A fascinating independent entry, drenched in themes of guilt, remorse, damnation and sacrifice. Somber and methodically paced, this film makes excellent use of a pervasive sense of dread, genuine psychological creep and stylish hallucinatory sequences to tell a stark horror story drenched in style and hinting at deeper waters. The filmmakers being a family unit (the Adams family), the directors, writers and actors all evidently poured their souls into this production, the resultant film being a unique vision and voice with a level of passion lost in the majority of budget productions. Make no mistake, this is beyond low budget, this is minimalist, yet the camera work, the acting, and disquieting atmosphere have resulted in a genuinely watchable gem, hindered only in the areas where its ambition clearly outstep its budget. The ending is surreal and ambiguous, even while the last act gets brutal on physical and emotional levels. The slow burn and certainly scenes languid pace will infuriate a number of viewers, and art-house elements confuse or confound. There are hints at deeper layers and levels to the characters and concepts presented that are ultimately unexplored, but for those with patience and appreciation of effective micro-budget filmmaking and storytelling should not miss this.
The Deeper You Dig (2019)