Digging for Fire

Digging for Fire

Year: 2015

Runtime: 85 min

Language: English

Director: Joe Swanberg

Drama

While house-sitting a secluded estate, a solitary man makes a disturbing find that forces him to examine his own life and the property’s unsettling history. His investigation into the discovery blurs the boundary between what's real and imagined, revealing buried secrets and confronting him with a disturbing truth about the estate and himself.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Digging for Fire yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Digging for Fire (2015) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Digging for Fire (2015), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Lee, a dedicated yoga instructor, takes a temporary assignment house-sitting for a client alongside her husband Tim, a gym teacher, and their energetic 3-year-old son, Jude. As they explore the secluded property, Tim stumbles upon a gun and a bone in the backyard. Though curiosity tempts him to dig deeper for hidden secrets, Lee dissuades him, suggesting it might lead to trouble.

When Lee and Jude decide to spend the weekend with her parents, Tim seizes the opportunity to invite a few friends over, including Ray](/actor/ray), Phil, Adam, and Paul. Their casual gathering takes a turn when they, inspired by a few drinks, collectively agree to excavate the backyard. They quickly unearth another bone and a license plate. As the evening progresses, Phil, feeling uneasy about their antics, leaves the party with Adam and Paul, while Tim’s friend Billy arrives with call girls, Alicia and Max. Billy pairs up with Alicia, while Ray finds a connection with Max, but Tim remains fascinated with digging and discovers a shoe while the night winds down.

The following day, a concerned neighbor pays Tim a visit, cautioning him against further digging, revealing that the area once housed the “Chicano Hall of Fame.” Shortly after, Max returns to claim her purse and joins Tim in his quest, only to uncover a plastic bag filled with bones. Meanwhile, Lee sets off to visit her sister, Squiggy, and brother-in-law, Bob, expressing her feelings of losing her identity post-motherhood.

Misunderstandings arise when Phil comes back to the house and sees Tim with Max, leading him to suspect infidelity. Tim and Max share a dinner where he opens up about his fears regarding his marriage with Lee, which he believes has fallen apart since having Jude. In a parallel narrative, Lee finds herself at a bar, where she meets Ben, who, after a scuffle, accompanies her to find Alicia to treat his wounds. Tensions flare when Tim and Max smoke marijuana, leading to another layer of complications.

As the evening continues, Tim confides his frustrations about his relationship to Max before Lee and Ben share a meaningful kiss at the beach, heightening the emotional stakes for both couples. Upon returning home, Tim’s unease pushes him back to the backyard, where he discovers a ring and what seems to resemble a human hand. He decides to abandon his digging endeavors, tossing the objects back into the hole and filling it in, before reconnecting with Lee, who patiently waits for him. They share a kiss, signaling a possible rekindling, and the next morning, they prepare to leave, collecting their belongings and getting ready to pick up Jude, reaffirming their commitment to family and each other amidst the unfolding mystery.

Last Updated: November 08, 2024 at 03:39

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about marital unease and investigation like Digging for Fire

A quiet domestic mystery reveals the buried tensions in a relationship.If you liked the way Digging for Fire uses a backyard mystery to explore a couple's quiet crisis, you'll appreciate these similar movies. This section features dramas and thrillers where a personal investigation mirrors the unraveling of a relationship, blending slow-burn tension with poignant character studies.

introspectiveuneasyreflectiveatmosphericcontemplativedomestic tension

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread often begin with a character uncovering a physical or metaphorical secret that forces them to re-examine their life and relationships. The investigation parallels an internal journey of self-discovery and marital reassessment, unfolding slowly and emphasizing emotional reality over dramatic plot twists.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on using a mystery as a lens for domestic drama. They share a melancholic tone, medium intensity, and a slow, contemplative pacing that allows the emotional weight of the relationship's examination to take center stage.

Movies about midlife reflection like Digging for Fire

Characters at a crossroads confront their identity and life choices.For viewers who connected with the midlife soul-searching in Digging for Fire, this list features similar character-driven dramas. These movies focus on protagonists reevaluating their lives, relationships, and identities, often with a melancholic feel and a pace that allows for deep introspection.

melancholicreflectiveintrospectivecontemplativemidlife crisisidentity search

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist feeling stuck or disillusioned with their current path. An event or period of solitude prompts deep reflection on their identity, past choices, and future desires. The journey is internal, leading to a climax of self-realization that is poignant and realistically incomplete.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their thematic focus on identity crisis and midlife reflection. They share a contemplative, introspective mood, a slow pacing that mirrors the process of thought, and an emotionally resonant yet bittersweet conclusion that feels authentic to the complexities of life.

Unlock the Full Story of Digging for Fire

Don't stop at just watching — explore Digging for Fire in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Digging for Fire is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Digging for Fire Timeline

Track the full timeline of Digging for Fire with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Digging for Fire Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Digging for Fire

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Digging for Fire. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Digging for Fire

Digging for Fire Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Digging for Fire that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Digging for Fire Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Digging for Fire

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Digging for Fire: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Digging for Fire

Similar Movies to Digging for Fire

Discover movies like Digging for Fire that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.