A 'Buried' Movie Review

The 2010 film "Buried" starring Ryan Reynolds as Paul Conroy is scary and it is not even a horror movie. "Buried" gets straight to the point, wasting no time in setting up conflict where Paul Conroy is concerned. A U.S. truck driver working in Iraq wakes up to find that he is buried in a wooden coffin. This movie grabs the viewer's attention within the first five minutes and keeps it throughout the scenes that follow by creating a sense of urgency for Conroy that is not easily mitigated. The setup that is constructed would likely get old quick in a movie like "Buried," where there are literally no other places to go for these scenes.

The story manages to avoid becoming monotonous by keeping this kidnapping situation fresh within the confines of Conroy's restricted circumstances. The main character is not always likeable because he appears to be sabotaging his chances of survival by verbally attacking the very people who can help him. Yet, his short temper and hysterical behavior makes "Buried" realistic, as it depicts how any human being would likely react if he or she was trapped with no way to escape on their own. Viewers are also introduced to several new characters in this film, including the kidnappers who make impossible demands of their hostage. Viewers get to know a few of these characters throughout the entire story, even though Conroy is the only one with an on-screen presence.

Despite it's multimillion dollar budget, "Buried" is like an independent filmmaker's dream where the production elements are concerned. One location and few props including a cell phone, anxiety medication, a lighter and flask allow the average viewer to have low expectations for the movie regarding production quality. There are no special effects, set design or fancy costumes to be seen thanks to the gritty nature of how the story is setup. Most of the energy is focused on the action inside a wooden box, making the movie completely dependent on Ryan Reynolds and his very believable acting skills.

"Buried" is a dramatic masterpiece that takes feelings of desperation, claustrophobia to new heights. The movie places fear at the very core of human nature, causing viewers to relate to Conroy on an emotional level. As time winds down and the wooden box starts to rupture, viewers are moved to the edge of their seats while Conroy holds on for dear life.