Dark Hollow – Movie Review (3/5)

DARK HOLLOW is an Appalachian-set horror movie that turns into an actual creature feature and has social-realism horror. A fairly short runtime, gorgeous practical effects, and a story that should resonate with many viewers. Read our full Dark Hollow movie review here!

DARK HOLLOW is a horror movie that feels both like a horror drama and a straight-up creature feature. It’s set in the Appalachians, where a rural area is being tormented by those trying to pull out more coal from the surrounding mines. The results are coal dust all over the place and people getting sick.

I can already see a sequel in the same vein, where the problems come from Data Centers, ruining the water supply of those living nearby. In any case, whether you want social realism and commentary with your horror or simply a creature feature, Dark Hollow will deliver.

Continue reading our Dark Hollow movie review below. Find it in select theaters and On Demand from September 4, 2026.

The horror of reality

Dark Hollow has many strong moments as we become familiar with a monster emerging from an Appalachian coal mine. Covering the human angle is a young mother (June Shreiner), who can see the coal dust affecting her young son. It already killed her dad, and her mom is sick from the impact. To top it all off, her husband has seemingly been trapped in an abandoned coal mine.

If you’re the kind of person who just loves some “good, clean coal”, then Dark Hollow won’t be your cup of tea. On the other hand, it’s very appropriate for the struggles of anyone living near coal mines (or data centers), as it deals with the impact on the locals.

This might not sound like a horror story to you, but for me, the horror of reality always hits harder than anything fictional.

If you prefer your horror with a heavy dose of fictional creatures, you’re also in luck with Dark Hollow. You will discover how the coal mine has started fighting back. Whether you see this as the symbolic reaction of Mother Nature or something more demonic is up to your own interpretation, I suppose.

Watch Dark Hollow on VOD or in select theaters

Dark Hollow was written and directed by Daniel Byers. This isn’t his first feature film set in the Appalachian Mountains, and I love how he uses real-life horror stories to build on. Seeing nature being ruined and people getting sick from the greed of others is the real horror of the world today. Previous movies by Daniel Byers include the Tubi Original Eradication and the documentary short Aguilucho: Dance of the Harpy Eagle.

WANT MORE HORROR SET IN THE APPALACHIANS?

Be sure to check out The Devil to Pay here >

Overall, the cast of Dark Hollow ensures that the story comes across as intended. Especially June Shreiner in the lead role helps it all come together and feel alive and realistic. Yes, despite this also being a creature feature with an impressive monster, there is plenty of realism as well. Overall, I also loved the use of practical effects. The use of CGI was a little hit and miss, but nothing that ruined the overall experience.

Dark Hollow is coming to select theaters and On Demand on September 4, 2025.

Details

Director/Writer: Daniel Byers
Cast: June Shreiner, David Garelik, J. Stephen Brantley, Brennon Weese, Ian Deighan, Jonathan Spivey, Sean Michael Wilkinson, Sharon Murray, Harvey Roberts, Brian O’Neill, Annie Cook, Radu Spinghel