On Thursday, IFC Films announced that they are acquiring North American rights to the psychological coming-of-age thriller “John and the Hole,” directed by visual artist Pascual Sisto – one of Variety’s ‘10 Directors to Watch’ in 2021 – in his feature debut.
Adapted by screenwriter Nicolás Giacobone from his short story “El pozo,” “John and the Hole is an enigmatic and unsettling meditation on adolescent angst. 13-year-old John (Charlie Shotwell) discovers an unfinished bunker while exploring the neighboring woods. Seemingly without provocation, he drugs his affluent parents (Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Ehle) and older sister (Taissa Farmiga), holding them captive within the bunker. As they anxiously wait for John to free them from the hole, the boy returns home, where he can finally enjoy and explore a newfound independence. Exploring the difficult passage from childhood freedom to adult responsibility, “John and the Hole” is both a slow-burn psychological thriller and meditative coming-of-age fable, anchored by a chilling lead performance from Charlie Shotwell.
Arianna Bocco, President of IFC Films, said, “Pascual has crafted a film that channels all the anger and uncertainty of adolescence into a meticulously constructed nail-biter that really gets under your skin. We’re thrilled to be partnering with him for the release of this incredibly exciting debut.”
Selected as part of the canceled 2020 Cannes Film Festival, “John and the Hole” made its world premiere bow in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. IFC plans to release the film in theaters and on demand on August 6, 2021.
