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Sinkhole

13 minutes | 17 or older | 2010 | United States of America

Comedies / Horror / IndieFlix Official Selections / Thrillers

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Tagline

A self-serving developer learns that money can't buy everything when he visits an abandoned coal mine shrouded in darkness.

Synopsis

A salesman approaches a mysterious landowner with an offer to buy the man's smoldering abandoned coal mines but finds that there is something far worse than a mine fire underneath the land.

Director's Statement

Eric Scherbarth graduated from Columbia University with a Master of Fine Arts in Film. SINKHOLE was his thesis film. It premiered at the prestigious Telluride Film Festival in the Filmmakers of Tomorrow Program curated by filmmaker Godfrey Reggio (QUATSI trilogy)

  • Directed by
     Eric Scherbarth
  • Written by
     Eric Scherbarth
  • Produced by
     Sarna Lapine
  • Sinkhole Website
Directed by: Eric Scherbarth
Written by: Eric Scherbarth
Produced by: Sarna Lapine

Cast

 Mr. Schuttmann: Dan Leventritt
Broker: Jason Harris

Crew

 Justin Begnaud: Associate Producer
Assistant Director: Jamund Washington
Director of Photography: Jaron Henrie-McCrea
Production Coordinator: Randi Horwitz
Assistant Production Coordinator: Raven Burnett
Script Supervisor: Eliza Subotowicz
Assistant Camera: Gab Taraboulsy
Makeup: Ania Kanigowski
Sound Recordist: Tim Korn
Key Grip: Ronnie Higgins
Grip: Jeff Gaumer
Grip: Vadin Lum You

“I used to drive through Centralia, Pennsylvania, the town with the underground mine fires that the government eventually bought out... Sinkhole, directed by Eric Scherbarth, captures the spookiness of that burning town on film. The production values were excellent.” - NC Flix (http://ncflix.blogspot.com/2010/02/friday-night-shorts-at-nevermore.html)

“...it was by far the best received short of the night. The story is straightforward and manages to draw you into its world quickly while scaring you in the process. After viewing this film I can't wait to see more from the creative team behind it.” - Awkward/Juxtaposition (http://filmflam-awkwardjuxtaposition.blogspot.com/2009/12/shorts-you-should-see-part-1.html)

“One of my favorites of the shorts... I would’ve liked to see more of this, as the ending leaves it open for the rest of a film that would have some potential.” - Icons of Fright (http://iconsoffright.com/news/2009/11/event_report_sweatshop_at_the.html)

“The set-up says it's a comedy, but the film moves imperceptibly into the realm of mystery and tension, and finally into sheer terror. Actors Jason Harris and Dan Leventritt make it work. BOO!” - dscriber daily (http://dscriber.com/home/691-peering-at-your-shorts-denver-international-film-festival.html)

“Taut, suspenseful short with a shocker ending” - PopMatters (http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/114520-dark-carnival-film-festival-bloomington-indiana-sept.-28-to-oct.-3-2/)

“Simultaneously tense and humorous, this is a great little sheep in wolf’s clothing tale.” - All Things Horror (http://www.allthingshorroronline.com/search?updated-max=2009-12-02T00%3A15%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=10)

“...this short talky won me over with its clever character pairing and intellectual approach to the “monster”... Both performances are nuanced and captivating enough to carry the piece, and, though not revealed until the final shots, the horror of the mine is more than enough to leave a lasting impression.” - Sound on Sight (“...this short talky won me over with its clever character pairing and intellectual approach to the “monster”... Both performances are nuanced and captivating enough to carry the piece, and, though not revealed until the final shots, the horror of the mine is more than enough to leave a lasting impression.” - Sound on Sight)

SINKHOLE was partially shot in Centralia, Pennsylvania, an area that was abandoned in the sixties after the coal mines underneath it caught fire. The fires have been burning ever since and are estimated to continue for another five hundred years. The crevasses in the film are real sinkholes that were created when underground tunnels collapsed after the fires hollowed them out.

  • Eric Scherbarth

    Director

    Eric Scherbarth

Press

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