Many reviewers mention a "slow burn". Some felt the middle section meandered through repetitive monastery routines, though others found this immersive.
“Hellhole is a surprisingly effective descent into demonic gloom—like a Polish fever dream you probably shouldn't have started watching alone at night.” Rotten Tomatoes
The finale is the film's most acclaimed feature. Viewers on Reddit described it as taking the movie from "average to amazing".
Expect "stomach-turning" scenes, including Common Sense Media's notes on cannibalism, rotting flesh, and sacrilegious imagery. Perspectives from the Community
Critics from Decider note the film "oozes with horror movie atmosphere" and creeping dread. The cinematography uses heavy fog and blue filters to create a bleak, realistic look.