The New Movie "Digger": Is the Message Too Tough to Hear... or Are We Just Busy Blaming Everybody Else?

Every so often a movie comes along that divide's audiences right down the middle. Not because of special effects. Not because of the acting. Not because someone forgot how to write an ending.

No, it's because the film dares to hold up a mirror.

And let's be honest, folks. Most people love mirrors right up until they show us something we don't want to see.

That brings us to Digger.

The question floating around isn't whether the movie is well-made. The real question seems to be:

Did the movie accidentally ask audiences to take responsibility for something?

Because if that's the case, we may have found the scariest horror movie of the decade.

Some viewers appear to walk away uncomfortable with the film's themes and message. Not because they're complicated, but because they hit close to home. Modern society has become remarkably efficient at finding someone else to blame.

Traffic?

Someone else's fault.

The economy?

Someone else's fault.

The weather?

Somehow also someone else's fault.

Coffee too hot?

A worldwide conspiracy.

We've become experts at passing the buck faster than a hot potato at a family reunion.

In some ways, the conversation surrounding Digger feels oddly similar to discussions that pop up whenever Tom Cruise appears in interviews talking about commitment, discipline, accountability, or pushing yourself beyond what you thought possible.

Love him or hate him, Cruise tends to preach a philosophy that makes some people squirm:

"Your choices matter."

That's not always a popular message.

After all, it's much easier to believe that every setback is caused by politicians, corporations, neighbors, social media, aliens, Bigfoot, swamp monsters, or the ghost of your high school gym teacher.

Responsibility is hard work.

Blame is a hobby.

And hobbies are supposed to be fun.

The irony is that science fiction and thoughtful drama used to wrestle with these ideas all the time. During the 1960s and 1970s, filmmakers weren't afraid to make audiences uncomfortable.

Look at Silent Running.

Look at Soylent Green.

Look at The Andromeda Strain.

These films weren't whispering their messages.

They were practically standing on a rooftop with a megaphone shouting:

"HEY! MAYBE YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO THIS!"

The creators genuinely believed movies could be more than entertainment. They could be warnings.

Today's audiences often expect a movie to entertain first, reassure second, and challenge nobody.

When a film suddenly asks viewers to examine their own behavior, the reaction can be surprisingly hostile.

It's almost as if audiences are saying:

"Hold on. I bought popcorn, not self-reflection."

Fair enough.

Nobody likes being lectured.

But there's a difference between a lecture and a challenge.

A challenge asks us to think.

A lecture tells us what to think.

The best message movies leave the answer up to the audience.

Maybe Digger falls into that category.

Maybe it asks questions that don't have easy answers.

Or maybe people simply arrived expecting escapism and instead got a reminder that actions have consequences.

That's always been a risky proposition.

Just ask every science fiction writer who ever tried to warn humanity about something.

Half the audience applauds.

The other half asks where the explosions are.

In the end, perhaps the controversy surrounding Digger says less about the movie and more about us.

After all, accepting responsibility is difficult.

Blaming everyone else is easy.

And if there's one thing modern society loves more than streaming services, smartphones, and arguing online, it's finding a villain for every problem.

Sometimes the villain is out there.

Sometimes the villain is in the mirror.

And that may be the most uncomfortable plot twist of all.