The concept of Rodrigo Cortés' Buried is one that is inherently simple and yet has only really been attempted for short periods of time within any one narrative. Buried Alive (and its sequel) did it in the ‘90s. Quentin Tarantino did it twice, once in Kill Bill Vol.2, the other in his two-part CSI episode Grave Danger. But never has it been committed to as much as it is in Buried.
The film takes place entirely within the confines of a coffin, with its occupant being an American contractor, Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds), who has been kidnapped, buried alive and held for ransom. Paul only has a lighter and a cell phone with him. His captors want $5 million by 9:00pm or else they’ll leave him to die.
On paper the idea of setting an entire movie (which runs at over 90 minutes) completely inside a coffin seems ludicrous. How can an idea like that be sustained for a full-length feature, how can that possibly be compelling, engaging or at the very least interesting?
Buried has this doubt going against right off the bat. However, Cortés manages to ring more tension, fear and dread out of the premise than I thought was possible. First off it puts you right in there with Paul, almost as if you’re lying in the coffin with him (some stylistic and dramatic directorial techniques sometimes even make you believe you’re the only one in the coffin). “How would I react to this situation?” is the question that immediately pops into your head and never leaves. Claustrophobes need not apply.
Apart from the voices of the people Paul manages to call the film is a one-man-show by Reynolds and it really gives him the opportunity to show his acting talent. Reynolds gives an award-worthy performance, really helping to sell the fact that this guy is simultaneously scared out of his mind but also smart and in control of what he has to work with (remembering some important phone numbers, figuring out how to turn his body within the tight space and so forth). I wouldn’t be surprised if we hear his name being read out come Oscar nomination time.
There are undoubtedly weaknesses to be found, but most of them are as a result of necessity to move things forward rather than big plot holes that the writer or director simply forgot about. For instance it is never really explained how Paul is able to get reception on his phone considering he’s buried under more than a few feet of sand (it’s particularly baffling how he’s able to reach a number in the U.S. when he’s in Iraq). Nor is the issue of his oxygen level dealt with in any great detail (even if it does get mentioned). But overall these are relatively minor things that, as I say, are there in order to build tension or move things forward and if you accept them within the context of the story they really become non-issues.
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Article comments
1 - Emm
I watched a film that sounds similar to this recently. It was The Disappearance of Alice Creed and it was filmed almost entirely in an apartment and focused on the kidnap victim and her two abductors. I'm not sure if even Ryan Reynolds could attract me to this film but given how good Alice Creed was, maybe I should give it a chance.
2 - Wyann Rosales
great film although not for everyone. I heared most of the people beside in the cinema saying that they would want to walk out... but they never did, thats the greatness of the film for me. it manages to keep people in... just like what paul felt, he is trapped.. so are the audience.