Dark Hollow

Dark Hollow taps into Appalachian folklore and mining town anxieties to deliver a fresh take on subterranean horror.

• Why it matters: Set against the backdrop of economic decay and environmental ruin, it channels the genre's historical love for claustrophobic, earthbound terrors with a modern, maternal hero at its core.
• What we know: Directed by Daniel Byers, known for character-driven indie horrors, the story centers on a young mother confronting a grotesque mining creature threatening her family's survival.
• Who's involved: June Schreiner leads a largely regional cast, including David Garelik and J.Stephen Brantley, promising grounded performances rooted in the Appalachian setting.
• The buzz: Early festival whispers praise its practical effects and atmospheric tension, marking it as a standout in the growing subgenre of ecological and folk-inspired horror.