The Deeper You Dig

In my humble opinion, the first half of the film was very enjoyable. But it disappoints as it comes in for a very bumpy landing. I'll give the first half an 8 and the second half a 2. And that averages out to a 5, if my math is correct.

Don't trust no human that doesn't wash their hands after using the restroom.

The film is an art piece, and that's not my preference. That said, the story is interesting. The acting is great. And the execution is solid.

I was torn when it came to this movie. Overall I definitely liked it. It was a slow burn full of atmospheric symbolism that was weird and unusual while keeping an air of not taking itself too seriously. It felt like it could have easily been on the verge of pretension but never went there which I appreciated. The acting was good and I absolutely loved when I found out it was a family affair. So cool and so fun. It also makes sense, I could tell watching the movie that these actors had worked closely together before.

I guess my biggest issue with it was I felt the pacing could have been picked up just a tad and I also don't feel like much really ended up happening. The ending fell a bit flat for me. However, with that being said I really did enjoy this movie and would probably watch it again. Regardless of the critique, as an actor these are the types of indi films I look to be apart of. Would recommend.

I don't know much about the background of this movie, but I know it was made on location by an actual family, probably with a budget of next to nothing. In spite of that, this movie is gorgeously lensed. The supernatural sequences have the twisty, extradimensional, mechanical cadaver feel of Tarsem or of a late 90s Marilyn Manson video, and the disorienting special effects are done with a sleight-of-hand (digital or practical, I'm not sure) that's seamless and very impressive. The non-supernatural sequences are likewise artfully crafted, with the camera often functioning as a ghostly voyeur. The setting is immersive, with richly contrasted color. There's a crisp, almost monochrome color palette of white snow against black night, with a touch of resonant blue and a splash of red thrown in for good measure. The cinematography here is not to be missed.

The acting is fine, and the characterization is well-developed. Toby Poser as the grieving mother is especially good, effectively conveying a realistically complex and moving portrait of someone's who's simultaneously certain of her pessimistic convictions yet desperately hopeful that she will be proven wrong. The film also subtly portrays her grappling with her own disillusionment and cynicism, regretting the ways in which she has turned her gifts into a selfish, hollow racket. A scene in which she communicates with a double of herself is perhaps the high point of the film.

Unfortunately, this theme is only vaguely fleshed out, given some additional background by a former protege who has the artistic misfortune of being portrayed by a stereotypical magical negro, all gleaming teeth and sinister laughter. The borderline offensive tropiness here is the only deliberate wrong step the film takes, but the story as a whole could have also been a little more "deeply" developed.

Overall, this a very solid, engaging horror film with stylistic flair that's all the more impressive given the tiny budget. The movie never overstays its welcome, and horror aficionados will find it well worth their time.

Family business - I watched this at a screening at Frightfest and the three main characters involved in this were attending. They are also a family and they really have a knack for making movies. It's father, mother and daughter and the movie might strain their relationship, but it doesn't show in life, they really were cheerful and joyful.

The movie is the opposite and is quite dark. It is also very low budget, so you have to wrap your head around that. If you can, there is an underground/B-movie to discover here, with quite the supernatural touch attached to it ... Slow burning and really well made