Dig Me No Grave

Imagine going about your daily job and ending up in your worst nightmare. This is what happens to Scott Parker the hunter, who having claimed an important kill ends up bloodied, bruised and wishing he had stayed at home with his wife. He is the victim of the great outdoors and in his hour of need he finds himself hoping for a kind soul to rescue him. Unfortunately life doesn’t always go the way we want.

The director Ranjeet S Marwa has a gift for making thrillers and has previously tackled work by Stephen King . The direction is superb and Marwa is able to piece together a talented cast to keep you on the edge of your seat. The use of location is well chosen as the story unfolds in the U.S wilderness. There are some quite picturesque shots above the trees that give the audience the true scale of the forest and what Scott Parker is up against. The music adds to the tension and the horror of some of the scenes but also reveals the peace and tranquility of nature along with feelings of loneliness and despair. the close camera work adds to what is already uncomfortable viewing.

This is well written script and the audience will enjoy the way the story goes from present to past. It shows the audience where Scott Parker came from and how past events led him to where he is now. The flashbacks are almost like he is looking back at his life and this gives great meaning and depth to his character. The ending is well written and comes as a real surprise, so viewers will not be able to relax until the end credits appear. There are so many lives intertwined and the writer had a clear vision of how each action leads to the next. As the film moves on, there are more and horror elements revealed.

This is a predominantly British cast and for the most part they make the audience believe that they are Americans tackling the wild landscapes of the U.S. Warren Lee Hicks puts in a great performance as Scott Parker and is often left to fill the screen on his own. He does this with ease and is able to convey the horror of the situation. It takes great skill to hold and audiences attention on your own and Hicks is able to do this and his energy levels never wane. This is a physically demanding role which at times means that Hicks has to portray levels of extreme pain. The experience he has in this genre of film is clear and he is well cast.

It is most definitely an award winning performance from James Jaysen and he and Hicks provide the best scenes in the film. Jaysen is known for playing roles that will unsettle an audience and this is no different. His character is complex and the writing reveals a great deal as to why he is behaving the way he is. This is a formidable character who can go from one emotional extreme to another, at times a man of extreme violence but also capable of complete calm. Jaysen successfully switches between the two and this makes his performance the one that stands out. He most definitely deserves all the awards and plaudits for this role.

Unfortunately not all the performances work and it was clear that some struggled to perform to the level of the rest of the cast. This is particularly the case for Mark Strange as Scott Parkers friend Fred and Shally Tria Amanda who plays Scott Parkers wife Linda. Strange struggles with the U.S accent throughout which means that some of the lines lose their meaning and strength. There is a lack of chemistry between Amanda and the rest of the cast which left many of her scenes flat. This is a real shame but there are many aspects of the film that work well and fortunately the focus is mainly on Hicks and Jaysen.

Overall this is an enjoyable film which keeps you on the edge of your seat. The performances of Hicks and Jaysen will really hold the audiences attention and they really push the energy levels up. They are able to meet the physical demands throughout which is very challenging. If you like psychological thrillers then this is a must watch. The audience will enjoy the surprises and the ending will leave the viewers with a lot to discuss.