Buried Alive

Horror

Second Sight

R2 DVD

This style of horror has been well-covered over the years. Director Frank Darabont has already produced one version in 1990 for cable TV and a different version was reviewed in Synergy some months ago. This new remake is based heavily on his 1990 television program and has a more ordinary setting than the traditional horror versions.

Clint is a successful builder in a quiet country town. He leads a quiet home life in the town he loves and goes fishing with the Sheriff. His wife Joanna, a city girl, is bored with the country life and is having an affair with a local doctor. The doctor is an undesirable type, heavily in debt, and he has convinced Joanna to kill her husband, sell off the business and assets, and they will then leave town and live happily ever after. So he says, but his other plans for Joanna become evident later in the film.

Joanna fumbles the vial containing the murder drug and spills some, so Clint only gets a partial dose. It is enough to convince everyone that he is dead. She gives him a quick budget funeral with no embalming and an old coffin and starts selling off Clint’s business. Clint awakes and manages to break out of the cheap coffin. Dazed and not completely recovered from the poison, he makes his way back to his home to hear the doctor and Joanna planning their next moves. As he recovers he makes his move. Now it is their turn to experience the horror of being trapped.

Although the plot is well worn Darabont has the skill to direct it as a sensible, realistic horror film. He has to his credit directed The Green Mile, The Shawshank Redemption and The Mist so this is a not a cheap amateur production. Good direction, good acting and skilful cinematography make a big difference. As the film moves from the horror of being buried to the savagery of revenge we are with Clint all the way.

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