Buried (2010) with Trailer

A man in a box. 90 minutes filled full of gripping and nail biting suspense. A claustrophobic inducing film and if you've never suffered from claustrophobia you may well feel like you do by the end of this film. Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) is trapped in a box under ground. An average ordinary joe public who just happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. How, why and when he got there is eventually revealed through the clever use of a prop (the mobile phone). When he is informed by his captors that they intend on using him to extract money from the US government he has only till 9pm to succeed. A race against time with air running out and anxiety setting in.

It's a physically exhausting journey as the action never strays away from the only character we see on screen. Ryan Reynolds gives an outstanding and mesmerizing performance of man trapped in a coffin with all manners of human emotion on display through the films tight ninety minutes. He starts out disorientated, frightened, angry, frustrated, helpless, resigned and then subsequently regains new hope. It's a dizzying array of emotions which we, as the viewer cannot help but feel sucked into.

With extremely clever use of camera angles and placement, we never get a hint of it being set anywhere else but inside this coffin. Director Rodrigo Cortes has admirably allowed us to imagine the world on the outside from within the confined space, via conversations through a mobile the kidnappers have left for our protagonist to communicate to his own people to negotiate a deal for his whereabouts and release. The  mobile phone, initially his one aid, the only hope in providing a contact with the outside world becomes almost a hindrance when he is put on hold at the point of reaching someone he feels may be able to help. Twisted and torturous in equal measures.

The technical aspect is something which has to be applauded. With the use of lighting from a zippo lighter, mobile phone display screen to a torch, provide differences in tonal colour. Occasional blackouts and pull aways into blackness only adds to foreboding sense of hopelessness. Close ups and tracking shots within the confined setting are brilliantly used and very effective at conveying a sense of limited space.

As the story progresses to it's logical conclusion, it's an amazing achievement at how much more suspense and dramatic turn, can come from just a man in a wooden box. When you think things can't get any worse for Paul, it can and it does. Does he make it out? You'll hope he does (and you'll have to watch it to find out) and when you do get to the end, if you are anything like me you will just want to get up,stretch out and breathe, as you will feel like you've been trapped in that damn coffin, short on breath and restricted by walls that seem to be closing in with every passing minute.....

Acting 4/5

Technical Merit 4.5/5

Narrative 4/5

Entertainment 4.5/5

17/20