I went into this film having already seen the team's prior films Slasher House and Legacy of Thorn and whilst these films are set in the same 'Slasherverse' you don't need to have seen them to enjoy what is an indie horror treat. Hollower is a low budget affair but that in no way detracts from what is a tight script with some truly shocking twists. Nathan is a sympathetic protagonist and we are shown through flashbacks the events that lead him to his encounter with the superb Nicholas Vince (Hellraiser) as seen on the poster. The film builds into a routine and whilst I was initially worried that the story would grow stale, events escalate and take a horrifying turn as you come to realise that something isn't quite right with poor Nathan. The cast are a delight to watch, each putting in a solid performance and results in very likable characters, making the darker turn in the second act even more painful to watch.
As a low budget indie the film uses it's budget wisely, focusing on creating a claustrophobic environment within Nathan's flat and some creative lighting and sound design really pull you into the world. For gore hounds this film isn't for you - this is a film more focused on tension and character building making it more of a psychological horror although there are some gruesome moments. Monster fans will also be satisfied as there is something very sinister lurking in the shadows, the final identity of which is revealed in a well executed and horrifying revelation.
The only negatives I could point out are a few issues with sound levels (a few lines were a bit too quiet) but as a low budget indie the filmmakers did a great job with what they had available to them and the story and characters more than made up for this. Overall, this film earns its five stars for me as I was hooked after the first five minutes and very pleasantly surprised to see such a fiercely independent film punch very high above it's budget in bringing us a story I won't soon forget.