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The Deeper You Dig, 2019
Ivy (Toby Poser) makes a living as a psychic medium, supporting herself and her daughter, Echo (Zelda Adams). One winter night, Echo goes out sledding and is struck by local Kurt (John Adams), who is appalled at what he’s done, and decides to hide Echo’s body. But as Kurt tries to move on and remodel his new home, Ivy seeks out occult means to discover what has happened to her missing daughter.
Somehow just short of being great, this is still an engaging, creative horror thriller.
I have to admit to struggling a bit in trying to pinpoint what is keeping me from absolutely raving about this film. As I think through the categories that I care about---story, acting, writing, atmosphere, overall look, etc---I can’t name a place where I felt it fell flat.
The best aspect of the film is easily the surreal, harrowing journey that Ivy goes on while trying to find Echo. Ivy reconnects with an old friend named Dell (Shawn Wilson) who gives her access to a mysterious box that unlocks supernatural powers, but at a heavy cost. From this point forward, Ivy is never sure if what she is experiencing is real or not. Certain nightmarish sequences---such as a strangely paralyzed Ivy being forced to consume a table full of disgusting animal parts and then being forced by an eerie figure to swallow a whole snake---are obviously otherworldly. But what about when she stops her car, only to suddenly be underwater? The nature of exactly what is happening to Ivy is left wonderfully ambiguous. All we need to know is that she is drawing closer to her daughter as she is increasingly put through the ringer. Poser portrays this whole process with a certain grim determination that lets us know that she would do anything to find her child.
I also quite enjoyed the performances. (It’s worth noting here that the actors who play Ivy, Echo, and John are all the credited writers and directors of the film, and are a husband/wife/daughter family unit). Echo isn’t the nicest person, but she does feel like a real teenage girl. John is a relatively well developed character, someone whose guilt is just present enough to torment him, but who is selfish enough to knock it back down. John is being haunted by Echo’s spirit, and in small moments it seems that he even may be possessed by her. Adams plays these moments very well and keeps it understated. Likewise, Poser is really strong in her role, giving us a character who is clearly used to dominating the room but now finds herself vulnerable and helpless to find her child.
There’s also something very satisfying about this take on the psychic and the supernatural. Despite having visions and just some mom-instinct suspicions, it takes a while for John to even ping on Ivy’s radar. The two of them have several benign interactions, and we live in the dramatic irony of knowing just what John has done to Echo while they make small talk. Everyone in the film must go through it, and you end up wondering just where everyone will land by the time the dust settles.
Everything that takes place is heightened by the cold, winter setting and the sense of isolation. John alone in his house, Ivy alone in hers, and Echo alone in her unmarked grave. You believe that this is a place where a teenage girl could disappear and never be found.
I may need to revisit this one, as I was onboard with it from beginning to end. While I didn’t out-and-out love it, I’d definitely recommend it. The fact that a family made it together is really cool behind the scenes detail.
The Deeper You Dig, 2019
Ivy (Toby Poser) makes a living as a psychic medium, supporting herself and her daughter, Echo (Zelda Adams). One winter night, Echo goes out sledding and is struck by local Kurt (John Adams), who is appalled at what he’s done, and decides to hide Echo’s body. But as Kurt tries to move on and remodel his new home, Ivy seeks out occult means to discover what has happened to her missing daughter.
Somehow just short of being great, this is still an engaging, creative horror thriller.
I have to admit to struggling a bit in trying to pinpoint what is keeping me from absolutely raving about this film. As I think through the categories that I care about---story, acting, writing, atmosphere, overall look, etc---I can’t name a place where I felt it fell flat.
The best aspect of the film is easily the surreal, harrowing journey that Ivy goes on while trying to find Echo. Ivy reconnects with an old friend named Dell (Shawn Wilson) who gives her access to a mysterious box that unlocks supernatural powers, but at a heavy cost. From this point forward, Ivy is never sure if what she is experiencing is real or not. Certain nightmarish sequences---such as a strangely paralyzed Ivy being forced to consume a table full of disgusting animal parts and then being forced by an eerie figure to swallow a whole snake---are obviously otherworldly. But what about when she stops her car, only to suddenly be underwater? The nature of exactly what is happening to Ivy is left wonderfully ambiguous. All we need to know is that she is drawing closer to her daughter as she is increasingly put through the ringer. Poser portrays this whole process with a certain grim determination that lets us know that she would do anything to find her child.
I also quite enjoyed the performances. (It’s worth noting here that the actors who play Ivy, Echo, and John are all the credited writers and directors of the film, and are a husband/wife/daughter family unit). Echo isn’t the nicest person, but she does feel like a real teenage girl. John is a relatively well developed character, someone whose guilt is just present enough to torment him, but who is selfish enough to knock it back down. John is being haunted by Echo’s spirit, and in small moments it seems that he even may be possessed by her. Adams plays these moments very well and keeps it understated. Likewise, Poser is really strong in her role, giving us a character who is clearly used to dominating the room but now finds herself vulnerable and helpless to find her child.
There’s also something very satisfying about this take on the psychic and the supernatural. Despite having visions and just some mom-instinct suspicions, it takes a while for John to even ping on Ivy’s radar. The two of them have several benign interactions, and we live in the dramatic irony of knowing just what John has done to Echo while they make small talk. Everyone in the film must go through it, and you end up wondering just where everyone will land by the time the dust settles.
Everything that takes place is heightened by the cold, winter setting and the sense of isolation. John alone in his house, Ivy alone in hers, and Echo alone in her unmarked grave. You believe that this is a place where a teenage girl could disappear and never be found.
I may need to revisit this one, as I was onboard with it from beginning to end. While I didn’t out-and-out love it, I’d definitely recommend it. The fact that a family made it together is really cool behind the scenes detail.