Tom Cruise’s new movie Digger screened for the press this week – and critics can’t seem to agree on what to make about the dystopian black comedy.
Since then, the first reactions on social media from those who’ve seen the film have so far been completely polarised, calling it everything from “goofy” to “unpleasant” to “fascinating stuff”.
Either way, Digger promises to be a film that will spark conversation and debate, whether audiences love it or hate it.
Next Best Picture founder Matt Neglia declared Digger to be an “over-the-top comedy of gigantic satirical proportions” and teased that the film probably isn’t what audiences may be expecting from its previously-released trailers.
However, despite appreciating the “sombre commentary on the bleak state of the world we’re inevitably heading toward”, the writer ultimately declared the film “less of a bang and more of a hollow misfire”.
The Wrap’s Drew Taylor also called the “odd and extraordinary” film “a grand satire (or farce?) about our current predicament and where we go from here, full of barbed commentary and outlandish set pieces”, but acknowledged it won’t be for everyone.
Variety’s Clayton Davis voiced his respect for the bold film that the film takes, but lamented that he wishes it “leaned harder into the absurdity and satire it kept reaching for”.
Similarly, content creator The Oscar Expert had mixed feelings about Digger, declaring it to be “goofy” and “not funny”, but still “fascinating.”
“It’ll be divisive…” he concluded. “But I appreciated the ambition and surprises.”
Hidden by elaborate prosthetics and makeup, critics have already suggested that Digger could help Tom land his fourth acting Oscar nomination, with his performance being hailed as both “magnificent” and “memorable”.
Film critic Carla Renata called Digger one of Tom’s “craziest, bravest most magnificent career performances” to date, with fellow film journalist Courtney Howard agreeing that his work in the movie is “brilliant”, “boldly invigorated” and an all-round “tour de force”.
Directed by Oscar winner Alejandro González Iñárritu, who previously helmed Birdman and The Revenant, Digger centres around Tom’s character, who is described as the most powerful man in the world.
Over the course of the film – which co-stars John Goodman, Sandra Hüller and Riz Ahmed – he must prove he can save humanity before a disaster of his own making destroys everything.
Tom recently told GQ that this film is the “culmination of all my skills” while referring to Digger himself as his most “challenging character ever”.
You can see for yourself if Digger is messy or magnificent when it’s released in cinemas on 2 October.