Film Review – Holler

The agony of life in the Midwest is once again examined in “Holler,” which is perhaps the first production to deal with false manufacturing promises made by Donald Trump, setting the scene for a once thriving industrial town facing its final days of life. Timeliness is appreciated, with writer/director Nicole Riegel trying to capture the current woes of American life, examining cycles of poverty and denial facing those who are unable to make a meaningful difference in their lives. “Holler” deals with rough emotions and bitter realities, and it gets somewhere when it concentrates on universal feelings of frustration, with a little helplessness mixed in. The rest of the picture is more difficult to digest, as Riegel is prone to meandering with her storytelling, looking to coast along on atmosphere when the feature could clearly benefit from a sharper dramatic approach. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com