Dig Two Graves (2014) Reviews

• Very good mid-Western noir with supernatural undertones

  Red-Barracuda2017-04-25

  A teenage girl makes a Faustian pact with a trio of gypsies who promise that they can use the occult to bring back her recently dead brother in return for the life of an innocent person of their choosing. Dig Two Graves is a film which I definitely hope is picked up and given a proper distribution. It would be a criminal waste otherwise, as this is a very well-made supernatural tinged thriller. It brought me to mind of Winter's Bone (2010) in which it shared both the derelict and battered location (both films were shot on either side of the same river seemingly), as well as a story of a teenage girl in the middle of a dangerous situation created by the past actions of the adults who surround her, the upshot being that this youngster comes across as the most level-headed character in her neighbourhood. While this one doesn't measure up to the quality of Winter's Bone as such, it remains a very good effort indeed and one that deserves a wide distribution, as I truly expect that this one will connect with many people. The story is set in 1977 but there are several flashbacks to 1947, it seems that there was a very bad event in the past that has informed the present, with ghosts from the past returning to the surface demanding closure in one way or another. Director Hunter Adams has done a very good job here, putting together an interesting dark story and ensuring that it looks great throughout. Like a lot of regional films, the southern Illinois setting is a character in itself, with the run-down locales contrasting with the beautiful natural scenery – it's a great location for a mysterious thriller. Setting it in the 70's is a bonus, as it ensures that modern technology does not get in the way of the story, while benefiting the supernatural angle that underpins it; the period detail additionally adds appealing visual flavour to proceedings also. Another plus point is the acting, with Ted Levine given a very rare lead role. He is most well-known to genre fans for his highly creepy turn as Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs (1991), in this one he is a conflicted lawman with dark and troubling secrets and his talents bring a lot to the table here. Even better is newcomer Samantha Isler who puts in a very good performance as the young girl at the centre of the narrative. She is thoroughly convincing and sympathetic here. In summary, this is a beautifully photographed and well-acted dramatic thriller, with an intriguing story and great location. Hopefully it will find its way to a wider audience.

• Atmospheric and engaging little move

  aldiboronti2017-03-28

  I don't know what film the reviewer who slammed this saw but it bears no relation to the one I watched. An incident takes place in 1947. Two people die and the two men involved in those deaths and those they love are revisited by them some 30 years later. The small town which is the setting for the unfolding drama is peopled by an assortment of characters, from seemingly everyday folks to those living on the periphery of society, gypsies and cultists of the serpent. Their lives intertwine as a 30-year old wrong finally takes its toll on the town. I loved the film. Ted Levine is as always excellent and the young actress Samantha Isler is a real revelation. The movie is worth watching for those two performances alone. I predict a great career ahead for Hunter Adams who both wrote and directed.

• A gem in hiding

  the_raven672018-09-02

  I avoided watching this movies for a while but I wish I'd watched it sooner. it's one of those movies you get a feel for straightaway and has you guessing most of the way through only to switch back and make you wonder.. Brilliant flashbacks and the ends are tied up so you know you just watched something good. Thoroughly recommend it.

• Horror Worth Watching

  parsonm22017-03-30

  I gave myself a day to process this movie before commenting on it. A little girl is haunted by the death of her older brother and is offered a bargain by a strange trio of gypsies to bring him back, at a price. Bottom line, I wish all horror films were this good. This movie really has just about everything I want in a horror movie: childhood nostalgia and tragedy, a cult, mysterious gypsies, people haunted by dark secrets of their past, magic, etc... and it's all tied together with a very satisfying ending. I would have liked to have seen one more thing happen in the movie that never quite did but I think that's why the movie resolves so well. Well-filmed and acted.

• Well, this was a cool surprise.

  matthewssilverhammer2018-02-06

  A unique and provocative thriller about rising above the sins of the past, it's slightly heightened yet familiar, like a surreal nightmare. Imagine the otherworldly evil of The Witch thrown into the realistic American heart of It, but without any of the blatant horror of either. Even with the unwieldy storytelling, it's a beautifully gothic and creepy indie, hiding within the bowels of Netflix like a deep dark secret in a family tree.