The Dig is a 2018 Irish drama film directed by Andy Tohill and Ryan Tohill, from a screenplay by Stuart Drennan. The film was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and was produced by Brian J Falconer for northern Irish firm "Out of Orbit". The plot follows a recovering alcoholic by the name of Ronan Callahan who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend Namih and served fifteen years for the crime. Despite this, they Never Found the Body. Namih's Father, Sean believes it is hidden somewhere on Ronan's Land and thus forces Ronan to dig holes all over the massive property in hopes he'll find her. Ronan has no memory of the night Namih disappeared and thus complies with Sean's demands and allows him to dig as many holes as he'd like. Everything changes when Ronan recalls one small detail.
Not to be confused with the 2021 film of the same name.
The Dig provides examples of:
- Bittersweet Ending: Sean finally has closure, having discovered the remains of his daughter and having been told that Roberta left town. Ronan also has closure because he knows that he didn't hurt Namih and solved her murder. However, Roberta is actually dead and only Officer Murphy knows of Ronan's innocence.
- Blue-and-Orange Morality: Officer Murphy was a friend of Sean's and is thus unconcerned with keeping the law if it's Ronan who has a problem. He has no qualms about taking him out of the pub and leading him into the street for a Breaking Speech and a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown at the hands of the patrons. However when he finds out that it was Roberta who killed Namih, he executes her on the spot despite Ronan telling him to let her go.
- Don't Touch It, You Idiot!: As desperate as Sean is to find Namih's body, he frantically tries to stop Ronan from digging up a Fairy Fort and tells him that he'll be cursed if he does. Ronan doesn't listen and adds that he's cursed enough already. Roberta killed Namih and buried her there because she knew it was a place her father wouldn't disturb.
- Forgets to Eat: Sean will never leave Ronan's home. He spends all of his time searching for his daughter's body and only survives because his other daughter, Roberta brings him meals each day.
- No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Ronan is on the receiving end of a few of these given that he is believed to be the murderer.
- Neck Lift: Ronan nearly kills Roberta this way, once he finds out the truth.
- Recovered Addict: Ronan is this by the time he's done fifteen years in prison. Given that the alcohol was what caused him to lose memory of what he did the night Namih disappeared, it's no surprise. Though he falls off the wagon and starts drinking again due to the pressure Sean keeps putting on him and the not so brilliant plan to return to the pub to see if it will help him remember what happened.
- The Fair Folk: This is the one reason that Sean refuses to dig in certain places on Ronan's land. He firmly believes the Irish lore surrounding them and doesn't want to incur wrath of said mythical creatures.
- The Alcoholic: Ronan was one and he was very drunk when Namih disappeared.
- Surprisingly Sudden Death: Who expected Officer Murphy to shootRoberta in the head?
- Too Dumb to Live: It probably wasn't the best idea to wear the necklace of the person you murdered in front of the guy who took the wrap.
