Polish horror, when it lastly slashes its manner into extra mainstream media, just isn’t meant for these with weak stomachs.

Hellhole

In 1987 Poland, a police officer investigating mysterious disappearances infiltrates a distant monastery and discovers a darkish fact about its clergy.

Launch Date

October 26, 2020

Director

Bartosz M. Kowalski

Forged

Piotr Zurawski , Olaf Lubaszenko

Runtime

88 minutes

Studio

Netflix

What Is Netflix’s ‘Hellhole’ About?

Set in 1987, the film is about an undercover militia member, Marek (Piotr Zurawski), tasked to find what has occurred to seven lacking girls within the space of a monastery. Pretending to be a monk, he joins the ranks of the opposite monks and shortly finds out he has bit off greater than he can chew, actually. Initially of the movie, paying homage to The Omen, we see a priest working frantically to a church altar with a child. Mentioned child bears an odd marking on his chest and the priest is attempting his hardest to kill it, however is shot and killed by police earlier than he can end the deed. We then flash-forward 30 years to 1987 the place Marek marks his arrival at a secluded monastery. Decided to hide his id as militia, he has lock-picking instruments hidden in his rosary and a gun in a secret compartment of his suitcase, and fortunately, nobody finds them as his objects are being searched. From right here, issues get more and more bizarre for Marek. He’s fed questionable meals that makes him vomit, finds dingy and moist holes within the partitions, and will get to see an exorcism firsthand. Marek’s snooping is ultimately came upon and from right here, Hellhole travels down a spiral, revealing the true darkish nature of the monastery and its ministers.

What Are Viewers Saying About ‘Hellhole’?

Horror critics have taken to social media to explain how Hellhole has burned a gap of their mind, even two weeks post-watching. Viewers additionally tweeted that nobody ought to eat whereas they’re watching the film, as you simply may lose your dinner. The Imported Horror Podcast famous of their assessment that Hellhole has physique horror, and meals horror, and even offers discovered footage vibes. What Hellhole will get proper is the unsettling cinematography, ugly and disconcerting imagery, and a common sense of dread for all of the characters attributable to its nihilistic nature. Whereas the movie has a pure slow-burn really feel, there may be nonetheless a lot packed into the 88-minute runtime. This movie very a lot reinforces the concept we’re all doomed. Kowalski has a love for B-films and actually desires to develop Polish horror.

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As talked about beforehand, there are some nods to The Omen within the opening scene, however the story of Hellhole can also be paying homage to different in style horror movies. Prince of Darkness is one which involves thoughts due to the placement of the monastery above a Satanic gateway. We might additionally evaluate it to The Wicker Man (1973) by way of Marek being a cop who goes undercover to seek out lacking individuals however results in a spiritual cult of types and meets his demise. Kowalski’s love for the classics helps him to craft a singular exorcism film that deserves extra recognition.

‘Hellhole’ Subverts the Exorcism Subgenre

Exorcism films do not sometimes have loads of gore, however Hellhole subverts the style completely. All through the movie, we see your customary exorcism scenes however ultimately, the possession theme expands. Possession transforms into cult horror through the monks and their particular motivations to serve a specific demon, which then evolves right into a supernatural horror due to the Satan that was launched on Earth. Along with that evolution, Kowalski turns up the gore by including in cannibalism, throat slashing, shootings, and all-around extra homicide that we’ve not gotten an excessive amount of of within the subgenre. There’s additionally a specific ASMR factor from there not being an abundance of dialogue. However as a substitute of the comforting Youtube movies we take heed to whereas falling asleep, it is stew sloshing in a bowl, the crunching of chewing, and the retching of vomiting. It’s so unsettling because it pulls you proper into the scene.

From the second the film begins all the best way to the ending scenes, there’s by no means a second when you’ll really feel relaxed or like there may be any hope for any of the characters. Simply once you suppose you already know what’s going on, the story twists and a brand new horror is on the forefront. Possession movies can be compelled to up the ante to invoke the identical spine-chilling and nauseating feelings that this movie did. Hellhole is price testing, however possibly not when you’re consuming.

Hellhole is on the market to stream on Netflix within the U.S.

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