The Hole in the Fence, originally titled El Hoyo en la Cerca is a methodically paced thriller that centers around a group of private school kids camping on indigenous grounds in Mexico. Led by a group of religious scholars, the boys engage in prayer and traditional camp activities all while a growing sense of danger enfolds the campers. Joaquin del Paso’s The Hole in the Fence offers a riveting storyline of privilege and terror that is wrought with suspense and a powerful acting.
Written by Joaquin del Paso and Lucy Pawlak, the story begins with the campers arriving at a camp which seems like any other. However, as the story unfolds, the role of religion and self sacrifice begin to take center stage. Clever pacing and clues about the nature and surrounding areas contribute to the film’s atmosphere. The all male group of campers come across a white collared blackbird, a bird known for its violent tendencies and for its ability to maintain its population despite its lack of females in the flock. The use of stories like this and of the Aztec environment, begin to stir up feelings of unease in the camper and audience as well.
The film’s central themes revolve around classicism and colorism. The lighter skinned campers all look down on Eduardo, a boy who is there on scholarship. He is quickly singled out, targeted, and reminded that he is not part of the group. The adults turn a blind eye to this abuse as well as to other behaviors. The Hole in Fence has been described as Lord of the Flies-esque and it definitely does feature some thematic similarities.
However, in The Hole in the Fence, the campers would do better to get away from the influence of the adults. One of the more frightening elements is that the campers are constantly told to suppress their instincts and to blindly follow the adults and church teachings. The screenwriting and direction masterfully set up a terrifying story with very real monsters.
The terror of the story is executed by the children. Eduardo, played by Yubah Ortega and Jordi, played by Valeria Lamm Williams have great chemistry as they square off as opposing figures. Both Jordi and Eduardo give disturbing performances that will draw audiences into their ongoing struggle.
Joaquin del Paso’s film illustrates the dangers of forced religion, colonialism, and toxic masculinity. The Hole in the Fence will haunt the audiences long after the credits have rolled.
The Hole in the Fence is currently available on VOD
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