Soho Horror Film Festival 2024 Coverage
The Sitckman’s Hollow review
A strong format elevates The Stickman’s Hollow above standard “don’t go in the woods” fare.
Festival reviews will not contain spoilers
The Stickman’s Hollow
Directed by Jack Cox
Written by Jack Cox
Starring Thomas Cadrot, Michael Adamthwaite, Jason Simpson, Lucy McNulty, Aidan Drummond and Caitlyn Bairstow
The Stickman’s Hollow Review
The Stickman’s Hollow puts a fresh spin on the old “don’t go in the woods” subgenre of horror films. It splits its narrative into multiple chapters…doling out information about what we’ve been watching, recontextualizing things as it goes along. The result is an engaging story that refreshes itself and wards off any repetition. It creates an effective horror story that maintains the most important aspect of the subgenre. A dire and deadly warning not to go into the woods.
The first chapter of The Stickman’s Hollow introduces us to a family that will run afoul of whatever is happening in the woods. We watch their story unfold through the camera of young Oliver (Alexander Brophy). Along with his parents, Ross (Hunter Elliott) and Annie (Jill Goranson), they present a likable family dynamic. Deep in the woods they come across The Blair Witch Project style stick figures. This is after ignoring the warnings of a local fisherman. The horror movie red flags are everywhere. Creepy drawings, strange noises…and an inevitable tragedy that could have been avoided if they watched more horror movies. The chapter comes to a satisfyingly creepy (and deadly) finale. An incredibly effective scene featuring something pushing against the families’ tent and a moment of shocking violence. A full horror story told in one act.
Afterwards, The Stickman’s Hollow makes a game changing choice. Instead of staying in the woods to follow the same angle on the story…it changes gears completely. Chapter two takes us to the suburbs to watch the story of Father Monroe (Jason Simpson). His trip to a seemingly unconnected family is documented by his assistant. After some strong woods-based horror, The Stickman’s Hollow goes full exorcism movie. This family’s daughter is having “behavioral problems”. Problems that have led to the death of one priest already. Father Monroe believes the girl is infected by a demonic entity. This chapter fully connects to the first one by the time it’s over…but the total perspective change offers a different style and feel to keep the story moving forward in unexpected and entertaining ways.
A brief third chapter titled The Entity once again forces a perspective change…and a time change. It’s a flashback to 1998 as a dead body is being taken somewhere. There aren’t any overt answers in this chapter…but the title alone points you in the right direction. It’s the least necessary of the four chapters contained in The Stickman’s Hollow…but it’s a short, sweet, and new angle on the overriding story.
Finally, The Stickman’s Hollow brings us back to modern times. After moving backwards in time twice before…it gives us a look at the world that follows the opening chapter. Curtis (Thomas Cadrot) films his girlfriend Alice (Ely Jackson) opening an anniversary present. We briefly saw these characters at the beginning of the film…seeing off Alice’s relatives on their fateful camping trip. A strange phone call alerts Alice to reports connected to their “disappearance”. Curtis and Alice head back to the woods in search of answers. The “don’t go in the woods” lesson is back on full display when the couple begins to see and hear strange things. This is good stuff.
Lesser movies would have padded out their narrative with nothing but woodland adventures. The brilliance of The Stickman’s Hollow is the way it doubles back through new avenues to deliver its lore. When it returns to the woods for its final act…you are excited to enter with all the information you’ve learned since chapter one. The chapters form one story from multiple angles. The pacing is excellent…the acting realistic. There are effective moments throughout. There’s not much more you can ask from a movie of this type that The Stickman’s Hollow delivers.
If you’ve found yourself burned out by years of woods-based horror movies…The Stickman’s Hollow offers something that feels new. It’s a well-crafted story delivered through fine performances and effective moments. An overreaching story presented through chapters that feel separate and, more importantly, fresh. Eliminating the repetition and retaining strong woods-based horror moments turns The Stickman’s Hollow into a winner.
While it changes perspectives (and locations) …The Stickman’s Hollow never loses sight of its most important message. Don’t go into the woods. Giving us an understanding of why we should avoid the woods only deepens both the reasoning and the entertainment we get from watching it. The feature film debut from writer/director Jack Cox puts him firmly on the list of filmmakers to look out for. An exciting debut full of confidence, craft, and (no pun intended) execution.
Scare Value
Stickman’s Hollow is a consistently engaging film. It presents a singular story from multiple angles…informing us of what we’ve been watching along the way. “Don’t go in the woods” stories may be a dime a dozen in the horror genre…but this one feels fresh and exciting. It also reinforces the most important aspect of these types of movies. People, seriously, don’t go in the woods.
