As a fan of independent films, I recently had the opportunity to watch Hex Hollow – a documentary film that follows an old Pennsylvania family whose ancestral folklore intersects with tales of the supernatural.
Though the family’s claim to mythic fame is often met with skepticism, the filmcasts a compelling portrait of an ancient mystery coming to life. Through interviews with local historians and family members, viewers are taken deep into the heart of what might be some forgotten secrets of the world.
The film doesn’t dig too deeply into the details, instead offering viewers a tantalizing glimpse at a region that many believe is literally crawling with ghostly activity. Through eerie archival footage, eerie music and unsettling images, Hex Hollow compels viewers to consider what might be out there in that great darkness beyond our sight. The cast’s interviews feature interesting insights about supernatural belief, rife with both fear and comfort.
Most notably, director Michelle Goldsmith does an excellent job capturing the beauty of the Appalachian Mountain’s wooded hillsides and scenic vistas as well as its historic charm. Music pervades much of Hex Hollow as it lends a rather unsettling atmosphere as dark truths and perils seep up from this primal land.
While I was somewhat underwhelmed by Hex Hollow’s narrative construction, I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an atmospheric meditation on folklore, superstition and country life – or for anyone just interested in uncovering a few haunted stories for themselves.
If you love true crime documentaries, you won’t want to miss Hex Hollow, an intimate and chilling look at an unsolved case from the small Pennsylvania town of Hex Hollow.
Directed by documentary filmmaker Shelly Spillman and produced by Larry Payne, Hex Hollow follows the investigation of local authorities into the disappearance of two sisters in the late 1990s. While the film focuses mainly on their immediate family, friends, and community members, it also provides a broader context to the larger issue of missing persons cases in America. Drawing upon old news footage, interviews with crime experts, and investigating officers – as well as revealing home videos and personal testimonies – director Spillman weaves together a compelling narrative that is both heartbreaking and haunting.
At its core, Hex Hollow is a tribute to the two lost girls as it details their lives before they went missing. Through extensive research and countless interviews with people who knew them well, the filmmakers paint a captivating picture of what their lives were like and how their vanishing has had a lasting impact on their family and the community.
It’s truly remarkable how much insight the filmmakers were able to get from the people closest to this tragedy, especially considering how long it has been since the two sisters disappeared. The raw emotion captured in these interviews is heartbreaking to watch, especially as the older sister’s brother talks about her disappearance in vivid detail. All of this comes together in an incredibly powerful cinematic experience unlike any other true crime documentary I’ve ever seen – one that manages to be both heartbreakingly tragic and surprisingly inspiring.
While Hex Hollow allows us to gain insight into this particular unsolved case, it also brings up larger issues regarding missing persons in America that are just as haunting. If there’s one thing I took away from this film, it’s that there is still a great need for more awareness about unsolved cases such as this one in order for them to have any chance of resolution.
With its powerful story-telling style and moving tributes to those lost too soon, Hex Hollow is a must-see for those interested in true crime documentaries or those simply looking for an unbiased account of an unsolved case. This is certainly one film that will stay with you long after you watch it — an unforgettable reminder of how significant these stories really are.