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Hold the Dark

Hold the Dark

2018
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
2h 5m
After the deaths of three children suspected to be by wolves, writer Russell Core is hired by the parents of a missing six-year-old boy to track down and locate their son in the Alaskan wilderness. (imdb)
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Hold the Dark

2018
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
2h 5m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 36.55% from 351 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(351)
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Rated 01 Jan 2019
50
43rd
I would compare my viewing experience to that of watching 'Annihilation', another Netflix title. They are both dark, brutal and surreal tales with amazing imagery and competently executed scenes and concepts. The plot, however, is simply not there to bridge the gap between the audience and the loftier themes they are aiming to explore.
Rated 12 Feb 2019
50
55th
Jeffrey Wright takes a break from being Bernard in Westworld to play Bernard in Alaska where he must use his knowledge of wolves to dodge bullets and not have sex with a marine's estranged (or is that simply "strange") wife. If you didn't believe the 49th state of the union was a f***ed up place before, you weren't paying attention during Sarah Palin's vice presidential run.
Rated 30 Sep 2018
50
29th
While this meandering, seemingly somewhat haphazardly composed crime tale is a severely undercooked stew with very little nourishment, high production values, handsome photography and one of the character actors recently added to my list of cool cats (Mr. James Badge Dale) quite undeniably class it up. But to no avail.
Rated 15 Oct 2018
45
40th
A confusing mess of violence and mayhem without a story to explain what is happening. Good acting performances. Good atmosphere. Lots of good scenes and characters. All the good production value is wasted due to stupendously weak motivations. Many extra points for good music, scenery, and for being strange. Too bad they forgot to add some rationale for it.
Rated 30 Sep 2018
50
43rd
Seems to want to take examples of the most hated of crimes (infanticide, mass murder, imperialism) and contextualise them in a way that exposes the limits of every moral understanding. Whether this intention can translate into a successful narrative is another question, but the film does at least possess the virtues of oddness and unpredictability. Netflix's non-box-office-driven business model does have its benefits in terms of greater leeway for experimentation within certain constraints.
Rated 08 Oct 2018
52
45th
At its best it's still not on par with Saulnier's last two, but it's interesting, thought-provoking, fluid, engrossing and it has my gal Keough. At its worst it features stuff like an endless shootout, fairly lame plot developments and for brief moments even reminds me of nordic noir. And I fucking hate nordic noir.
Rated 07 Oct 2018
48
16th
Me: "I will start understanding this plot in a minute." The movie ends. "I still don't understand this plot. :| "
Rated 02 Oct 2018
0
1st
hot garbage
Rated 05 Oct 2018
75
66th
The eerie spirituality that acts as catalyst for the film's events is never explored, but feels in the end as one of many unsettling elements of a cohesive tone. Bleak, cold, and flavoured with excellent cinematography and subtle performances (perhaps to a fault).
Rated 09 Jan 2019
49
10th
Too long, too bleak, too little payoff for the two hours you'll spend just wanting to understand why these characters did the things they did. Beautifully shot, but dismal to sit through.
Rated 12 Oct 2018
3
38th
Every bit as grim and violent as Saulnier's previous films, but without the sure-footedness in its narrative cohesion, characterizations, or plotting. It mostly feels like a thin pastiche of several influences, not the least Cormac McCarthy (and McCarthy is difficult enough for McCarthy to pull off, let alone lesser writers). Still, for fans, it isn't a bad time; one has the feeling that most, as with (seemingly) Saulnier himself, will be most interested in the massive mid-film shootout.
Rated 04 Oct 2018
59
51st
Saulnier should just direct a Halloween sequel already because he's so in love with masks and murder that he cannot figure out the clean, hard-edged, warpedly mystical and psychotic noir (in the sense that the universe is dark) he has on hand. The very definition of a wasted opportunity.
Rated 06 Oct 2018
1
3rd
More like hold my eyelids open. I gave up waiting for it to start after half an hour. Maybe it's good, whom know whom cares
Rated 25 Oct 2018
82
80th
If you look at Saulnier's Netflix debut more than at face value it might not hold up. I didn't and I love just letting his trademark dark tone just seep in. Haunting and gorgeously shot, Hold the Dark isn't an enjoyable tale, but it highlights the filmmakers immense talent.
Rated 31 Oct 2018
45
23rd
I genuinely thought this had potential right from the start, despite not liking Saulnier's films at all. I love how the violence breaks his austere approach to both supernatural and strange, but the film suffers a lot from the lack of a more direct depiction of insanity and tension, specially in the boring, half-baked second half. The shootout is among the best action scenes in 2018, though.
Rated 10 Nov 2018
45
7th
It tries really hard to be thought provoking but falls flat. Pacing is bad and plot becomes increasingly boring and hard to follow. A big miss from Saulnier for me.
Rated 30 Dec 2018
61
42nd
Bit of a disappointment after two nigh-masterpieces, lacks both the dark humour and thrillride feel of Blue Ruin and Green Room. Still a very nice effort, at least if your definition of "nice" involves lots of violence, a plot that doesn't bend backwards to explain itself beyond some mutterings about old gods, and a fairly nihilistic ending.
Rated 08 Feb 2020
63
19th
If you want your mysteries to be filled with enigmatic character whose actions are just as puzzling as their motives and a story that neither explains, nor even allows you to deduce anything, then this is for you. "Hold The Dark" doesn't have a whole lot going on for it for those of us who can't look past its intentional obscurance and the bizzarre marriage of people with the minds of animals. The result is an accurate depiction of neither men, nor wolves, but more like violent autism.
Rated 26 Oct 2018
63
42nd
Saulnier returns with another dark tale filled with violence though this time the movie is rather slow and quiet. While the performances are great, the movie never fully gains the potential it could have because it leans too far into the mystery.
Rated 13 Sep 2018
67
47th
Great style, great visuals...but a bit too disconnected
Rated 04 Oct 2018
80
84th
Up the Wolves keeps going through my head.
Rated 26 Oct 2018
60
54th
Somehow brought to mind both "No Country for Old Men" and "Wind River". Jeremy Saulnier's directing chops almost make up for the nonsense story. There's barely a premise to speak of, or any real logic, but it's well-made enough to be thrilling.
Rated 09 Nov 2018
80
89th
Nice visuals, cryptic story. Overall feels very consistent and confident, so it's easy to get lost in the rich atmosphere. The score is also great.
Rated 27 Nov 2018
90
52nd
Although the pacing is slow, it "holds" your attention throughout. Has an eerie and ominous feel.
Rated 03 Dec 2018
85
80th
Movies like this are needed sometimes; nothing is really explained but there are hints scattered throughout. Sometimes that is incredibly refreshing, but the film has to be made well... and this is. From the opening music/quote the film felt oppressive. It's really dark, but tonally consistent. There's no relief here, you're just trapped in this slightly surreal, messed up world where snow (something so beautiful) just helps cage the characters and the viewer. Let the themes sink in to enjoy it.
Rated 23 Dec 2018
50
51st
okay movie
Rated 28 Dec 2018
60
36th
Dark and moody but gets lost in its own existence. Unlike Blue Ruin and Green Room, the third film from Jeremy Saulnier didn't stay with me after the credits beyond thoughts of not really being sure what the point of the film really is.
Rated 08 Aug 2019
60
23rd
There's a violent action centerpiece that's quite incredible and easily worth the price of admission. You could also easily stop the movie at this point and not miss a lot (although you'd miss screenwriter Macon Blair's small role)
Rated 24 Nov 2019
4
10th
characters were unengaging, black guy from westworld sucks as bad here as he did there, one machinegun taking out 30 cops was unrealistic bullshit, story just didn't hit hard enough for what its theme was.
Rated 21 Dec 2019
80
90th
"Your wife's gonna get that phone call today, guy."
Rated 29 Sep 2018
75
66th
Video review: https://youtu.be/DyXYK3gva40
Rated 28 Oct 2018
50
22nd
hotline alaska. maske, manasız giz ve şiddet dışında bir bağlantı yok belki ama güçlü atmosfer ile hikaye anlaticiligi arasında da doğrudan bağ yok. yani görüldüğü üzere gevşek hikaye her zaman tarza abanarak kurtarılmıyor. saulnier hala heyecan verse de terazi tarz yönünden iyice aşağı çekildikçe filmleri güç kaybedecek bir yönetmen zira vizyonu sadece sinefillikten geliyor gibi durmakta.
Rated 14 Feb 2024
60
24th
First and hopefully last disappointment from Saulnier. While the cinematography and atmosphere are splendid, character motivations are indecipherable. I should never have to consult with people who have read the book a movie was based on to try to understand it. And in this case it didn't even clear everything up. I also would like to add that the shoot out scene in the middle of the movie that everyone keeps praising looked completely ridiculous on the realism front.

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