Directed by Rodrigo Cortes. Staring Ryan Reynolds, Robert Paterson, Stephen Tobolowsky, Samantha Mathis. 2010, USA, Thriller, 91 mins.

DVD release date 14th February 2011

Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds), a truck driver in Iraq, wakes up to find himself buried alive after an attack on his convoy. With limited air and a low on battery foreign language phone, Paul must fight against time to gain his freedom and uncover the events that have led to his situation.

‘Buried’ starts out as it means to go on. It drags you in deep and doesn’t let you up for air. Not once. We open with a fantastic title sequence, very reminiscent of the classic titles of Saul Bass (especially the ones he created for Hitchcock). The visual style of the film is set here, very simply and very creatively. This exciting lead in to the film creates both tension and drama with a strong sense of claustrophobia; a tool the film takes full advantage of. There is no time to relax or settle into the film because it becomes very uncomfortable very quickly. The music is also fantastic, both in this sequence and throughout the entire film. It gives the film the necessary sense of urgency.

Opening a film with a long empty black screen is a very daring thing to do. But it works. Sound is an important part of this film and we are forced to relate with Paul Conroy by sharing the experience through his senses. We instantly know that this film is going to be creative, both visually and aurally. The story is obviously very simple, but in order to be effective the filmmakers have spent a lot of time thinking about what they are doing. The story is basic, but very well executed. It is especially interesting to see how it has been created due to the fact that for a very long time the script was deemed as ‘un-filmable’. Thanks to a superb team up between director Cortes and actor Reynolds we can live the nightmare as it was originally intended.

Ryan Reynolds plays the role of Paul Conroy to perfection. Reynolds has proven himself in so many roles recently, with an ability to be both dramatic and comedic while still containing a very important element of humanity. This is a film he will long be remembered for. A character such as this needs to be able to reach out and grab the audience. Reynolds brings such emotion to the film that the viewer cannot help to be drawn in to the narrative. He pulls the film together with such a strong performance and watching the film you really feel his emotions and can see the power that he has as an actor. It becomes one of those roles that you can’t imagine anyone else playing!

The rest of the talent comes in the form of voices on Conroy’s phone. These voices lead to some genuinely horrifying moments but also some desperate injections of humour. Every word spoken in the film is of great importance and has been delicately directed. The delivery and tone of the dialogue keeps the viewer engaged and on the edge of their seat. It also keeps the mystery going by adding to our minimal knowledge of what is happening and what will happen next. For a film like this, acting (even just voice talent) is vital to keeping the film based in reality and the audience engaged in the dramatic situation.

You wouldn’t expect a film set in a box to be visually stunning, but ‘Buried’ is exactly that. The cinematography and camerawork in the film are just breathtaking. The attention to detail and use of light and colour works perfectly. So much thought has gone into how to bring this story to life and it shows on screen. Because of the restrictions of the ‘set’, creativity and technicality had to overcome the obstacles and actually combine to make some of the most stunning imagery on screen. To be able to keep our focus for an hour and a half took some serious work, and it’s well worth seeing, just for that. By the time you reach the conclusion you feel completely exhausted.

‘Buried’ is certainly a film to have in your collection, either on DVD or BluRay. It deserves multiple viewings and is sure to be one of those films that you can introduce other people to. Viewing on the biggest screen with the loudest sound in the darkest room is sure to evoke some of the feelings of claustrophobia and intensity that viewers in cinemas would have felt, and indeed Paul Conroy experiences in his story.

The disc itself is quite bare which is unfortunate, as one would assume the making of this film would be full of great stories and technical facts. We are given an interview with Cortes that is quite informative and interesting, and a short behind the scenes that gives a glimpse into the production but leaves us wanting to know more. For a film that no doubt had a very interesting production it would have been nice to see more about it in special features.

Russ Gomm.

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