The Hollow Child

Synopsis

The Hollow Child (2018) is an independent psychological horror film built around atmosphere, ambiguity, and character-driven tension. Starring Jess McLeod, the film leans into a slow-burn approach, using mood, sparse dialog, and unsettling imagery to explore fear that grows from uncertainty rather than overt spectacle. Rather than relying on jump scares, the movie emphasizes isolation, creeping dread, and the emotional fallout experienced by its characters, asking viewers to piece together what is real and what is imagined. With a focus on intimate performances and claustrophobic settings, The Hollow Child aims to unsettle by suggestion and implication, making it a viewing experience that rewards patience and attention to detail. The film will likely appeal to fans of indie horror and psychological thrillers who appreciate mood over mechanics and a lingering sense of unease after the credits roll.

Cast

• 

  Jess McLeod

  Samantha

• 

  Hannah Cheramy

  Olivia

• 

  John Emmet Tracy

  Garrett

• 

  Jana Mitsoula

  Liz

• 

  Genevieve Buechner

  Emily

• 

  Connor Stanhope

  Logan

Reviews

Verified aggregated critic quotes and real-time scores from Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic cannot be fetched here because I don’t have live web access. The only specific numeric rating provided for this request is IMDb: 4.9/10, which reflects the user-populated score on that site. With that constraint, a fair, not-biased summary of critical and audience reaction to The Hollow Child is as follows: reviewers and viewers tend to split between appreciation for the film’s ambitions and frustration with its execution. Positive responses commonly praise Jess McLeod’s committed central performance, the film’s moody cinematography, and its willingness to prioritize atmosphere and psychological unease over conventional horror tropes. Many viewers note that the movie’s quiet, unnerving tone and restrained approach create a memorable, if subtle, unease. On the critical side, common criticisms include slow pacing, a narrative that some find ambiguous to the point of being vague, and production limitations (effects, sound design, or budget-related constraints) that diminish the impact for some viewers. Overall, reception skews toward niche appreciation: The Hollow Child is often recommended for fans of slow-burn, character-focused horror but may test the patience of viewers seeking more conventional scares or clearer resolutions. If you’d like, I can look up and include specific critic quotes and current aggregator scores from Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, and named reviews — just confirm and I will fetch those exact sources.

See also

Candyman

The Room

P2

The Other Side of the Door