User reviews

I enjoyed this but it wasn't hugely entertaining for someone outside of the Art House circle. The acting was quite good. The shots were lovely and bleak which worked well for the film's story which is bleak. The plot has some issues but that is only if you think about it too much, as with so many films. Overall, it is worth a watch.

Nice to see Irish films like this. Interesting plot and acting was quite good. The film is slow but if you allow yourself to go with it it is a very pleasant experience. Good Irish film.

A man returns home after years of incarceration, having completed his sentence but his victim's relatives have yet to find their lost one. He says he can't remember what happened. Good casting, good acting, but so slowly paced in order to get out this basic tale of guilt and, possible repentance? I got through it by fast forwarding the flick. In a theater I would have glanced at my watch a thousand times or at the slightest invitation fallen asleep. There is a basic technical question one would ask, assuming that the action takes place in the latter part of the Twentieth Century or the early Twenty-First, there are no cell phones involved, so it's hard to tell. But certain searches for underground items can be augmented powerfully by equipment or, dogs? No dogs in this part of Ireland apparently. Compare this story to a very similar but much richer story in the movie "Winter's Bone". That movie was much richer in character and place, while concentrating far more on a single protagonist. Final impression it's a drawn out stage play of sorts. I'd watch the actors again, but be very wary of the writer director producer. Not enough story here.

I was enjoying this movie immensely, it's gritty and powerful which kept me watching with interest.

Sadly it's all let down by the ridiculous ending. I don't know why there is the need to shock viewers with something so out of the box and far-fetched. For a film which is extremely real it doesn't even make sense, anyone with any detection skills will be left scratching their heads.

I enjoyed this film so much. The acting was great, the cinematography was appropriately rough and off-kilter which matched the way this film grapples with perspective and memory. I really felt the story and it haunted me after viewing it. I had deep discussions about this film, because it tackles elements of emotional trauma, justice, mystery, family, and community. There is so much meat on this bone, so much to "dig" into. I highly recommend this film for the indie film lovers who want to see something special that reverberates in the mind for a while.

Saw this at TIFF where it received positive reviews. I will definitely seek this film out on DVD or digital release. 8/10 (not 10 only because at times the dialogue was unintelligible, but that might have been due to my American ears)

Watched this at Galway. Competant cinematography and good Irish cast who try their best in a film that really hasn't got much going on. Unfortunately no amount of slow-mo montages or forced dramatic moments can get around the fact that the story is weak. It's only around 90 minutes but feels much longer and the ending is just silly.

If u feel depressed or need something to cheer u up.. Dont watch this!!!!

Not a good story and not a good ending and not enjoyable at all unless u r a woman who wants to cry for some reason or another

Unfortunately released the same day as a little film called Avengers: Endgame (2019), The Dig will most likely pass from Irish cinemas without much of an impact. And that's a real shame, as it's a fine film. Written by Stuart Drennan, and directed by Andy Tohill and Ryan Tohill, in their feature debut, the film is essentially a study of psychological breakdown, and the emotional damage that can be done by a self-appointed Sisyphean task which, by definition, can never be completed. Looking at the tendency in rural Ireland to anthropomorphise the Land, celebrating how it sustains and condemning how it betrays, the film probes the thin line between obsession and insanity, whilst also examining issues of memory, guilt, and the question of whether the guilty should be afforded an opportunity for atonement. It's bleak and oppressive (both in form and content), and doesn't feature a huge amount of (or any) laughs. Working extremely well for about three-quarters of its runtime, the script unfortunately comes undone in the last act, suddenly turning into a murder-mystery, complete with a ridiculous twist that belies the realistic minimalism employed thus far. Still though, it's beautifully shot, brilliantly acted, and very well directed, and, assuming you're finished jumping through time with Ant-Man, you could certainly do worse than checking it out.

The film begins as Ronan Callahan (the always intense Moe Dunford) returns to his hometown, having spent 15 years in jail for the murder of his girlfriend. Callahan was blind drunk the night of the murder, and remembers nothing of the incident, but as he was the last person with whom she was seen, and as her skin was found under his fingernails, he was convicted. Now tee-total, he's planning to sell his dilapidated farm and move on, but is stunned to learn that Sean McKenna (a superb Lorcan Cranitch), the dead girl's father, has spent literally every day of the last 15 years digging on the bog where her body is believed buried. Obsessed to the point of near madness, Sean refuses to stop - not for his still-living daughter, Roberta (a quietly despairing Emily Taaffe), who's seriously worried about his mental health; not for the local constable, Murphy (an intimidating Francis Magee), who has his own plans for Callahan; and certainly not for Callahan himself. However, still suffering from crippling guilt for a murder he can't remember, Callahan takes the unexpected decision to help Sean with the dig, much to both Roberta and Murphy's chagrin.

Much like recent Irish films such as The Lodgers (2017), The Devil's Doorway (2018), and Black '47 (2018), The Dig works very much within genre parameters, but wherein the tropes of said genre are given a uniquely Irish thematic inflection. Whereas The Lodgers uses a haunted house story to examine issues of aristocratic legacy and the landed gentry, The Devil's Doorway uses demonic possession to explore the horrific history of the Magdalene Laundries, and Black '47 uses a revenge western as a way into the Great Famine, The Dig is essentially a Revisionist Western - it takes place primarily on a vast open bog; in the only bar in the one-horse town, whiskey is poured into shot glasses and drunk straight; local law enforcement is in the form of one formidable man, who does things his way, and even carries a gun in his belt; a local murderer returns, with the locals wanting to drive him out of town (and actually forming a posse to do so at one point); women are generally ignored, despite being far more grounded than any of the men. As in the aforementioned films, however, genre is used in The Dig not as an end in and of itself, but as a launching pad to other thematic concerns; an exploration of the importance of the Land, how time doesn't necessarily heal all wounds, and how extreme grief can drive a person to the brink of insanity.

The film opens with a sequence showing Callahan returning to the village, walking to his farm, which is now boarded up and derelict, examining the house and checking to see if the water is still working, before finding multiple bottles of alcohol secreted in various places, all of which he pours out. The scene is entirely wordless, and reminded me a little of the opening scene in There Will Be Blood (2007). It's pure visual storytelling, and a great example of one of the most fundamental aspects of the filmic medium - show, don't tell - perfectly setting the bleak tone for what's to come, and giving us plenty of information about Callahan without the need for clunky exposition.

Aesthetically, the Tohills and cinematographer Angus Mitchell shoot the film as if clouded in a perpetually arid gloom. One of those films where you can feel the cold and damp through the screen, the palette avoids too many strong primary colours such as red or yellow, and is instead dominated by muted earth tones. The bleak wintery Waiting for Godot-style landscape through which Callahan walks in the opening scene is a bit on the nose as metaphors go, but it is effective in establishing the coldness and darkness in both his and Sean's hearts. For the scenes on the bog, from time to time, Mitchell uses high-elevation shots, showing us the sheer size of the bog in relation to the miniscule amount of land already dug up, really driving home the absolute impossibility of the task Sean has set himself. These shots also help to convey that although the characters are out in the open, the environment is their prison, much like the woods in The Blair Witch Project (1999) and the prairie in The Wind (2018).

In terms of the acting, Cranitch plays Sean as contorted beyond recognition by grief, with not a hint of the man he must once have been anywhere to be found. Every ounce of his strength goes on the dig, which has become his only reason for living, and all that matters to him now is finding his daughter so he can give her a proper burial - in a nice unspoken irony running throughout the film, Sean needs to exhume her body so he can bury her. Dunford, for his part, is predictably intense, all silent brooding and beaten down anhedonic resignation.

Thematically, the film is at its best when examining grief, bereavement, obsession, and atonement. However, the importance of the Land remains thematically paramount at all times. Helping to establish the sense of a history and lineage, a fairy tree is featured throughout the film, whilst there is also a reference to the Old Croghan Man (Seanfhear Chruacháin), a remarkably well-preserved body dating from the Iron Age which was found in 2003, naturally mummified in a peat bog in Offaly. Another important historical reference is more subtle. Politics are noticeable by their absence, and although the film is set just across the border in Northern Ireland, there's not a single reference to the Troubles. However, anyone familiar with The Disappeared, sixteen people abducted, murdered, and secretly buried by the IRA between 1972 and 1985, will immediately see parallels with the plot. Specifically, the vast task before Sean recalls the plight of the family members of those who were disappeared, who for decades had no information whatsoever on where their loved ones had been buried (and in some cases, the bodies are yet to be located). All of this feeds into the general importance of the Land in rural Ireland, with the characters attributing to it a sentience recalling some of the Bull McCabe's proclamations in Jim Sheridan's filmic adaptation of The Field (1990). The Land as depicted in The Dig, however, is far from benevolent, with the sense being that if Sean's daughter is never to be found, it's because the Land has consciously made the decision not to reveal her. As Sean himself states, "the land decides".

However, there is a sizable problem with the film. For much of its runtime, the narrative is taut, the characters believable, the milieu oppressive. However, in the last act, the movie rather inexplicably turns a murder-mystery, with a plot twist that undermines the gravity of what has gone before. I've no idea what Drennan or the Tohills were trying to say with this, and although the actors act the hell out of it (particularly Dunford and Magee), they simply can't overcome the silly "dun-dun-duuuun" nature of the twist. The entire last act is also predicated on classically misogynistic male ideas about the desires of women. After so much hard-hitting realism and almost tangible existential suffering, the dénouement is rote and contrived, more akin to an episode of Midsomer Murders (1997) or Shetland (2013), and seriously undermining the emotional build-up which has heretofore been very well handled.

That said, this is still a very impressive first feature, and another fine Irish film, coming in the wake of such strong recent work as Kissing Candice (2017), the aforementioned Black '47, and Rosie (2018). Equal parts bleak and oppressive, it remains mostly compelling, with a quartet of excellent performances, and a strong emotional connection with the audience.

This film did not fail to entertain me. When I left my seat I couldn't stop thinking about this film. Moe Dunford did an excellent job portraying intense realism. Writing was exceptionally good. Great concept.

Throughly enjoyed it. Recommend it to everyone.

The Dig: This film deserves to be seen as Folk Horror due to how a Fairy Tree in a circle of stones influence the progression of its narrative. Ronan (Moe Dunford) returns to a dilapidated farmhouse which is adjacent to bogland. A man is digging on the bog, sections staked out with flags. Seán (Lorcan Cranitch) is searching for his lost daughter, Ronan recently released from prison was convicted of her murder. At first the two clash violently but Ronan joins in the dig as he has no memory of the night of the murder due to being drunk. Seán's daughter Roberta (Emily Taafe) also reluctantly accepts Ronan's presence, they had once been friends and perhaps more. But the relationship between the three is an ongoing rollercoaster of emotions. There is also violence from locals and the local police chief Murphy (Francis Magee).



This film seems to be set in the border counties of Ireland, yet it is a not-Ireland, neither North or South. Murphy, heavily bearded, always in rough plain clothes, a pistol at his hip, is more like a Sheriff. Maintaining the law with his boots, fists and a gun when necessary. A Beckettian Bog Western where the participants wallow in the mud searching for something which might not even be there. Seán makes a drink with berries picked from the Fairy Tree in the belief that it will restore his memory. Ronan accepts the elixir, sharing Seán's faith in the old ways. The Fairy Trr and the surrounding land is very much hallowed ground in this peasant society. Dark secrets in many senses are uncovered as the film progresses.

Directors: Andy and Ryan Tohill, working from a screenplay by Stuart Drennan have delivered a dark gem, The Field for the 21st Century. 8.5/10.

Starts out bleakley and gers better and better. really great acting from the 4 lead actors. I did kinda guess the ending but still great and shocking. give it a watch.

Great drama. great low budget. I am very impressed by this first film from those directors. i hope they have another great next one. it is tempting to criticize the tempo of film but it deserve to be slow and linger well for this type of drama. RECOMMENDED.

I was pleasantly surprised with this movie. It is well made with great acting and story. This film deserves more than 6 stars. It's definitely going into my collection.

It's been a long time since I sat and watched a movie that made me wait while I became attached to characters. The amount of silence in this film is a fantastic digression from all the noise of late.

What this movie was able to do with essentially four characters and one location is in itself a 10 star achievement. A simple story well told with powerful characters and great shots makes this one of my favorite things I've seen all year.

I'm sure I'll be talking about this one for awhile.

BRILLIANTLY executed all around. Direction, acting, editing, story line... I have no idea why some people didn't like the ending, I thought it was perfect. Watch it and judge for yourself.

I don't know why I like these types of films but I do. Three characters punishing themselves for different reasons and always feeling like they have some sin to pay for. The acting, the script and Ireland itself that are shown here are all excellent. And it's tough to know how to make amends other than keep punishing yourself forever. I wish the movie ended differently but the way it ended it's not bad either. Thanks for the actors for dialing down the irish a little bit so the rest of us can understand a little more. Anyway, great movie, don't know why it's only 6.5 now...

As others have mentioned, you can see where the plot was heading but still, well acted, well shot and the director captured the bleakness of the situation.

I"ve enjoyed a lot more bigger films, with big names, a lot less than this one.

A great little gem if you ask me.

I've seen to many movies and I have never written a review. I watched this early morning not expecting much. I was impressed and left wanting more. I came to see if there was book or is there a part two. I get it, but the ending could have different meanings. Part 2 please. The town definitely has secrets when people (whole town, everyone) take justice in their own hands, thinking they're good people or doing the right thing. I feel like the dad would have handled the 'problem' himself or now if he doesn't believe cause thats still an opition (the land did a great job of preservation), the town officer will handle both of them for not finishing what was an injustice on his end. Idk loved it would have given a ten but I NEED ANSWERS.

Slow burning tale beautifully shot, you are kept transfixed throughout.

Saw this premiere at TIFF and (other than 1 aspect), I really loved it. This review is based of my memory from back then. I member my brain questioning- is she really dead, or did she just leave? I kept wondering when that possibility would come into the story, but it never did. Why wasn't anyone looking in neighboring towns? She had the opportunity and motive to leave her situation behind, so why not just leave ? I don't consider this a spoiler, but more of a helpful explanation: if someone were to have told me at the start that yes, she was really dead, I would have enjoyed it even more rather than continuing to wonder if she was still alive. Grim, Irish, cold, full of grief and mystery- right up my alley. The ending had the shocking bit, and I really felt for the father. Wish more people had seen it.

A simple but well written story, with a wonderful cast.

The landscape is also a character giving us a darker tone of the plot, through all the movie.

This movie and others like this one are the proof that we don't need Hollywood and the blockbusters during the summer or any time of the year, to be fair.

Unfortunately, the advertising of European movies is almost none.

We are investing in the story and the characters since the beginning, wanting to know if what happened, is actually the truth.

I'm from Portugal and i I saw it on a portuguese streaming service.

I can't recommend it enough.

The basic storyline is macabre in that a girl is murdered, the killer is paroled and the father searches for justice. It's a small Irish town and they have their own ideas about what is right and wrong, and even the police could be on board with those theories. A little over 40% of the way through this movie it can be slower moving and a bit tedious but staying attentive as a viewer will have its rewards in the last quarter of the film as plot twists emerge. The acting here is fantastic as all of the cast converse naturally and really there are no holes in the plausibility of the story. There are a few movies out here with the same title so make sure you have the right one that takes place e in Ireland where a father is digging trying to find the body of his missing murdered daughter for years.

Very good strong acting plot was well thought through. Slightly dark atmosphere about the movie The ending was surprising but good. Must see movie

Brutal, upsetting at times, unnerving , edgy and mysterious. a great movie with fabulous acting and a beautiful twist.

I found this film meandering. Very much like a stumbling cold drunk, who's brain cells have been diminished. Perhaps other reviewers found the "returning murder making his way to redeeming himself" character idea catchy enough to continue watching. The zero dialogue intro held my interest enough to wait for a focused story resolution to take shape. I feel that once the dialogue came into play, much of the basic instincts that held my interest in silence simply fell apart. And the characters shaped out to be more stupid as the dialogue went further, @ 0.5hr mark. I sure hope this is not considered the height of Irish Cinema. The film is bleak, gray, grim, and muddy. The script did not make good use of the lead actor. There are many plot holes, just in the concept that 15 years of prison have passed alone - the main character can't remember, hasn't recalled his crime, made peace? etc. He is given moonshine to drink twice a day to help him remember his crime? Ah, oh, okay. This is your master plan, director? I found that extremely laughable! Two dimensional, character limiting; considering the animosity of grief between characters, it does not make much sense. Unless of course we just throw it in and change directions. "The moonshine will burn the memory out of him! Argh." The reveal of all the holes that have been dug is also wasted. The obscurity could have been banked on much more, to speak about death, life, value, even better symbolized for guilt. The characters are obviously stuck where they are because this story has locked them into it, leaving the actors to do what they can with the equally intuitive voided script. 3 elements thrown together, crossed fingers that it will work, and it doesn't. Void of stars.