Hollow Creek (2016) User Reviews

Not bad but not good

[Scott_dowding · 5/10 · 13 May 2022]

What can I say?

1. Not bad a story without the supernatural element.

Should have kept simple.

2. Main two actors were fine but they hillbilly family and the cops acting were awful. However going in i never new Burt Renolds was in it.

3. Dump Burt Renolds, He had no sway in the story and probably cause you better cast members.

4. Felt like a new directors first real feature film. I don't know if it was bad acting or bad directing. "Release the dogs" was cheesy as f...

But if you ignore the bad acting, corny 1 liners, terrible CGI, Duff Director... What have the romans ever given us?

SOMEONE THREW THE BALL BACK!

[nogodnomasters · 5/10 · 2 May 2018]

Blake Blackmon (Steve Daron) who writes horror books goes off to a cabin in Castlerock...no bars, no cable, one radio station...welcome to rural West Virginia. He takes along with him his illustrator and mistress (Guisela Moro- director, writer) for a distraction. In the first 10 minutes we have a ghost, wolf howling, and whispers in the night. But don't pay any attention to this as Guisela Moro never bothered to develop it effectively into the script...oh wait, the baseball came down the steps. Children have gone missing in Castlerock and we are cheerily informed that if an abducted child isn't found in the first three hours, there is a 75% chance the kid is dead. Anyway, not to spoil too much but Angela, our mistress goes missing (we actually know where she is and the entire mystery is revealed) and Blake is a prime suspect because he is from NY and this is by God West Virginia.

I felt I was watching a made for TV production. The budget was low and the sound track was mostly lame piano and generic. The characters were not exciting. The Burt Reynolds cameo was terrible. They should have cut it out. Perhaps the biggest surprise was that Eric Robert didn't play that part. I thought this was going to be a ghost story after about 10 minutes, but it wasn't. I am not sure why she tried to confuse the abduction genre with a weak ghost tale. It didn't work.

No swearing or nudity. Near sex scene.

Spoilers follow ...

[parry_na · 5/10 · 13 October 2016]

Married writer Blake Blackman (Steve Daron) and his difficult-to-impress partner, illustrator Angelica Santoro (Guisela Moro), who are having an affair, retreat to a remote cabin in the Appalachian Mountains in order for Blake to commence work on his latest book. The location is beautifully photographed and so stunning, their dog Brandy decides to spend more and more time away from the couple, exploring.

Nights spent in the remote log cabin, with the fireside blazing and lashing of the rain outside – it all sounds idyllic. Only the occasional glimpses of ragged, ghost-like children and Blake's looming deadline threaten to ruin things. Angelica disappears after discovering she is pregnant, kidnapped and held hostage (alongside two 'missing' children) by a hillbilly couple residing in the nearby run-down town. The police suspect Blackman of killing her, despite the real kidnappers being such stereotypical inbreeds. The lawmen are stubbornly lackadaisical, even when Burt Reynolds turns up as Seagrass Lambert, whose grandson has disappeared.

Despite the disappearance of a number of children, it is only after Blake harangues the inactive police force that they make any investigations at the home of the two outcasts. By this time, the imprisoned Angie is heavily pregnant and there's a growing uncertainty regarding her safety. This tenseness comes very late on in the film. Everything takes so long – Blake's investigations, the delayed action of the police, the lack of horrific incident all conspire to make this a pretty drawn-out experience: at almost two hours, 'The Haunting' long outstays its welcome. A shame, because things could have been tense if 30-45 minutes was shorn from the running time. The idea of spirits of children helping Angie is a nice one, as is the race for time toward the end – but we spend so long getting there, and indeed the finale stretches so long, that any real tension is frittered away.

This Creek is Bone Dry

[dcarsonhagy · 1/10 · 4 March 2016]

"Hollow Creek" is just one, big old mess of a movie. A couple set out to have some down time (I guess) at a friend's cabin in the woods. The man is a writer and needs to come up with his new novel quick because the cover for the book has already been done. So, off they go into the middle of nowhere to a near ghost-town where (natch) there is NO cellular service. On the way, they hear some local news about the disappearance of some young boys, but they and their dog are not about to let that stop their time together. Trouble is, the couple are not really a couple. He's taken his mistress along for the ride and is about to break the news to his wife that he wants a divorce. Wifey- poo goes into town to find a doctor because she's not feeling too well, whereupon the first in a series of bad luck instances rears its ugly head.

All this cheaply-made movie had going for it--and you will be misled just as I was--was the "casting" of Burt Reynolds. I do not believe I have seen him in anything since "Boogie Nights." He certainly should have left well enough alone. He is on screen for all of 10 minutes.

The acting is terrible, pacing is awful, you have incidents, e.g. the now you see me; now you don't appearance of a ghost of a young boy, that is never explained and really does not have anything to do with the movie. You have the crazed couple that live in this collapsing town that would be the most OBVIOUS suspects in these disappearances, yet the local yocal sheriff and minions (who I suspect lacked opposable thumbs) cannot seem to figure out. And the writer; lord love a duck, this is basically what happens to him: He's off for a tryst with his mistress, he finds out his mistress is pregnant, his mistress disappears, he's accused of killing her, he loses his job (with no severance pay), and his wife now knows of his philandering ways. I do not know why the writer(s) stopped there. I mean, hell, why didn't you just give him cancer, AIDS--or both. Talk about overkill.

I did not care one iota for anybody in this movie. Poorly directed, acted, and written, this "Creek" needs to run dry. Rated R for language, violence, and general stupidity. Don't waste your time or money.

Horrible acting

[Lollylovesmovies · 2/10 · 6 March 2020]

The acting was so bad. By EVERYONE. Even Burt, RIP, it was just awful. I think they just picked people up off the street and said "y'all want to be in a movie?"

Horrible !!

[jgallo199 · 1/10 · 15 May 2020]

Bad plot, bad writing, worst acting. Total waste of 2 hrs. Do yourself a favor and skip this one!!

Wast of time!

[rnprettyinpink · 1/10 · 18 June 2017]

I never leave reviews but this time I felt driven to. This movie was awful from beginning to end. I have no idea why I even continued to watch it. I guess at first I thought it was one of those with a slow beginning. Um NO! It was pretty terrible. Acting was awful and ending was crappy. This story line could have been done so much better. Terrible acting. I am surprised that for being a 2016 movie that it had one of those awful B rated movie feels to it.

Hollow indeed

[kosmasp · 2/10 · 17 October 2020]

I wonder if the people deciding the titles of movies realize what easy puns they are giving reviewers? And that is more thought than I have given anything that happens in the movie. The over acting in this is draining to say the least. The fact that Burt Reynolds is on the cover might sway you to give it a shot ... don't be dissapointed if you blink and miss him (ok it would have to be quite the long blink, still).

It's predictable and overall not enganging. Someone here said they cried when they saw Burt Reynolds perform - I have to admit I almost envy that person. And really good for them that they enjoyed this. I couldn't and I suspect most won't be able to either. Bland, full of cliches and leaving one cold (without a care) ...

I mean its made for TV

[dawnferris · 7/10 · 18 April 2020]

People are being unnecessarily harsh about this movie.Sure some of the actinf wasnt top notch but Ive def since much worse. I didn't find it slow or plodding at all. I suppose Id have enjoyed a bit more detail on some things but overall it was good. Its definitely been done before but most horror has. Its hard to find fresh. I felt tension throughout most of the movie and even felt myself yelling at the screen! Especially near the end! All n all I liked this one and would recommend it!

Too long and pretty boring.

[ashe-87627 · 2/10 · 24 January 2020]

This movie was too long for it's own good. Almost two hours long and it was NOT exciting at all. The make up on the children's faces were terrible and some scenes could've been edited out. What was Burt Reynolds thinking? Oh my goodnes i had to fast forward some of it... what a drag! I felt cheated. I could've gone my whole life without seeing this movie.

A Good Watch

[alphafatebender · 8/10 · 14 May 2018]

First movie review ever. But I could not let a 4.2 rating stand. I starting watching mainly to see Burt Reynolds and how he has aged, he looked good, old Quint. But I was drawn in and I rarely suffer a bad movie to the end. This was not a bad movie. Of course it could have been better, But it was good, a good watch I am like the monkey in that Disney movie, I know a winner, this is one.

Solid film

[akinrs · 7/10 · 24 August 2017]

Enjoyed the film. Story line had the right supernatural touch and moved along well. Kept my interest and had a satisfying conclusion. Loved seeing my home state used in the film also! Thought the actors did very well, and felt the scenes with Burt Reynolds added solidity. I applaud the director/writer and await her next effort.

No redeeming features whatsoever

[amylouisebaker · 1/10 · 10 January 2022]

Unfortunately this film is pap. Proper pap. After about 20 mins I wanted to throw the remote at the TV but I thought I'd persevere, you know, just in case it turns out to be a classic that I'd regret not watching. How wrong was I???

The word 'haunting' in the title is VERY misleading. Yes, a creepy kid appears a few times, but the focus is on something else entirely. It uses a tried and tested formula, but rips it to shreds in diabolical fashion, which I feel mocks the genre as a whole. It also annoys me that in Amazon Prime video, this film is classed as a 'horror'; this couldn't be further from the truth. There is nothing scary, jumpy, spooky, fearful, or frightening about this film. Nothing. The only feeling I had was an overwhelming urge to cry. Mostly because I wanted the film to be over with asap, but also because I felt as if the genre has been bastardised. The acting is terrible and the story line is all over the place.

In a nutshell, avoid at all costs. Especially if you actually value your time.

Makes no sense.

[iamtherobotman · 3/10 · 5 June 2022]

Cutting to the chase. We have an Author who heads into the mountains to stay at his mates cabin with his 'bit on the side'.

She heads to the Dr, in the car, and is told she's 3 months pregnant. After hearing an Amber Alert, and seeing a suspicious vehicle which she follows, she then goes missing(captured by the inbred's).

The Author is then prime suspect No1. Now, where it all makes no sense is, she had their car!! Why, if he was the culprit, would he do whatever to her, dump the car, then walk back however many miles to the cabin, thereby stranding himself in the middle of nowhere??

His 'bit' kinda deserved to get captured too, not only for following the vehicle, but for being stupid enough to do it alone, then enter private property.

I feel this film didn't know what it was wanting to be, and it ended up being a mess as a result.

Hard to Finish

[Montayj · 5/10 · 30 May 2018]

The acting was immediately horrible but doable to some degree but then that ending. I just couldn't do it. The movie was supposed to be about kidnapped children but was more about the mistress being kidnapped/missing. The plot just wasn't good and if that cost an estimated $500,000 on budget, then only like $10,000 of that was put into the film.

Predictable Lifetime Cheesy Horror

[sharirosseel · 5/10 · 11 December 2023]

There is no explanation why this very poorly written screenplay deserves two hours of screen time. The fact that Burt Reynolds is in the movie does nothing for me either way. It shouldn't be the reason anyone should decide to watch the movie.

This movie doesn't need specific critiquing. My caption spoke volumes. The movie could have gone somewhere with an able support cast. I do believe the positive reviews were written by people related to the movie.

When the villain was revealed, it rapidly turned into a comedy. The acting of supposed hillbillies was so poor, they couldn't be taken seriously. The fact that those two were abducting children made the movie only more unbearable. I don't see how anyone could see them in a role, other than not talking. The keystone cops were just as stereotypical and hardly felt like true law enforcement. They were no-name actors dressed as policemen.

This movie could've been produced far better. There is a little to no character development. You couldn't even have any sympathy for the lead actor. He was your typical married man who cheats on his wife with someone from work. The chemistry between them was promising at the beginning, The attempts to make him appear sympathetic or genuine, fell short.

I would suggest South Korean movies. Start with,The Wailing.

More a hollow drum than Hollow Creek

[david-radlett · 1/10 · 3 September 2022]

Really rather boring and predictable. The most engaging characters were the dogs and the china chicken on the table in the cabin. The police were frighteningly thick and tunnel-visioned. The most exciting thing was anticipating the arrival on-screen.of the great, late Burt Reynolds. Also worth waiting fot the unintentionally comic line "get the dogs", uttered by characters like a malevolent Cleetus and Brandeen ("The Simpsons") which was reminiscent of Mr Burns (also "The Simpsons") trope "release the hounds". Sadly neither Burt Reynolds nor the hounds were on-screen for long enough to rescue this film.

Too dragged out

[urshie · 4/10 · 10 April 2023]

The whole film seems to burn very slow. The plot seems to be a bit confusing. As it progresses it's gets to be a hard frustrating watch as things unfold and you can't understand why both the law and the lead character aren't moving faster.

The haunting itself is also very shallow and you're left wishing for more. You just feel it could have all been done a lot better as the plot itself is quite good.

On the whole if you can get through the slowness it's an okay watch but it's not really one that will stay with you or one you'd really recommend .

The lead character is also a bit too dead pan and doesn't really show emotion.

Underestimated

[dusan-22 · 6/10 · 3 March 2016]

Common Folks, this is not fair. I haven 't commented on movies here for a pretty long time but gotta say you are being too strict with this movie regarding this four and something rate on IMDb as well as your critiques&comments. First of all, there are much worse movies of that genre having rate over six. Then, lets see what is wrong with this movie? I haven't seen it dull, have you? It has a good pace, some pretty clever directing and scenario and is involving enough. Plot is fine, I haven't had any problems to watch the movie until the end. OK, its pretty much a cliché but hey, what Hollywood movies are not cliché these days - including the blockbusters? Yes, its true that this movie is facing some serious problems with the bad acting but do you guys know how difficult is to collect money for a movie? Do you know how difficult is to make a movie? I know that just partly, must admit, I am not the smart guy. But I know enough to pay the respect to the person who directed this movie, written a scenario and played a main role and did all these things very well. Again, there are some actors I would never call back on the stage but please be advised that not everyone can engage Robert De Niro and Anthony Hopkins in their movie. If you're able to read my comment Guisela, you did a good job, keep on working.

Created an account on IMDB just to say this movie was awful

[clogan98-884-112621 · 2/10 · 20 March 2024]

The acting- wooden, stiff and bad dialogue. I think the dogs were the only ones who acted well enough to say they all carried the movie. And what was that god awful heaven scene at the end? It was a gross afterthought thrown in. The characters spoke like they were reading off a teleprompter the entire time. The murderous couple are just beyond words of terrible acting. Especially the woman. It's like they tried to make Shelly Duvall's character in The Shining into a backwoods hillbilly. The little boys did better as believable characters.

Too bad because the story line could have worked out.

I regret watching this.

Don't believe what you read!!

[hapkipat0895 · 8/10 · 18 June 2018]

This is the first time I've written a review. I'm writing one now because what I'm seeing for reviews are way off base. The movie is very good. It keeps your attention. Ties all of the pieces together. The acting isn't the best, but it's not the worse either. It's worth your 2 hours.

I was yelling 'go get' em' at the screen

[heyteegs · 6/10 · 30 April 2018]

Truly! By the end I was so involved I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed Hollow Creek. It's not a very original story (with some dumb police tropes) but writer/director/actor Giusela Moro has really done a good job of building the tension. The acting was, on the whole, pretty good - especially Moro and Burt Reynolds who, in a small yet pivotal role, had me crying. (The old lady in the courthouse was also very good.) There's a little supernatural thrown in but, for the most part, you know how it will end. This didn't deter from my enjoyment though. Kudos to Moro for creating something decent out of something somewhat banal.

I seriously enjoyed this movie

[Toocooltoobefooled · 7/10 · 6 May 2017]

This is not a great movie, The acting is sub par, about a step above what you'd see in soap operas. Angie is probably the best actor in the movie. The emotions are often not fully in sync with the scenes. This movie plays like an after school special or lifetime movie. All that said there is something about it that keeps you hooked. I generally do not like to watch movies about missing children, too disturbing. Early on I kept thinking about stopping the film because it seemed of low quality, but like I said it keeps you hooked. Burt Reynolds has two on screen appearances and they are extremely brief, but he adds, in my opinion, a lot. All in all I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I wish they had done a better job with the delivery, but it is what it is and that is enjoyable none the less.

A nice story

[suleimanb · 8/10 · 14 April 2017]

It is a beautiful movie that shows a story more as it nearly could be "based on a true story". You can watch this movie on a weekend at home. I personally liked it, it shows you the real sacrifice of a lover and how far he is willing to go to save his true love. Despite losing his career after his affair was exposed to the public as a well known writer and a married man, he didn't care, to the point he stayed 5 months searching for his lover and doing a job that the police should have had done. If this movie was based on a true story, you will easily believe it. However, I believe that the title of the movie was chosen wrongly.

I really enjoyed the movie, it's a story that you can enjoy watching and the acts are really good , especially Guisela Moro, her acting was outstanding.

This movie shows you the loyalty of long term friendship , love, betrayal, strangers helping other strangers and police involvement.

It's a great movie to watch but not suitable for children under 15.

This is a pretty good movie - ignore the naysayers!

[lynm-78689 · 7/10 · 27 June 2021]

I, like other reviewers, am here to say that this movie deserves much better ratings than it's getting. The story is solid. The acting is well done. Burt Reynolds is only onscreen for a few minutes, but his performance as the grandfather of one of the missing boys is amazing. Guisela Moro positively shines as actress, writer, creator, producer and director in this hidden gem and I hope we get to see more from her in the future.

If you like a good crime thriller then give this one a whirl - you won't regret it.