MovieChat Forums > Digging Up the Marrow (2015) Discussion > Dull Writers & Wasted Potential

Dull Writers & Wasted Potential

posted 9 years ago by PaOwen
4 replies | jump to latest

I heard the synopsis for this movie ("Underground city of monsters...") and watched the trailer ("Awesome, horrifying monsters...") for this movie, and decided to buy it on VOD on a whim. I thought, insane monsters...how can you possibly go wrong?

How wrong I was.

I'll grant that it's well-made and relatively unique, but I can't think of a better recent example of unimaginative, dim-witted writers turning a cool concept into something dull. The basic premise is that there's a hidden city of otherworldy creatures--it seems to be clearly inspired by Lovecraft--yet right in the first act of the movie they deflate everything by explaining it's just deformed humans. Aside from the fact that that's idiotic...it's literally the most boring, mundane version of this story they could tell. I truly would like to understand this: How do you have top notch monster special effects and an idea for a story about a secret world of monsters, yet choose the lamest possible set-up for that idea. It's freaking absurd.

[–] mahou_fancy_lala 9 years ago

Well, they said that it was a theory that the monsters were deformed humans. Not necessarily proven. I don't think the human origin takes away from the horror of it, though.

[–] sign543-6-320217 9 years ago

Agreed. The deformed human theory was just that...a theory...and didn't detract at all, in my experience, from the fright factor in this film. I still don't understand the feeding at night and the sobbing at the hole....but, the over-all effect on me...it creeped me out big time. I love originality and this was one of the most original concepts I've seen in a while. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

[–] Ghost_Of_Me 9 years ago

I still don't understand the feeding at night and the sobbing at the hole....but, the over-all effect on me...it creeped me out big time. I love originality and this was one of the most original concepts I've seen in a while. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

I think we were supposed to think that he brought his deformed son to them. It looked like he kept him in the basement and than transferred him over to the hole before they set up the cameras. Than went back to feed him at night and shut off the cameras. Which still dosent make sense since he knew they would watch it! It was a good over all film IMO.

[–] sign543-6-320217 9 years ago

Exactly. Forgive for not quoting, it's harder on my iPad mini. I don't understand why heft left the one camera in place. I don't think, with his obsession with this, he would carelessly leave that camera in place. Perhaps he wanted it seen...then why turn off only some cameras. Curious. Of course, some things left unresolved leaves us talking...but it still bugs me. :) As you said, over all, the film moved me. I am encouraged that some American filmmakers are still dedicated to forge new territory and bring originality to the genre. That can't be easy these days when we've been saturated from nearly every angle in horror. I was very pleased when the credits began rolling. The monster infiltrating his home and leaving the "warning" left me more than a little disturbed. In he same way the ending of The Blair Witch did. Not to that level...but it was very effective. The complaint about the acting, I don't get. I found it very believable. Of course, I've never seen these actors before. Never heard of Holliston. But...I'm scour the Internet for new horror coming out. I am a huge, huge fan of horror and am literally desperate for good horror films. If you've suggestions, please advice. Love the V/H/S series...and the ABCs of death. I hate how recently the best we offer are remakes of better foreign filmmakers. Get your stuff together, guys. There are enough of you brilliant Anerican filmmakers to pull something off. 👍