By Melissa Antoinette Garza
Nothing is better than when the horror Gods provide an original, interesting and downright creepy film. Such is the case with this new movie created by Adam Green, the man behind The Hatchet trilogy, Frozen (2010) and the comedy/horror sitcom Holliston (2012).
I had never heard of this when Geno bought it. When I turned it over and saw the amazingly talented Ray Wise, I was immediately sold. Everything from his recent presence on Adult Swim and Fresh Off the Boat (2015) , to the underrated horror gem Dead End (2003) and the science fiction classic RoboCop (1987), Wise always brings his A game. He’s just always a delight to watch whether it’s in drama, horror, comedy or a mixture of the three.
To be honest, the first few moments of Digging up the Marrow made me a bit hesitant to get my hopes up. It begins at a convention which is usually a bad sign. Every other film I recall that begins in this manner is just horrible. Still, Ray Wise’s presence was enough to keep me motivated to enjoy the production.
Adam Green stars as himself and he along with his cameraman interview such horror icons as Tony Todd, Lloyd Kaufman, Mick Garris, etc. Throughout the film, other well-known stars made appearances as well. Kane Hodder, Tom Holland and Steve Barton all make small yet welcome appearances.
After the convention scene, Adam discusses how much interesting merchandise he receives as gifts from his fans. One in particular is a notebook from a man
named William Dekker who claims that he has found an entrance to an underground cave where monsters reside. The “monsters” he states are individuals who were born deformed and shunned by people. Therefore, they created their own civilization.
Though some of these “monsters” are just after peace and living their life. There are some like Brella, who wears an umbrella covering her face and has a human female form. She murdered one young man after seducing him, simply because she’s evil.
Adam wants to believe Dekker, but he catches him in both odd behavior on camera and straight-out lies. For example, at one point Green finds out that Dekker tried nearly every horror director before him. Dekker denies it. He also claims to be a retired undercover police officer of the Boston MA police department, but when interviewed an officer is unable to verify that Dekker ever worked there.
Adam begins to have doubts, yet he is still compelled. Partially because he always wanted to believe in monsters as a child and partially because of the occurrences that took place during his outings with Dekker. William brings Adam and his cameraman to a graveyard where the entry to this Marrow or world of the monsters is located. The hole is evident but on the first night, the only one who sees anything is Dekker.
The next night however a monster is caught on camera when Adam demands the camera light to be put on much to Dekker’s chagrin. More and more evidence mounts supporting Dekker’s claims which both scares the hell out of Adam and intrigues him too much to walk away.
The conclusion is fitting and explains much of the overall movie without bashing the audience over the head with answers. Green has enough respect for the viewers to know they can put
two-and-two together which in this day and age is a rarity.
Overall, I can’t recommend this enough. Despite being a found-footage film, it was phenomenal. It utilized the method of telling the tale as a means to enhance the story rather than to be lazy with it.
I’ve never seen anything bad with Mr. Ray Wise in it and this is certainly no exception. He has the ability to play both likable and fun guy in one scene and a stern, strong and angry man in the next without ever wavering from the integrity of his character. His reactions are natural and though he plays a bit of an oddball and an outcast, he still has this undeniable charm which makes it easy to understand why someone like Adam would be drawn to Dekker over and over again.
Scared Stiff Rating: 8/10
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