Every now and then there will be a film coming out that we at Modern Horrors get really excited about. Sometimes films have a good buzz built about them before release. Sometimes these films actually get distribution and we get to watch them, and even on occasion, they live up to the hype. Most horror movies fall into one or two of these categories, but sometimes, the great white buffalo will appear, and a film will achieve all of the aforementioned. Hollows Grove has a head start on possibly being a sleeper hit this Halloween season.
The essential premise is something we’ve seen before; a paranormal investigation team goes to the most haunted destination of their career to poke around. The different aspect of this team is that they openly admit that their show is a complete hoax, and expect nothing to happen at this weeks “haunted” locale. Now, being a huge fan of TV’s “Ghost Adventures,” in particular the most lovable, goofiest man alive, Zak Bagans, seeing them set up fake scares on their show was similar to a 14-year-old me seeing The Undertaker helping an old lady across the street or taking his kid to soccer. The script somewhat forces the impression on you that the guys on the team are all immature fuck-abouts, but if you can get past the host’s invasive Midwestern accent, they are perfectly likeable and believable.
The story opens with the typical points of interest. If you’ve ever watched a paranormal show you seen the ever-familiar children’s orphanage/mental hospital/everyone had Tuberculosis/everyone jumps off the roof to their death. This is the story at Hollows Grove. It really picks up when things begin to happen and the team doesn’t know if it’s their setup man causing these scares or if it’s actually real. It becomes abundantly clear, however, that this is no hoax of course.
The genius of 2009’s Paranormal Activity, was the steady build up, and the subtlety of what the sprits were doing. There is no subtlety in this. Motherfuckers are running wild at Hollows Grove almost as soon as the cameras begin to roll. That being said, it’s still effective. Nowhere near as much as Paranormal Activity, but effective none the less. It will hit you with jump scares but it also has “Easter egg” ghosts in the background of some scenes that the hosts don’t actually notice or acknowledge at all. which you don’t typically see. I can’t decide if the acting once the shit gets real is annoying and over the top, or incredibly realistic. I’ve never been trapped inside the scariest place on earth. For now, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.
Review – Hollows Grove
Above Average
Is it groundbreaking? No. Hollows Grove is a well shot, less forgiving version of what you’ve seen on the Travel Channel, but if you’re into that, which I am, it’s well worth a viewing.
October 23, 2014
Watch the entirety of this film through my fingers.
October 23, 2014
I just saw this on a site where I get most of my horror movies from. Looked at the cover, thought to myself, “Eh… don’t know about that”, and figured I’d come back to it one day if I remembered it. Then I came here, saw your review, and bookmarked it. I’m watching “Horns” tonight, but “Hollows Grove” will be on the agenda for tomorrow night now thanks to you & your site!
October 23, 2014
Thank you, sir. As long as you know what you’re in for it should be a good time.
October 27, 2014
How does this compare to Grave Encounters (2011)? That one was pretty good and it looks this took the exact same idea
October 31, 2014
It’s…. pretty damn similar. I feel like Grave Encounters is far superior.
May 31, 2015
I’m enjoying your site. Any chance you guys can do a top 10 or 20 list of the best and most recent found footage films?
May 31, 2015
It just so happens we already did! I think there was only 5 or so… And things haven’t changed much since those, but we will be sure to update it once a few more gems come out.