Dig Two Graves

Dig Two Graves
Directed by Hunter Adams
Produced by
  • P.J. Fishwick
  • Claire Connelly
Written by
  • Hunter Adams
  • Jeremy Phillips
Starring
Music by
  • Brian Deming
  • Ryan Kattner
  • Joe Plummer
Cinematography Eric Maddison
Edited by Scott D. Hanson
Distributed by Area 23a
Release date
Running time
 85 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Dig Two Graves is a 2014 independent gothic thriller written by Hunter Adams[1] and Jeremy Phillips,[2] and is Adams’ first full-length feature as director. The film was executive produced by actor and director Larry Fessenden. The high-quality of the film’s low-budget production was largely made possible by not only Fessenden’s help, but also by members of its crew being selected by the Independent Filmmaker Project, by working with the Southern Illinois University film department,[3] and by involving the community of the film’s Southern Illinois location. The film’s cast includes Ted Levine,[4] Samantha Isler,[5] Danny Goldring,[6] and Troy Ruptash.[7]

The film, distributed by Area 23a, releases in select theaters[8] and on demand March 24, 2017.[9]

Plot

In the 1940s, Deputy Waterhouse and Sheriff Proctor drive to a nearby quarry with two bodies stowed in their truck. Waterhouse takes a necklace off one of the bodies and they dump the two corpses into the water. Waterhouse then holds Proctor at gunpoint and demands he get rid of his badge, telling Proctor that he's no longer fit to be sheriff. Proctor throws his badge over the cliff.

In the 1970s, Jacqueline Mathers, called Jake, and her brother Sean head to the quarry. Sean insists she get over her fear of jumping into the water below and offers to jump with her. Sean jumps but Jake becomes scared and lets go of Sean's hand at the last second. Jake watches as her brother plunges into the water below but doesn't resurface. In a panic, she runs for help, tripping along the way and gashing her forehead, which leaves a large scar. Deputy Freeman informs Waterhouse, now the sheriff, that his grandson has drowned in the quarry.

Jake suffers from survivor's remorse and falls into depression. A boy at school named Willie Proctor, the grandson of the old sheriff, has a crush on her and draws her pictures, much to the disapproval of his grandfather. Some months later, Jake's parents tell her they're going to have a baby which upsets Jake. The next day, Jake runs into three gypsy brothers led by Wyeth. Wyeth tells her he has the power to bring her brother back but someone will have to die in his place. The brothers take her back to their cabin on Proctor's property and make a blood oath with Jake - they'll bring her brother back if she pushes Willie Proctor over the quarry edge. She agrees. When she returns home after dark, her parents question her about where she's been. She tells them three men took her to their cabin. Waterhouse takes Jake to the cabin and asks Jake to identify the three brothers but, remembering her oath, Jake says she's never seen them before.

Jake convinces Willie to follow her to the quarry. She's about to push him over but is filled with guilt and decides not to. Jake's mother attempts to make Jake feel better by taking her to dinner where Jake is confronted by Wyeth. Jake says she won't kill someone. Wyeth tells Jake that her grandfather has something of his and he wants it back. Jake finds her mother crying, having seen a boy who reminded her of Sean. Jake goes to her grandfather's house and steals the necklace he's been hiding.

The next day, Wyeth and his brothers confront Jake's mother at her home. She becomes frightened and blood begins to pour from between her legs. Later, Waterhouse is told by the doctor that his daughter will live but the baby can't be saved. Filled with remorse, Jake brings the necklace to Wyeth who tells her she can only bring Sean back if she sacrifices Willie. He puts the necklace around her neck. Waterhouse arrests the three gypsy brothers and takes them to jail. A desperate Jake convinces Willie to follow her to the quarry one more time. Meanwhile, haunted by memories, a drunken Proctor begins to douse the gypsy's cabin with alcohol. Waterhouse goes to the jail to find Deputy Freeman with his throat cut and the brothers escaped. An enraged Waterhouse drives to the cabin only to be shot by Proctor. Waterhouse shoots back and they both lie dying as the brothers return home. Wyeth tells Waterhouse that he's about to have his revenge.

In a series of flashbacks we see the events that led to the opening scene. A younger Sheriff Proctor witnesses the gypsy family, living on his property, engaging in strange rituals. He threatens the mother with arrest unless she pays him. When she says they have no money, he sexually assaults her. Deputy Waterhouse sees Wyeth and his frightened brothers, then only children, outside. Waterhouse finds Proctor raping the boys' mother. Proctor returns to the cabin with food only to be confronted by the husband who beats him and runs him off. Proctor returns with Waterhouse and kills the father. As Waterhouse protests, the mother shoots at the two policemen. Waterhouse shoots back and fatally wounds her. Proctor shoots the father in the head and aims at Wyeth before Waterhouse stops him. Wyeth kneels over his mother, who whispers something to him before dying. Waterhouse and Proctor then take the two bodies to the quarry.

Back in the 1970s, Wyeth tells Waterhouse that he knows Jake is about to push Willie into the quarry, setting herself up for a lifetime of pain and regret. Waterhouse says he knows she won't do it. Waterhouse asks if he knows the old saying about revenge - "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” Waterhouse then throws his lit cigar onto the alcohol-soaked floor which sets the cabin aflame, killing the brothers, Proctor, and himself in the process.

Jake struggles to push Willie. When she realizes that Wyeth only said "someone" had to die, Jake jumps herself and lands in the water. She sees the figure of her brother below her. Sean swims up to her and pulls the necklace from around her neck before disappearing into the depths. Jake hears Willie calling to her from above as she swims back to the surface.

Cast

  • Ted Levine as Sheriff Waterhouse
  • Samantha Isler as Jake Mather
  • Danny Goldring as Proctor
  • Troy Ruptash as Wyeth
  • Rachael Drummond as Mrs. Waterhouse
  • Bradley Grant Smith as Deputy Byron Freeman
  • Dean Evans as Jon
  • Gabriel Cain as Willie Proctor

Production

Development

The film began as a short called Jake's Choice, filmed in northeast Wisconsin. The intention was for it to provide a fundraising tool, but as director Hunter Adams admitted to I Am Entertainment Magazine, it chiefly "helped [him] clarify the visual and aural design of the film".[10]

Independent Filmmaker Project

In 2013, the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) selected the Dig Two Graves script as one of 20 in its Emerging Narrative Program.[11] The IFP focuses exclusively on low-budget films (under $1 million) and provides the first-time feature film directors with a free year-long mentorship that assists them and their crew with post-production, marketing, and distribution of their films. During filming the IFP chose Dig Two Graves to participate in its annual Independent Filmmaker Labs. Hunter Adams’ team[12] included producers P.J. Fishwick (Public Enemies and Dark Knight)[13] and Claire Connelly (Dark Knight and The Rite)[14] and film editor Scott Hanson.

Filming

Production took place over at total of five weeks: four weeks in January and one week in the summer.[15] During filming the cast endured one of Southern Illinois’ worst winters in recorded history, but producer P.J. Fishwick and associate producer Philip S. Plowden (Cellar Door and Jupiter Ascending)[16] along with Adams agreed that the area gave the film the visual look needed to maintain authenticity under a low-budget. Northern Illinois was the crew’s first location choice, but location pictures provided by the Illinois Film Office convinced them that Southern Illinois and the area of “Little Egypt” provided the film’s grim supernatural element. [17]

Local Resources & History

Southern Illinois - "Little Egypt"

The location was chosen, not only for its antebellum look that allowed Dig Two Graves to tell its story in two different time periods but also for its own bloody history. The county earned the nickname “Bloody Williamson” and the area was ground zero for violent events like the Mine Wars of the 1930s; gang wars fought between local moonshiners the Charlie Birger Gang,[18] the Shelton brothers, and the Ku Klux Klan; and the Bloody Vendetta of the 1800s.[19] Local historian, Jon Musgrave[20] was on hand to help with the script and filming details. Many of the area’s well-known historical sites were used as backdrops for the film including,

Southern Illinois University

Producer P.J. Fishwick had also collaborated successfully with Southern Illinois University’s (SIU) cinema department and brought students on as interns to work on the production of Dig Two Graves. He explained to LocationsHub that “A lot of our interns that shot with us in January have since moved to L.A. and are now working. I’ve been able to hire some in Chicago in the meantime so it’s been a really positive experience bringing in kids from SIU.”[21]

Sintullo the Rattlesnake and Tony Gerard

Several snakes are used throughout the film, but one claimed the most screen time. Sintullo is a venomoid timber rattlesnake of the canebrake variety. His handler, Tony Gerard,[22] is a biology instructor at Shawnee Community College and often uses Sintullo to educate local schools about reptiles. Gerard also earned the title of “The Fixer” during filming for helping the crew acquire local resources and assistance.

Release

Critical reception

Doc Rotten[23] for Horror News - "Dig Two Graves is exquisite and captivating, a haunting and darkly beautiful tale of grief, sorrow and regret [...] Adams paints a dark thriller that splendidly unfolds with each discovery and tragic turn. Ushering the film along is Ted Levine as the patriarch of the family and the leader of the quiet small town, his performance is nuanced and layered leaving the audience hanging on each gruff syllable. Dig Two Graves is bitter sweet, haunting and richly rewarding, a must see."[24]

Ian Sedensky for Culture Crypt - "Coldly captivating, but burning beautifully with an authentic Midwestern feel, cinematography is cleverly plotted without being unnecessarily creative... 'Dig Two Graves' is thought through as a cinematic story, where the medium subtly enhances the telling in virtually every sequence...'Dig Two Graves' is a rare genre drama that strays from sentimentality to deliver a suspenseful story executed with powered precision."[25]

Florita A. for Hell Horror - "The movie is captivating with its dark, eerie fantasy storyline of grief."[26]

Joseph Perry for Gruesome Magazine - "Eric Maddison’s cinematography is engaging and sometimes deceptively simple. He makes the quarry and surrounding woods feel almost like a character unto themselves, and he shows off striking underwater shots, as well. Scott D. Hanson certainly deserves mention for his skillful editing. The score by Brian Deming, Ryan Kattner, and Joseph Plummer subtly heightens the tension and perfectly sets different moods throughout."[27]

Accolades

After premiering at the Midwest Independent Film Festival[28] on March 3, 2015, Dig Two Graves has gone on to win “Best Feature” at the Beaufort International Film Festival (2015),[29] the “Independent Spirit Award” at the Sedona International Film Festival (2015),[30] and “Best Wisconsin Film” at the Beloit International Film Festival (2015).[31]

References

  1. ↑ "Hunter Adams". IMDb. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  2. ↑ "Jeremy Phillips". IMDb. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "Gothic Indie Thriller Filming in Southern Illinois". Locations Hub.
  4. ↑ "Ted Levine". IMDb. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  5. ↑ "Samantha Isler". IMDb. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  6. ↑ "Danny Goldring". IMDb. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "Troy Ruptash". IMDb. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  8. ↑ Benardello, Karen. "Area 23a Will Dig Two Graves as Distribution Company Acquires Thriller's Distribution Rights". Shock Ya!. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  9. ↑ Winfrey, Graham. "Film Acquisition Rundown". IndieWire. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  10. ↑ Järvisalo, J.; Saris, N. E. (1975-09-15). "Action of propranolol on mitochondrial functions--effects on energized ion fluxes in the presence of valinomycin". Biochemical Pharmacology. 24 (18): 1701–1705. ISSN 0006-2952. PMID 13.
  11. ↑ Schoenbrun, Dan. "IFP Announces 10 Narrative Projects for its Annual Independent Filmmaker Labs". IFP. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  12. ↑ "Cast & Creative Team Announced Independent Feature Film, Dig Two Graves". Chicago 3 Media. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  13. ↑ "P.J. Fishwick". IMDb. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  14. ↑ "Claire Connelly". IMDb. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  15. ↑ "Dig Two Graves Returns to Region for More Filming". The Vienna Times. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  16. ↑ "Philip S. Plowden". IMDb. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  17. ↑ "Gothic Indie Thriller Filming in Southern Illinois". Locations Hub. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  18. ↑ Davis, Rich. "Birger & His Boys". Standerfer, etc. Research Site. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  19. ↑ Erwin, Milo. The Bloody Vendetta of Southern Illinois. IllinoisHistory.com. ISBN 0-9707984-6-6. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  20. ↑ "Illinois History". Illinois History. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  21. ↑ "Gothic Indie Thriller Filming In Southern Illinois". Locations Hub. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  22. ↑ "Tony Gerard". Shawnee Community College. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  23. ↑ "Doc Rotten, Author at HNN | Horrornews.net 2017 - Official Horror News Site". HNN | Horrornews.net 2017 - Official Horror News Site. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  24. ↑ "Film Review: Dig Two Graves (2014)". Horrow News. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  25. ↑ "Dig Two Graves (2014)". Culture Crypt. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  26. ↑ "Dig Two Graves (2014) Movie Review". Hell Horror. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  27. ↑ ""Dig Two Graves" (2014): Gothic Chiller Serves Up First-Rate Storytelling and Superb Performances". Gruesome Magazine. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  28. ↑ "Dig Two Graves". Midwest Independent Film Festival. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  29. ↑ "Features". Beaufort International Film Festival. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  30. ↑ "Award Winners: Past Festivals". Sedona International Film Festival. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  31. ↑ "2015 Biffy Awards". Beloit International Film Festival. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
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