Nick Hamm’s The Hole is a vivid example of how a lie can take on a life of its own. In this 2001 psychological-thriller, inspired by Guy Burt’s 1993 novel After the Hole, the truth is distorted as authorities try to understand the horrible events that happened inside an abandoned fallout shelter. The survivor of this senseless tragedy recounts those harrowing eighteen days, telling two disparate versions of the same ordeal. By the end, no one — even the storyteller herself — can tell the difference between fact and fiction.
The deception is immediate in The Hole. Hamm and screenwriters Ben Court and Caroline Ip quickly endear Thora Birch’s character Liz to audiences as the bruised and disheveled teenager stumbles her way back to her home away from home. At a private school called Brabourne, Liz enters the abandoned campus, calls for help on a payphone, then finally unleashes a guttural scream.
The deception is immediate in The Hole. Hamm and screenwriters Ben Court and Caroline Ip quickly endear Thora Birch’s character Liz to audiences as the bruised and disheveled teenager stumbles her way back to her home away from home. At a private school called Brabourne, Liz enters the abandoned campus, calls for help on a payphone, then finally unleashes a guttural scream.
- 11/4/2022
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
Sally Woodward Gentle was most recently creative director at Downton Abbey producer Carnival Films. Now striking out on her own, the exec has launched production company Sid Gentle Films with financial backing from Ron Burkle‘s global investment firm The Yucaipa Companies. Sid Gentle is eyeing scripted drama, TV movies and miniseries as well as indie features. The company is already in development on a Neal Purvis/Robert Wade-penned project for the BBC, and a supernatural thriller from Ben Court and Caroline Ip, also for the BBC. Former Carnival exec Henrietta Colvin is also joining Sid Gentle Films as head of development. Lee Morris, who’s currently producing Da Vinci’s Demons, will come aboard as managing director in the New Year. Woodward Gentle’s producing credits include Channel 4′s BAFTA award-winning Any Human Heart, ITV drama series Whitechapel and Helena Bonham Carter drama Enid. She is also...
- 12/5/2013
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
Feature Becky Lea 4 Sep 2013 - 07:00
Becky talks us through the evolution of ITV's acclaimed murder mystery drama, Whitechapel, which begins its fourth series today...
In an age of television flooded with crime dramas about fiendish killers and fierce, battle-worn detectives, it can be difficult for a show, both new and existing, to feel fresh and stand out from the crowd. Returning this week, the fourth series of Whitechapel continues its unique approach of combining the modern with the historical, and weaving its cases around murders which took place in reality with a healthy dose of character-led drama at its heart. I and a small loyal fanbase eagerly await the new series, but with the long gap since the last episode, it might just be one murder mystery that has passed you by.
The series is written by screenwriting duo Ben Court and Caroline Ip, whose first feature was the much underrated The Hole,...
Becky talks us through the evolution of ITV's acclaimed murder mystery drama, Whitechapel, which begins its fourth series today...
In an age of television flooded with crime dramas about fiendish killers and fierce, battle-worn detectives, it can be difficult for a show, both new and existing, to feel fresh and stand out from the crowd. Returning this week, the fourth series of Whitechapel continues its unique approach of combining the modern with the historical, and weaving its cases around murders which took place in reality with a healthy dose of character-led drama at its heart. I and a small loyal fanbase eagerly await the new series, but with the long gap since the last episode, it might just be one murder mystery that has passed you by.
The series is written by screenwriting duo Ben Court and Caroline Ip, whose first feature was the much underrated The Hole,...
- 9/3/2013
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Whitechapel Season 4
B Van Heusen
Whitechapel returns to ITV on Wednesday 4 September at 9pm. The much anticipated fourth series of the show consists of three, two-part stories. The first and last are written by the show’s creators Ben Court and Caroline Ip while the second story is penned by Whitechapel actor Steve Pemberton.
The first story centers around a witch-hunt of sorts, as a serial killer mercilessly slaughters people who are involved with the occult. The team quickly spot a connection between the killings and the antics of 16th century witch hunters but secret service agents disrupt the investigation when it overlaps with counter-espionage activities. Frustrated but undeterred, Chandler and Miles press ahead with their inquiries even as supernatural forces seem to take ahold of their workplace.
In the second adventure, Chandler and Miles are tasked with solving a murder in which the victim’s face was flayed. Initial...
B Van Heusen
Whitechapel returns to ITV on Wednesday 4 September at 9pm. The much anticipated fourth series of the show consists of three, two-part stories. The first and last are written by the show’s creators Ben Court and Caroline Ip while the second story is penned by Whitechapel actor Steve Pemberton.
The first story centers around a witch-hunt of sorts, as a serial killer mercilessly slaughters people who are involved with the occult. The team quickly spot a connection between the killings and the antics of 16th century witch hunters but secret service agents disrupt the investigation when it overlaps with counter-espionage activities. Frustrated but undeterred, Chandler and Miles press ahead with their inquiries even as supernatural forces seem to take ahold of their workplace.
In the second adventure, Chandler and Miles are tasked with solving a murder in which the victim’s face was flayed. Initial...
- 8/28/2013
- by Edited by K Kinsella
What chilled most about murder mystery Mayday was the claim of an ancestral right to wear green man makeup
You'd naturally think Aidan Gillen killed Hattie, the 14-year-old May Queen, in the woods above the village. Ever since he played transgressive super-hottie Stuart in Queer as Folk, he's worked sneering lips and leering eyes as a series of reptiles, chancers and scumbags – dodgy mayor in The Wire, slimy counsellor in Game of Thrones, venal banker in credit-crunch drama Freefall. Why not add murderer to the list?
In Mayday (BBC1), he's similarly sinister: a bad dad who thumps his son for nothing and buries his grief over his dead wife in video game marathons. Plus he has a mysterious bag locked in a cupboard. Could it be a body-bag full of May Queen? Possibly. Harold Pinter called Gillen "dangerous" when he was in The Caretaker, which is damning evidence. The prosecution rests,...
You'd naturally think Aidan Gillen killed Hattie, the 14-year-old May Queen, in the woods above the village. Ever since he played transgressive super-hottie Stuart in Queer as Folk, he's worked sneering lips and leering eyes as a series of reptiles, chancers and scumbags – dodgy mayor in The Wire, slimy counsellor in Game of Thrones, venal banker in credit-crunch drama Freefall. Why not add murderer to the list?
In Mayday (BBC1), he's similarly sinister: a bad dad who thumps his son for nothing and buries his grief over his dead wife in video game marathons. Plus he has a mysterious bag locked in a cupboard. Could it be a body-bag full of May Queen? Possibly. Harold Pinter called Gillen "dangerous" when he was in The Caretaker, which is damning evidence. The prosecution rests,...
- 3/4/2013
- by Stuart Jeffries
- The Guardian - Film News
Goodbye Being Human, but hello Parks and Recreation. This week's Must-See TV is a little bit of an emotional rollercoaster, mixing long-awaited arrivals with some sad, sad departures and gritty murder mysteries with some controversial comedy.
Plus, there's two big Comic Relief TV events taking place in advance of the big day itself on March 15 - Russell Brand's Give It Up gig (Wednesday, March 6 at 10pm on BBC Three) in aid of beating addiction and Comic Relief's Big Chat with Graham Norton, all six hours of which will air live on BBC Three on Thursday, March 7 from 7pm, with highlights following Friday at 10.35pm on BBC One.
Mayday: Monday (March 4) at 9pm on BBC One
This edition of TV picks technically goes from the week commencing Monday, March 4, buuuuut we're going to do a bit of cheating here to make sure you don't get left behind on this dark,...
Plus, there's two big Comic Relief TV events taking place in advance of the big day itself on March 15 - Russell Brand's Give It Up gig (Wednesday, March 6 at 10pm on BBC Three) in aid of beating addiction and Comic Relief's Big Chat with Graham Norton, all six hours of which will air live on BBC Three on Thursday, March 7 from 7pm, with highlights following Friday at 10.35pm on BBC One.
Mayday: Monday (March 4) at 9pm on BBC One
This edition of TV picks technically goes from the week commencing Monday, March 4, buuuuut we're going to do a bit of cheating here to make sure you don't get left behind on this dark,...
- 3/3/2013
- Digital Spy
BBC One's new highly-anticipated drama series Mayday has released a new trailer ahead of its premiere on Sunday night.
The series - which stars Sophie Okonedo, Aidan Gillen, Peter Firth and Lesley Manville - will be stripped across next week from Sunday until Thursday in five episodes.
Watch the trailer for Mayday:
Written by Ben Court and Caroline Ip (Whitechapel) and directed by Brian Welsh (Black Mirror, In Our Name), the drama centres on the disappearance of a village's 14-year-old May Queen.
Mayday premieres on Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.
The series - which stars Sophie Okonedo, Aidan Gillen, Peter Firth and Lesley Manville - will be stripped across next week from Sunday until Thursday in five episodes.
Watch the trailer for Mayday:
Written by Ben Court and Caroline Ip (Whitechapel) and directed by Brian Welsh (Black Mirror, In Our Name), the drama centres on the disappearance of a village's 14-year-old May Queen.
Mayday premieres on Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.
- 3/1/2013
- Digital Spy
A project that was initially announced a year ago is finally set to make its debut... S&A fave Sophie Okonedo stars alongside Peter Firth, Aidan Gillen and Lesley Manville in what the BBC is calling a "sophisticated five-part thriller" titled Mayday, from writers Ben Court and Caroline Ip (Whitechapel). What's the Mayday story: When a young girl goes missing on her way to the Mayday parade, the small community in which she lives looks to one another for answers. But beneath the picture-postcard idyll lies a sinister other world and the dark woods teem with myth. As the community reels from Hattie’s disappearance, the drama follows the mass hysteria and...
- 2/22/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Mayday co. BBC
Mi5 veteran Peter Firth returns to BBC One during the first week of March in the new drama Mayday. The show is the brainchild of Whitechapel writers Ben Court and Caroline Ip, and like that show, Mayday focuses on the investigation of a grizzly murder. However, rather than placing the police detectives at the center of the action, Mayday is centered around the possible culprits and the friends and family members who may or may not reveal their suspicions to the police.
Peter Firth plays Malcolm – a man whose own wife thinks him capable of killing. His co-stars include Lesley Manville (Cranford), Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda), Sam Spruell (Eternal Law), and Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones). Precise broadcast details have yet to be revealed.
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Mi5 veteran Peter Firth returns to BBC One during the first week of March in the new drama Mayday. The show is the brainchild of Whitechapel writers Ben Court and Caroline Ip, and like that show, Mayday focuses on the investigation of a grizzly murder. However, rather than placing the police detectives at the center of the action, Mayday is centered around the possible culprits and the friends and family members who may or may not reveal their suspicions to the police.
Peter Firth plays Malcolm – a man whose own wife thinks him capable of killing. His co-stars include Lesley Manville (Cranford), Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda), Sam Spruell (Eternal Law), and Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones). Precise broadcast details have yet to be revealed.
Click here to friend Best British TV on Facebook or here to follow us on Twitter. You can also find us on Google+ by clicking here.
- 2/18/2013
- by Edited by K Kinsella
A project that was initially announced a year ago is finally set to make its debut... S&A fave Sophie Okonedo stars alongside Peter Firth, Aidan Gillen and Lesley Manville in what the BBC is calling a "sophisticated five-part thriller" titled Mayday, from writers Ben Court and Caroline Ip (Whitechapel). What's the Mayday story: When a young girl goes missing on her way to the Mayday parade, the small community in which she lives looks to one another for answers. But beneath the picture-postcard idyll lies a sinister other world and the dark woods teem with myth. As the community reels from Hattie’s disappearance, the drama follows the mass hysteria and...
- 2/18/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
BBC One is to strip new five-part drama Mayday across a single week.
The thriller series stars Sophie Okonedo (The Slap), Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones), Peter Firth (Spooks) and Lesley Manville (Cranford).
Penned by Whitechapel writing duo Ben Court and Caroline Ip, Mayday tells the story of a missing teenager and the hunt for the abductor, told through the eyes of a close-knit community.
"I am very excited that they are screening Mayday over five days," said star Okonedo. "I think it will suit the piece enormously.
"It has a lot of twists and turns and things are not always as they seem. The reality is often heightened with a cliffhanger at the end of every episode."
Mayday has been directed by Black Mirror's Brian Welsh and produced by Chris Fry (Spooks).
The series premiere on Sunday, March 3 on BBC One.
> The Village, White Queen, Mayday: First...
The thriller series stars Sophie Okonedo (The Slap), Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones), Peter Firth (Spooks) and Lesley Manville (Cranford).
Penned by Whitechapel writing duo Ben Court and Caroline Ip, Mayday tells the story of a missing teenager and the hunt for the abductor, told through the eyes of a close-knit community.
"I am very excited that they are screening Mayday over five days," said star Okonedo. "I think it will suit the piece enormously.
"It has a lot of twists and turns and things are not always as they seem. The reality is often heightened with a cliffhanger at the end of every episode."
Mayday has been directed by Black Mirror's Brian Welsh and produced by Chris Fry (Spooks).
The series premiere on Sunday, March 3 on BBC One.
> The Village, White Queen, Mayday: First...
- 2/15/2013
- Digital Spy
What must the pressure be like for a first-time filmmaker with an uncle and a father that are both world-class filmmakers? For Jordan Scott, daughter of Ridley and niece to Tony, it must be pretty damn awesome, especially when your debut feature film is as surprisingly well crafted as Cracks.
Jordan Scott directed and co-wrote Cracks with Ben Court and Caroline Ip, based on the novel by Sheila Kohler. What begins innocently enough as a drama about the lives of a group of girls at a British boarding school, this calm pot of water gradually simmers, slowly disrupting the surface, developing tension from an unexpected twist in the characters. lives.
Eva Green (Casino Royale, Kingdom Of Heaven) plays Miss G, a relatively young and uncommonly attractive teacher and mentor at the boarding school, whom the girls look up to and admire. Astonished by her stories of travel and experience, Miss...
Jordan Scott directed and co-wrote Cracks with Ben Court and Caroline Ip, based on the novel by Sheila Kohler. What begins innocently enough as a drama about the lives of a group of girls at a British boarding school, this calm pot of water gradually simmers, slowly disrupting the surface, developing tension from an unexpected twist in the characters. lives.
Eva Green (Casino Royale, Kingdom Of Heaven) plays Miss G, a relatively young and uncommonly attractive teacher and mentor at the boarding school, whom the girls look up to and admire. Astonished by her stories of travel and experience, Miss...
- 5/13/2011
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Jordan Scott’s directorial debut feature, Cracks, aims for a quality that’s simultaneously fleeting and mournful—a reminiscence of a special time, and a document of how it was spoiled. Based on the Sheila Kohler novel of the same name (adapted by Scott with screenwriters Ben Court and Caroline Ip), Cracks is set in a rural English girls’ school in the mid-’30s, where the most popular students compete on the diving team, under the tutelage of charismatic teacher Eva Green. By day, the girls learn the fine arts of letter-writing and flower-arranging, and read poets who warn against ...
- 3/17/2011
- avclub.com
This arty chick-flick about high-school girls who navigate through the storms of adolescence in a remote setting puts us in mind of such movies as "Lord of the Flies" (kids on their own without adult supervision get mischievous), "Picnic at Hanging Rock" (three students and a teacher disappear on an excursion), and especially "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (a headstrong teacher in a private girls' school in Edinburgh gives her charges an over-romanticized world view). "Cracks" is based on Sheila Kohler's atmospheric novel of the same name about an all-girls' South African swimming team in the 1960s of twelve adolescent girls all in love with their teacher (the term "cracks" means "crush, " as in "to have a crush on"). Scripters Ben Court, Caroline Ip and director Jordan Scott push the time back to 1934 in England, giving John Mathieson the honors of photographing the picture in lavish areas of rural Ireland,...
- 3/15/2011
- Arizona Reporter
This arty chick-flick about high-school girls who navigate through the storms of adolescence in a remote setting puts us in mind of such movies as "Lord of the Flies" (kids on their own without adult supervision get mischievous), "Picnic at Hanging Rock" (three students and a teacher disappear on an excursion), and especially "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (a headstrong teacher in a private girls' school in Edinburgh gives her charges an over-romanticized world view). "Cracks" is based on Sheila Kohler's atmospheric novel of the same name about an all-girls' South African swimming team in the 1960s of twelve adolescent girls all in love with their teacher (the term "cracks" means "crush, " as in "to have a crush on"). Scripters Ben Court, Caroline Ip and director Jordan Scott push the time back to 1934 in England, giving John Mathieson the honors of photographing the picture in lavish areas of rural Ireland,...
- 3/15/2011
- Arizona Reporter
The consensus among my peers at the Toronto Film Festival was that the Jordan Scott's debut was lacking certain elements to make it a full-fledged thriller worth investing in, but after this trade news announcement, I checked up on the Variety review and I'm loving the cross section of films it mentions it its first pull quote calling it "a cross between "Picnic at Hanging Rock" and "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," shot through with a nasty "Lord of the Flies" streak." - The consensus among my peers at the Toronto Film Festival was that the Jordan Scott's debut was lacking certain elements to make it a full-fledged thriller worth investing in, but after this trade news announcement, I checked up on the Variety review and I'm loving the cross section of films it mentions it its first pull quote calling it "a cross between "Picnic at Hanging Rock...
- 12/13/2009
- by Ioncinema.com Staff
- IONCINEMA.com
IFC Films hhas picked up U.S. rights to "Cracks," a thriller which stars Eva Green, Juno Temple, Maria Valverde, Imogen Poots, Ellie Nunn and Adele McCann. The film will be released next year some time. "Cracks" marks the feature directorial debut of Jordan Scott and premiered at Toronto. The story takes place in an all-girls boarding school and follows a girl's unhealthy bond with her teacher. Scott wrote the screenplay with Ben Court and Caroline Ip based on the 1999 novel penned by Sheila Kohler. Julie Payne produced for Scott Free alongside Kwesi Dickson of Future Films, Element Pictures' Andrew Lowe, Rosalie Swedlin of Industry Entertainment and Christine Vachon for Killer Films. Ridley Scott and Tony Scott served as executive producers on the project.
- 11/12/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
IFC Films has acquired North American distribution rights to "Cracks," the feature directorial debut of Jordan Scott.
The thriller, which stars Eva Green ("Casino Royale") as a charismatic teacher at an all-girls boarding school, premiered in September at the Toronto International Film Festival. Juno Temple ("Atonement"), Imogen Poots ("28 Weeks Later") and Maria Valverde ("La Flaqueza del Bolchevique") also star as students vying for their teacher's attention.
Scott penned the screenplay, loosely based on Sheila Kohler's 1999 novel, with Ben Court and Caroline Ip.
"Cracks" was produced by Julie Payne for Scott Free, Kwesi Dickson for Future Films, Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures, Rosalie Swedlin for Industry Entertainment and Christine Vachon for Killer Films, in association with John Wells. Ridley Scott and Tony Scott executive produced.
IFC plans a simultaneous theatrical and VOD release next year.
The thriller, which stars Eva Green ("Casino Royale") as a charismatic teacher at an all-girls boarding school, premiered in September at the Toronto International Film Festival. Juno Temple ("Atonement"), Imogen Poots ("28 Weeks Later") and Maria Valverde ("La Flaqueza del Bolchevique") also star as students vying for their teacher's attention.
Scott penned the screenplay, loosely based on Sheila Kohler's 1999 novel, with Ben Court and Caroline Ip.
"Cracks" was produced by Julie Payne for Scott Free, Kwesi Dickson for Future Films, Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures, Rosalie Swedlin for Industry Entertainment and Christine Vachon for Killer Films, in association with John Wells. Ridley Scott and Tony Scott executive produced.
IFC plans a simultaneous theatrical and VOD release next year.
- 11/11/2009
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jordan Scott's debut film is an adpatation of Sheila Kohler's novel Cracks, adapted by the director and Brit TV stalwarts Ben Court and Caroline Ip. It stars Eva Green as teacher in an all-girls school in 1930s who gets drawn into an inappropriate relationship. After the break, a series of stills, the official synopsis, the poster and the first trailer. You'll see that, if nothing else, Scott and cinematographer John Mathieson have created a good looking movie. The word I picked up from the film's London Film Festival premiere on Sunday, however, was that that Cracks is more than just a pretty trinket. Fingers crossed that wasn't just festival fever speaking. We'll start with the official synopsis: In an austere and remote all girls boarding school, the most elite clique of girls are the illustrious members of the schools’ diving team. Di, Lily, Poppy, Laurel, Rosie and Fuzzy...
- 10/28/2009
- by Brendon Connelly
- Slash Film
- An indication that Atom Egoyan's Chloe will most definitely find a competition slot in Venice, Tiff has uncharacteristically went with a foreign English language title as the film festival's opening night selection. The spot usually reserved for a Canadian film went to Jon Amiel's unsold Creation which will have its world premiere on the 10th of September. Today's announcement of 23 titles confirms the a.) red carpet presence and early seat sale interest with names/faces like Matt Damon, Ricky Gervais, Clive Owen and Michael Douglas, b.) the latest from Bruno Dumont, Niki Caro, Neil Jordan and Tim Blake Nelson will not be receiving comp slots in Venice but will be part of the Special Presentations at Tiff instead, and c.) a sampling of adult fair titles (Solitary Man, Valhalla Rising, The Boys Are Back, Mao’s Last Dancer, Moloch Tropical, Cracks) that were perhaps not ready or
- 7/14/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
- Based on pure speculation and educated guesses, in anticipation of the 25th Sundance Film Festival, I’ve assembled a lengthy list of films that might be announced in next week’s press releases for selection announcements in everything from the Competition categories to the Premieres and the fringe Park City at Midnight section. Adventureland This is perhaps the first film out of the gates in terms of early marketing, and a quick premiere before its March 27th release should help word of mouth campaigns. Written and helmed by Greg Mottola, the 1987-set story follows an uptight recent college grad (Jesse Eisenberg) who is forced to take a degrading minimum-wage job at the local amusement park when he realizes he can't afford his dream European tour. The experience helps him to loosen up a bit as he finds first love, forms new friendships and emerges with a newfound sense of
- 11/27/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
- Casting is complete, techs crews are hired, distribution rights are being sold and shooting is about to begin on Jordan Scott's feature length film debut. The daughter of Ridley and niece of Tony will be working with starlets Eva Green, Juno Temple, Maria Valverde, Imogen Poots and Sinead Cusack. Written for the screen by Caroline Ip and Ben Court, based on the novel by Sheila Kohler, Cracks is about a group of girls at a boarding school in England in the 1930s who become caught up in the web of a charismatic teacher. Jordan and Ridley teamed for one of the seven segments (Mehdi Charef, Emir Kusturica, Spike Lee, Katia Lund, Stefano Veneruso and John Woo) for All the Invisible Children. Screen Daily reports that StudioCanal has taken all rights for the UK, France and Benelux, while the Irish Film Board are adding fund money to the project
- 7/4/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
Although "The Hole" might spark easily made comparisons with "The Blair Witch Project" -- terrified teens stalked by an evil presence -- it is actually a shrewdly made chiller that has a good deal to offer. With the right handling, this film could make a nice hit in that hefty marketplace for "teens in peril" movies.
While the film is a U.K.-French production set firmly in rural England, the fact that the key young leads, Thora Birch and Desmond Harrington, are Americans tips us off that this is a film made for the international marketplace.
The film is structured in the form of a series of flashbacks, which gradually reveal more and more about the events, cleverly mixing true memories with alternate variations. The film opens impressively with the shocked, frightened Liz (Birch) wandering into a village where, in a series of flashbacks, she explains to psychologist Philipa Horwood (the always fine Embeth Davidtz) what has happened.
It seems she and fellow pupils from an English public school had gotten out of a school trip by hiding out in an old World War II bunker. Liz was keen to go into the hole with American hunk Mike (Harrington) because she had the hots for him, while fellow students Geoff and Frankie engage in a little quality time together.
Liz initially blames much of what happened to them in the hole on another student, Martin (Daniel Brocklebank), who she says was jealous of her feelings for Mike. But as the police interrogation of her and Martin continues, more and more is revealed of the actual events in the bunker. Without giving too much of the plot away, it becomes clear that someone is controlling the events in the bunker. As the bodies start to fall, fear and paranoia increase.
"Hole" is impressively directed by Nick Hamm (whose previous film was the romantic comedy "Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence"). He makes great use of the frightening location of a dark, shadowy bunker, though his work is much assisted by a fine, intelligent script from Ben Court and Caroline Ip, who give depth and variation to their characters. The hole is nicely designed by Eve Stewart, and, as shot by cinematographer Denis Crossan, it makes for a fine twist on the old-dark-house format.
Birch is asked to offer different levels to her character as the truth behind what happened is gradually revealed, and she does an excellent job of presenting a character who lurches between shy and mousy to cunning and sociopathic. The rest of the young cast is impressive, especially Brocklebank as Martin.
"Hole" is a fine, tense piece of chilling entertainment that deserves to reach an audience.
THE HOLE
Pathe Pictures presents in association with the Film Council and Le Studio Canal Plus
Cowboy Films/Granada Film Prods. in association with Cowboy Pictures
Producers: Lisa Bryer, Jeremy Bolt, Pippa Cross
Director: Nick Hamm
Screenwriters: Ben Court, Caroline Ip
Based on the novel by: Guy Burt
Executive producers: Francois Ivernel, Andrea Calderwood
Director of photography: Denis Crossan
Editor: Niven Howie
Production designer: Eve Stewart
Music: Clint Mansell
Costume designer: Verity Hawkes
Color/stereo
Cast:
Liz Dunn: : hora Birch
Mike Steel: Desmond Harrington
Martin Taylor: Daniel Brocklebank
Geoff: Laurence Fox
Frankie Smith: Keira Knightley
Dr. Philipa Horwood: Embeth Davidtz
DCS Tom Howard: Steven Waddington
Running time -- 102 minutes
No MPAA rating...
While the film is a U.K.-French production set firmly in rural England, the fact that the key young leads, Thora Birch and Desmond Harrington, are Americans tips us off that this is a film made for the international marketplace.
The film is structured in the form of a series of flashbacks, which gradually reveal more and more about the events, cleverly mixing true memories with alternate variations. The film opens impressively with the shocked, frightened Liz (Birch) wandering into a village where, in a series of flashbacks, she explains to psychologist Philipa Horwood (the always fine Embeth Davidtz) what has happened.
It seems she and fellow pupils from an English public school had gotten out of a school trip by hiding out in an old World War II bunker. Liz was keen to go into the hole with American hunk Mike (Harrington) because she had the hots for him, while fellow students Geoff and Frankie engage in a little quality time together.
Liz initially blames much of what happened to them in the hole on another student, Martin (Daniel Brocklebank), who she says was jealous of her feelings for Mike. But as the police interrogation of her and Martin continues, more and more is revealed of the actual events in the bunker. Without giving too much of the plot away, it becomes clear that someone is controlling the events in the bunker. As the bodies start to fall, fear and paranoia increase.
"Hole" is impressively directed by Nick Hamm (whose previous film was the romantic comedy "Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence"). He makes great use of the frightening location of a dark, shadowy bunker, though his work is much assisted by a fine, intelligent script from Ben Court and Caroline Ip, who give depth and variation to their characters. The hole is nicely designed by Eve Stewart, and, as shot by cinematographer Denis Crossan, it makes for a fine twist on the old-dark-house format.
Birch is asked to offer different levels to her character as the truth behind what happened is gradually revealed, and she does an excellent job of presenting a character who lurches between shy and mousy to cunning and sociopathic. The rest of the young cast is impressive, especially Brocklebank as Martin.
"Hole" is a fine, tense piece of chilling entertainment that deserves to reach an audience.
THE HOLE
Pathe Pictures presents in association with the Film Council and Le Studio Canal Plus
Cowboy Films/Granada Film Prods. in association with Cowboy Pictures
Producers: Lisa Bryer, Jeremy Bolt, Pippa Cross
Director: Nick Hamm
Screenwriters: Ben Court, Caroline Ip
Based on the novel by: Guy Burt
Executive producers: Francois Ivernel, Andrea Calderwood
Director of photography: Denis Crossan
Editor: Niven Howie
Production designer: Eve Stewart
Music: Clint Mansell
Costume designer: Verity Hawkes
Color/stereo
Cast:
Liz Dunn: : hora Birch
Mike Steel: Desmond Harrington
Martin Taylor: Daniel Brocklebank
Geoff: Laurence Fox
Frankie Smith: Keira Knightley
Dr. Philipa Horwood: Embeth Davidtz
DCS Tom Howard: Steven Waddington
Running time -- 102 minutes
No MPAA rating...
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