Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Hollow’

Written by Scott Edwards

​One of the things that you have to love about Halloween is the frights that you get when hearing a ghost story. And what better place to hear these stories than in the woods when nobody is around, but you know there is something hiding in the shadows. I have always let my imagination get the better of me during these times and think that the one-handed murderer is looming around the campsite, or a dismembered witch is going to turn me into a lamb for slaughter. You may never know what roams around the woods at night and it might be better that you don't know if you ever want to make it out alive.

Sisters Sarah, Marley and Emma are on their way to Shelter Island to stay with their aunt, but there is a storm moving in. When arriving at the dock to catch the ferry to the island, the ferryman has to be sure that they want to be on the island when the storm hits, since it could be a couple days before they can return to the mainland. Not knowing what the storm means, the girls continue their trip to their aunt’s house with little thought being given to what a stranger that is traveling along with them has said. The last time a storm hit the island on Halloween, most of the residents were killed, but by what, well that is what they will soon find out.

Arriving on the island and making their way on the road to their aunt’s house, the car runs out of gas and the girls are stranded in the middle of nowhere with strange sounds all around them. Not wanting to find out what they are hearing, they make a bee line towards the house, but make a terrifying discovery. Their aunt has been killed and her body has been burned from the inside out. Finding a survivor and listening to her story, the girls know that they need to make it back to town sooner rather than later and with Emma’s declining heath, it is the only way to keep her safe and alive. 

Being able to escape the entity that is killing everyone in its path, the girls are able to make it to town, but find out that their aunt’s house is not the only place that has been hit. Surrounded by what seems to be a ghost town and their sister Emma running off, Sarah and Marley have to find a way to get her back before the uncaged spirit finds her. Running into a group of survivors, the girls come up with a plan of attack, but when they find out the history of the island and that the fiery wicker creature that is hunting them cannot be killed, they have to find a way to survive until Halloween becomes a distant memory.

I will not lie, I am a sucker for movies centered around Halloween, and I would like to say there is a good reason behind it. With all of the lore that comes with my favorite holiday, the things that go bump in the night come to life for just a little bit and that makes me very happy. I really liked the premise of the story, as people have heard about this mythical creature, but no one has ever seen it and survived. The sisters were fun and fight like they should, especially Sarah and Marley when it comes to what needs to be done and done right. I do not have a favorite character in this movie since once you start to get to know them, they disappear very quickly. I liked the effects of the fiery wicker man, and when it was about to appear, you were able to see its mark, and the killings, well, those were just fun to watch. I liked how the movie played out and the storyline is what kept me glued to the screen. Just a lighthearted Halloween movie that you will want to pull out when the eve is upon you. Stay Scared.

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