The Hole In The Fence centers on a summer camp for the children of the elite. It’s where I imagine the children of Skull and Bones types send their kids for a summer of “proper grooming” with a bit of conversion camp horror thrown in, set against a privileged dystopian backdrop. Written by Joaquin del Paso, Lucy Pawlak and directed by del Paso, with an original score by Stranger Things‘ Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, the Mexican-Polish thriller will be available on VOD in the U.S. and theatrically in Los Angeles May 26. Let’s take a look at the trailer and the official synopsis.
At a secluded exclusive summer camp in the Mexican countryside, under the watchful eyes of their adult guardians, boys from a prestigious private school receive physical, moral and religious training to turn them into tomorrow’s elite. The discovery of a hole in the fence sets in motion a chain of disturbing events as the boys devolve into a Lord of the Flies-like mob mentality that creates and spreads hysteria in this profoundly disturbing coming-of-age drama that unravels like a horror movie while drawing on actual events. Features an original score by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein (Stranger Things).
I would say it’s reminiscent of Lord of the Flies, but Lord of the Flies is the hypothetical horror of what happens when children are left unattended and their primal instincts take over. The Hole In The Fence appears to be the inverse, showcasing what happens when children are egged on by those in positions of authority to commit heinous acts under the guise of righteousness. As someone who surely would have been on the hunt down/beat down list, this looks absolutely terrifying.
The film will be distributed by Altered Innocence, the same company that brought us After Blue and Knife + Heart. They’re putting their money where their mouth is, with a mission “dedicated to releasing LGBTQ & Coming-of-Age films with an artistic edge,” I’d say they are certainly delivering, within the genre space and beyond.
Limited theatrical release begins May 26 in Los Angeles, and expands to New Orleans and Columbus, OH in June. Check out the film’s official page to pre-order VOD and get details on upcoming additional theatrical dates.
