Buried Review

                                                      3 1/2 Nuts!

Director: Rodrigo Cortes                              

Suspense, tension, intrigue, excitement, Hitchcock would be proud.  Everything about this movie is suspenseful.  For the entire 95 minutes you are completely consumed by the film’s plot.  The film is about Paul, played by Ryan Reynolds, who wakes up to find that he has been buried alive (what gave it away).  We soon learn that he is a U.S truck driver working in Iraq, and has been taken hostage and will remain buried underground unless the hostage’s demands are met.  I watched this film on my computer like many will, but it’s a film for the big screen, so one can get the feel of being trapped inside the coffin with our protagonist.  Equipped with only a few items, including a knife and a cell phone, we watch as Paul desperately tries to figure out how he got into this predicament and struggles to stay alive. 

Although this movie takes place entirely inside the coffin, the director does a fabulous job keeping us entertained the whole time.  There is no real slow part of the movie, there cannot be one; Paul only has a short amount of time before he runs out of oxygen.  It is clear that the audience will not be bored for one second of the film.  The plot comes with twists and turns that may seems a bit contrived and a bit over the top but it keeps the plot fresh and original.  If you can look past the absurdities you will find an incredibly jarring film that will keep you on the edge of your seat until literally the last second. 

On a technical note, I found this film’s direction to be extremely impressive.  Working only within the confines of a small box, the director is able to establish a great deal of suspense and even thrill.  This film also pays homage to Hitchcock, who also didn’t need a lot of material to make a film incredibly suspenseful.  From the music of the title credits you immediately feel that this could have easily be mistaken for a Hitchcock film. 

Ryan Reynolds does a surprisingly solid job as the main character.  Although his character may seem like a bit of a jerk at times in the movie, we are rooting for him and desperately want him to survive.  His acting is believable enough for this role and he comes across as an average Joe. 

In a peaNut Shell: I think that when a film can accomplish the suspense and terror that it sets out to create, then the director has done a good job.  The plot goes a little over the top, but not to the point where people will be rolling their eyes. It’s not incredibly bloody but, gore is not needed to make the film frightening.   I strongly recommend this film for anyone who enjoys suspense.  Watch this one on a large screen. With the lights out.