Dig Me No Grave

Ranjeet S. Marwa takes bold creative swings in his direction. Rather than lean into standard action-thriller tropes, he crafts a dark, philosophical tone. The cinematography is stark and claustrophobic, especially in the cabin sequences. The pacing is deliberate-almost meditative at times-which may not appeal to fans of high-octane thrillers but rewards patient viewers with psychological depth.

Warren Lee Hicks plays the lead, Scott Parker. His early performance feels somewhat flat, but as the stakes rise, Hicks evolves with the narrative, capturing the desperation and confusion of a man broken by betrayal and guilt.

Mark Strange as Fred Proctor provides physicality and urgency. While not deeply explored, his character helps maintain the thriller's momentum and grounds the film in action when needed.

James Bryhan as Pat Gunther is a standout. He brings a chilling, layered intensity to the antagonist role, making Gunther more than just a villain-he's unpredictable, methodical, and, at times, strangely sympathetic.

Dig Me No Grave is an indie psychological thriller that punches above its budget with style and mood. It won't be for everyone-especially viewers expecting a non-stop action ride-but it offers a slow-burning, cerebral experience led by a magnetic antagonist and sharp directorial choices.

Recommended for fans of Misery, Buried, or Prisoners who enjoy a darker, more psychological take on the survival thriller formula.

Dig Me No Grave is a bold, psychologically dark excursion into survival, revenge, and human cruelty. It transcends typical nature-thriller fare by anchoring its horror in emotional and psychological realism. Warren Lee Hicks brings authenticity and heart, while James Jaysen Bryhan delivers a mesmerizing performance as a complex antagonist. Together, their interplay is the film's beating heart-relentless, tragic, and unforgettable.

Warren delivers a nuanced portrayal of a proud, capable man forced into helplessness. His emotional range-from the gritted-teeth physicality of the bear scene to the quiet despair in Pat's cabin-is outstanding. He doesn't oversell the drama; instead, he draws you into his desperation with honesty and restraint.

Bryhan is terrifyingly good. Cold, methodical, and layered, Pat could easily have become a caricature of madness. Instead, Bryhan infuses him with tragic complexity-a man so shattered by grief that cruelty becomes his logic. His every movement feels calculated, his every word dipped in unresolved pain.

If you're drawn to survival dramas that evolve into chilling psychological thrillers-and love intense, character-driven duels-this one's worth a watch.

The film deftly pivots from nature thriller to psychological horror, maintaining suspense and escalating tension through tightly constructed acts. Flashbacks gradually unveil the history between these men, deepening the narrative as it approaches its dark, bloody climax.

Basically my issues with the film center on two points: A) The story adheres to realism where it suits it and leaves realism begging at the door when it needs the hero to live another day. And B) warren Hicks (Scott Parker) is in over his head with this character and this movie. Part of the problem is how the character is written. There's very little real about him. And that has to be laid at the feet of the writers.

James Bryhan (Pat Gunther) deserves the awards he's getting for his performance. His character doesn't talk as much as the protagonist (Parker), whose temperament is as cold as the ice around him when he taunts him about his sexuality. I felt more empathy towards (Gunther) plight and grieve stricken response to what befalls him , rooting for him to win the day , more so than (Parker) who despite losing his legs, acted as if he'd been subjected to watching paint dry.

The story overall was good and worth a watch.

Directed by Ranjeet Maria, is An Interesting Survival movie, that is served with a consistent pace & effective performances.

'Dig Me No Grave' is about the fight between its two strong leading men & how they are as unpredictable & fierce as the Bear that attacks our antagonist Scott Parker .I was engrossed for the most part. The only glitch, lies in a couple of performances from the supporting cast , the wife Linda and the best friend Fred.

Ranjeet's Screenplay is interesting & successfully captures the violent & unpredictable journey of two strong men. His direction is excellent. The film is a visually appealing , as it captures the wilderness & the beauty of it, without ever looking overdone, making it a 'character' in the movie.

Performance-Wise: Warren Hicks and James Bryhan are in great from. Hicks excels as the legless ,bruised and battered hunter with a strong will to survive, while Bryhan oozes subtle menace as well as induces some nice soft ,human touches. Both of the terrific actors work superbly here. And of course the Bear, whose contribution here is tremendous.

On the whole, definitely worth watching.

Warren Lee Hicks stars as Scott Parker, a hunter in who spends his day shooting animals amongst the forest.

The filmmaker does well to set up the rural location, becoming a key part of the narrative.

Our protagonist returns again to the woods but is surprised when he is confronted by a bear. There's a decent bit of CGI for this attack, and although it's no The Revenant, it's done very well considering the limitations and as good as anything on TV.

The outcome of the fight leaves the bear dead and the man finds himself in a cabin in the woods.

Scared and out of his mind, it is revealed he has been captured by Pat Gunther (a very psychotic turn from James Bryhan) .

Dig Me No Grave does very well at positioning all its characters and despite some clunky dialogue, is extremely polished as it clearly sets up the story and everyone's motivations and goals.

James Bryhan as the cold and calculated antagonist is a particular highlight. His ghoulish kidnapper echoes the extreme actions of Annie Wilkes from 1990's Misery, who similarly torments an incapacitated man. However, he's given more of a history that makes even this repugnant character have a few reasons for what he's done.

But he, along with a solid cast, combine with the film's impressive technical aspects, a slick 90-minute runtime and a host of well-planned dramatic and action sequences, to make Dig Me No Grave a barnstorming and nail-biting local thriller exploring distrust and atonement.