Plot: A private contractor working in Iraq wakes up to find himself in a coffin, buried alive.

Review:

"Buried" was one of those movies that looked good, but I had no desire to watch it while it spent its two minutes in the theaters. My reasoning as to why I skipped on it is iffy even to me. The concept is very unsettling, especially for someone as claustrophobic as myself. I like Ryan Reynolds and at the time thought he was about to be a huge star. Remember how everyone wanted more of him in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine"? I was one of those guys too. However, his rise sort of collapsed when "Green Lantern" under performed critically and financially. As big of a disappointment as that must've been, I imagine "Buried" looked worse for the studios. After all, "Green Lantern" didn't get great reviews and I think had it been a better movie, more people would've flocked too it. That movie wasn't Reynolds' fault. "Buried" received accolades by critics and audiences alike and cost next to nothing, but it STILL made no money. Apparently Reynolds wasn't the big draw we thought he would be. But since then, I've changed my mind. People avoided "Buried" for a reason that probably had little to do with Reynolds. I think it was a bomb because who wants to spend 90 minutes in a coffin? That's one gimmick that might just be too much for some. But for what it is, I found it to be a rather effective film.

Paul (Ryan Reynolds) wakes up with a coffin, equipped with a cell phone, a lighter and a few other items. We learn that he is a truck driver, a private contractor working in Iraq whose convey was attacked by criminals. He receives a phone call from his captors who inform him that he has a few hours to raise $5,000,000 or he will be left there to rot. What follows is Paul's desperate attempts to call for help while he battles his own claustrophobic anxiety. But things are about to get much worse for Paul....much worse.

"Buried", like most successful horror films these days, is a film that will either work on you or it won't. Man, I've been using these phrases a lot lately in my reviews, haven't I? Sometimes I worry I'm copping out when I stress that it will bore or scare you. My last review was "Lake Mungo" and I pretty much said the same thing. But I can't explain it any other way. You have to ask yourself if the concept and its execution sounds intriguing to you. If not, I don't know if you will like "Buried" very much. Hell, in a way, it's not really even a horror film. It's a thriller with a horrific concept. Amusingly, the trailers portray it as a "Saw" rip-off, but critics feel it's more of an avant garde art film. It's not, really...Yes, it has elements of "Saw" and it has a few artistic moments, but it is at its core just a really good claustrophobic thriller.

To confirm, yes, the entire movie takes place within a coffin. If there is any scene that takes place outside of it, it's if Paul is rescued (and I say 'if', I'm trying not to spoil anything). There are no flashbacks or anything of the sort to take the viewer out of the coffin. Obviously the first focus of the director is to create a sense of claustrophobia. Many scenes feel like they take place in a genuine coffin and I found this to be very effective. Yet he also breaks the fourth wall continuously by having the camera pull back long distances, making the coffin LOOK like it's the longest coffin ever. Despite the handful of wide shots, the film never loses its claustrophobic edge. In fact, they somehow ADD to the claustrophobia. I also liked the many different kinds of lighting. The cell phone light, the lighter's flame, the flashlight and those light sticks all create different kinds of effects and kept the movie from becoming stale.

But generally, the film is about Reynolds freaking out. He does some really stupid shit that sometimes was reasonable and other times was not. I was a bit irked at how he contacted the FBI instead of the CIA and the snake thing was kind of dumb, but generally he had my sympathy. Reynolds is one of the few 'funnyman' actors who actually can play serious very well. The film has some great moments of intensity that occur, from a snake harassing him, to a fire, to freaking bombs exploding outside. The film never gives this guy a break and I found myself rooting for him to make it through this ordeal. I was always interested, never bored. I think it did a good job at putting us- the viewer- in the coffin with him and that will either intrigue viewers or drive them away. 

That's really all I can say about "Buried". It worked on me. It got under my skin, it made me root for our hero and made the events that much more effective. There is something disturbingly nihilistic about the tone of the movie. Oddly, on the most unsettling facets come from how people respond to Paul. The people who are supposed to be helping him are deceptive, cold and calculating. The films most grueling moment- in my opinion- comes when his boss calls him. That scene is so...disgusting that it made me angry. "Buried" made me feel everything it wanted me to feel- anger, frustration, fear, resentment, paranoia, claustrophobia and even hope- and that is why I love it. The best of movies direct the audience just as much as they direct the actors. That is why I think it underperformed in the box office. Who wants to see a movie where you feel like you're the one trapped in a coffin.

Violence: Ummm, some scenes are hard to watch but the rating comes from excessive language.

Nudity: None. But is that a snake in Reynolds pants or is he happy to see me? Okay, that was stupid...

Overall: "Buried" is a must see for those who like the concept and think it can work. It's also for fans of claustrophobic horror films. But if you don't like the idea, you might want to avoid it.

3.5/4 Stars