Is Hallowed Ground Worth Watching?

Married couple Alice and Vera try to rebuild their relationship after an affair, travelling to a secluded cabin, and stumbling into a blood feud between the Native American owners of the property and the neighbouring clan, who obsessively guard their land and punish those who trespass on it in terrifying ways.

While the main conflict is the fight for survival against the cultists, the central focus is the relationship between Alice and Vera. What I find interesting about this is that, despite them being a lesbian couple and the film featuring talks about their sexuality, they treat it naturally and don’t fetishise it. They are an everyday couple with real problems and they’re relatable to the point that you route for them to not only survive the film but also through it together.

The film is very well shot, with lots of clear and beautiful lighting that allow colours to stand out. The colour green is mainly emphasised, with the colour of the trees and grass during the daytime scene to symbolise nature and life.

In the night-time scenes there is green lighting that contrasts against red costumes, which is stunning to look at. The interior of the cabin is warmly lit with orange to provide comfort, a feeling that you would like to actually stay there.

Miles Doleac wrote and directed this film, as well as starring as the villain Bill Barham. He does a great job in the role, convincing at being really despicable, and captivating to watch as his character truly believes in the evil doings he commits. This was clearly a passion project for him, not just for the character he wrote for himself but the film overall, putting a lot of care into the production while having fun with his character.

Doleac’s real-life wife Lindsay Anne Williams plays Alice, who is wonderful in the role as she’s essentially the main character. She’s the one who’s internally conflicted about her marriage and her relationship to her stalker boyfriend, and is the one to go through the most torture and fight for survival.

Williams handles the growth of Alice’s character really well and successfully makes you route for her. Sherri Eakin is equally great as Vera, herself being conflicted on her ability to forgive Alice. Eakin has got really captivating eyes; the ways she looks at people can say a lot without the need of dialogue.

Ritchie Montgomery steals the show as Sandy, an elderly caretaker at the cabin. He’s very good at making you feel settled and unsettled at the same time, and you know he knows more than what he’s letting on. However, he seems to really care about our heroes. You don’t truly know until the third act if he’s sincere or not.

This is an overall entertaining horror film, which deals with themes of relationships, family and beliefs with two relatable protagonists.

Written by Jack Parish