Review of Buried (2010) by Lucas K — 30 Aug 2018

Strengths: This film works because of two people. Rodrigo Cortes and Ryan Reynolds (Paul Conroy). Let's start with Cortes. He directs a movie that entirely takes place in the confines of a casket. That's tough in itself, but he also manages to do it in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat and engages the hell out of the viewer. He nails the claustrophobic tone. There are times where you may have to get up and walk away because you'll feel trapped just watching Paul struggle. Speaking of Paul, Reynolds gives one of the strongest performances of his career. It's emotionally gripping and you feel for everything that he's going through. The phone calls he makes are frustrating for him, as people aren't taking his situation seriously, and it makes for compelling entertainment. There's also a lot to be said about his scenes where he isn't talking. He tells a story without having to speak. Seeing his resourcefulness is interesting and makes you root for him extra hard.

Weaknesses: As engaging as they manage to make the film, it has one major flaw. It's repetitive. Paul just makes phone call after phone call. I understand the idea of him getting increasingly frustrated with each, but it ends up feeling like more of the same with each call. There's also an issue of the way the film looks. I love the claustrophobic feel and darkness is fine, but there were moments where you couldn't tell what was happening. Using the glow stick more would've allowed for a more visible sight and given it a unique look.

Overall: It's quite the accomplishment to take the small setting of a casket and use one actor on screen for an hour and a half and make it work. Cortes and Reynolds combined to deliver a great, tense thriller that perfectly makes you feel the claustrophobia at the center of the film.