Hollow Born: A Gothic Horror on the English Moors
Released to celebrate the spooky season, Hollow Born is a love letter to the classic gothic horror of the 19th century. Written, directed, and produced by John Ballentine, this episode transports listeners to the desolate, fog draped moors of Blackthorne, where the wind screams over the heather and the dead do not rest easily.
The story begins with a harrowing act of desperation. In the dead of night, Eleanor stands in St. Alden’s graveyard, shovel in hand. She is there to commit a grave robbery, but not for gold. She is digging to save a child born inside a coffin… a child whose very existence is a defiance of the natural order.
Blood and Ancient Debts
The narrative of Hollow Born is built on secrets. The Whitmore estate is not merely a home; it is a fortress built upon the ruins of a pagan temple. As the script reveals, “stirring under stone foundations was a presence not of this modern world.”
Eleanor’s niece, Lillian, is the innocent center of a dark pact. Her mother, Margaret, dabbled in forces she could not control, trading “flesh for favor” with an ancient entity known as Kalwrath. Now, years later, the entity has woken to collect its debt. The horror here is atmospheric and crushing. It is the sound of crumbling stone, the whispers from the well in the cellar, and the realization that you cannot cheat the old gods forever.
A Cinematic Audio Experience
The production design for this episode leans heavily into the “Cinema of the Mind.” The soundscape is dense and textured, moving from the intimate scratching of a quill on paper to the thunderous collapse of masonry.
Listeners have frequently noted the immersive quality of the mix. One reviewer mentioned, “I could almost see this episode play out in my head like a movie.” This is the goal of audio drama at its finest… to use sound to paint images more terrifying than anything on a screen. The score, which I had the pleasure of composing, utilizes dark ambient textures to mirror the gloom of the moors and the rising tension of the Whitmore legacy.
Why You Should Listen
If you enjoy the brooding romance of Emily Brontë mixed with the eerie brilliance of Edgar Allan Poe, this story is for you. It features a powerhouse cast, with listeners noting that “the voice cast was on fire.”
It is a tale of sacrifice, forbidden knowledge, and the terrifying lengths we go to protect the ones we love.
You can listen to the full episode below.
“It will come for her… come to collect its debt.”
On the haunted moors of 19th-century England, blood and legacy awaken something buried and long forgotten beneath the dreaded House of Whitmore.
Warning: Contains disturbing horror content.
Listener Response
Listeners praised Hollow Born for its standout performances, eerie atmosphere, and cinematic storytelling, with many noting the episode’s strong writing, immersive sound design, and unexpected ending.
- “The writing, acting, sound… everything… is ALWAYS of the highest quality.”
- “The voice cast was on fire.”
- “I could almost see this episode play out in my head like a movie.”
Cast and Crew
- Written, Directed, and Produced by: John Ballentine
- Original music score by: Kevin Hartnell
Cast:
Sally Swift, Jez Sands, Sarah Borges, Natalie Yates, and Sarah Edwards.
Running time: 36:10