Dig Two Graves
Area 23a
Directed by: Hunter Adams
Produced by: P.J. Fishwick, Claire Connelly
Written by: Hunter Adams, Jeremy Phillips
Starring: Ted Levine, Samantha Isler, Danny Goldring, Troy Ruptash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgRYdK3dyrM
The Good
One thing that this film does rather well is maintain an eerie and creepy feeling. Whenever the three mysterious gypsy brothers appear onscreen, there is a sense of terror. (It’s still up in the air whether they are supernaturally powered or not.) Beyond that, the themes explored are pretty deep. It’s really interesting to see how things like grief, sorry, revenge, and regret all can come together in various ways.
Another nice aspect to the film is the dual storyline. While the film starts off with an event from the past, it also tells a story in a different time a few decades later. The best part of this is that we never get to really see what the past story has to do with the current time until the very end. That helps keep the mystery and intrigue alive, not just in the story, but in the characters as well.
Ted Levine (who plays the sheriff) does a great job of playing the role of a man dealing with the errors of his past while still trying to do the right thing. He’s probably the most interesting character since his actions in the past are what draws you in. Overall, Hunter Adams’s direction of the acting is very well done. The movie feels really unique in its tone and the direction that it takes.
The Bad
Maybe I missed something, but I thought that some of the mystical elements could’ve been explained a little more. With most horror films, there are usually rules in that “universe” to help us understand the ins and outs of the situation. Given the incident that occurs in the more current time, it is a little difficult to understand the motivation the brothers had with the young girl. While the connection is somewhat revealed later in the film, I think that it satisfies the personal motivation that the brothers have, but not necessarily the (maybe) supernatural implications. This is also probably due to my own expectations with how the film was marketed. I was looking for a supernatural horror, but the film goes in its own direction, which may or may not be a bad thing depending on the viewer.
Lastly, the film does have a bit of a slow burn with its pacing. If you go in expecting exciting twists and turns, or scary jump scares, then you’ll probably be disappointed. Depending on how invested you get into the actual story and characters, that will probably determine whether or not the payoff reveal at the end makes or breaks the movie.
The Reason
Dig Two Graves feels like a combination of No Country for Old Men and The Witch. It’s unconventional and different, which may hit or miss with some audiences. As a film junkie, I personally liked the film because I really like originality. I get the sense that this is the type of film that would be best watched in the comfort of your own home, however, I also think that Dig Two Graves has the potential of developing a cult following as well. If you’ve got the time, I would recommend checking this out. I’d probably keep expectations low so that way you can enjoy the film to its fullest.