Review: Buried (Ryan Reynolds)

Emdad Rahman
Ryan Reynolds: Paul Conroy
Directed By: Rodrigo Cortes
Written By: Chris Sparling
Running Time: 90 minutes

"It sent me into a blind panic:"- Mark Kermode

For many, sharing an enclosed space with the brilliant Ryan Reynolds would be manna from heaven. I’d bet top dollar that wouldn’t be so in this case.

In this claustrophobic suspense thriller, Paul Conroy is a relief truck driver for a contractor based in Iraq. His truck is ambushed and whilst his colleagues are shot, Conroy is hit with a stone and passes out. He awakes concussed in a dark and dry tomb – Conroy has been buried alive.

The film begins in total darkness. You can hear Conroy’s laborious breathing as he very slowly regains consciousness. There follows banging and howling as a disoriented Conroy initially fails to get a grip on the grim reality that he is now faced with. It is at this point that the viewer is drawn into the darkness and morphs into Conroy.

The American very shortly discovers a Zippo lighter, along with a half charged cell phone placed purposefully by the kidnapper. The items have now become the most important tools that Conroy will ever have. Unless he is a religious man, Conroy will now be reliant upon limited light and a temperamental cell phone.

Apart from voices on the end of the cell phone the entire film is set in the box twelve feet under the ground.
Reynolds is mesmeric and captivating in the role. From the confines of his coffin he calls his personnel department, 411 and someone very likely to be his ex. During his struggle to make contact with mortals from the outside world, Conroy is agonisingly and acutely aware of his rapidly diminishing oxygen supply. He also makes a call to his kidnapper who demands “5 million”, (later reduced drastically) for his release. The dim flashlight, Zippo and cell beams will ensure that the audience identify with and share nothing but the deepest heartfelt compassion for Conroy.

Conroy’s predicament in Buried is reminiscent of the murderous bride buried alive in Kill Bill. Paul Conroy is not however blessed with the dazzling array of self martial arts skills that Uma Thurman commands. The desperate truck driver is therefore left solely to rely on the judgement, urgency, and ability of his fellow humans to rescue him.
 
Chris Sparling’s screenplay is creative and very imaginative, but the show is stolen by Cortes’ magic with the camera. After all it would take a phenomenal level of skill and talent to hold the viewers attention and interest for such a lengthy time in one dark, albeit petrifying location. Cortes pulls off the trick with ease with room for plenty more.

As the darkness becomes overwhelming and embracing, the viewer will be united in Conroy’s anguish and be dreadfully downbeat when each moment of fleeting optimism is dashed.

It is evident that Reynolds worked himself into the ground (sic) to play this role. For once we are not treated to his fine comic humour, cutting one liners and dashing good looks, although there are glimpses when the old bubbly wisecracking Reynolds does come through with a few choice verbal volleys.

This is grassroots business. Paul Conroy is wounded and bleeding. He’s disoriented, thirsty, hoarse of voice and on the verge of a full blown attack. Conroy’s asthmatic wheezing when his lighter and torch go off is nothing short of traumatic and the viewer will more than once place their hands on their bosom to relieve the tightening sensation within their chest.

The corporate and political machinations that occur during the movie will anger many and will provoke major debates and discussions surrounding governmental and employer responsibility with regards to the safety of their citizen or employer. After all isn’t there a whole lot more to worry about in the United States than a missing truck driver who is buried alive some where in Iraq.

It will beg the question: Is one man’s life worth the aggro?

Within this scenario, Cortes portrays real life sickening twists and corporate hardball. It was a scene that dealt a smashing hammer blow to my six pack.

The viewer will not be able to escape the harrowing atmosphere within the death den. Cortes has masterfully shot the scenes to near perfection – you have no choice, you will be drawn into the dark chasm that engulfs Conroy. The viewer will feel his pain, and reach for their throat when he emits his horse and agonised cries.
Restricted airspace is the buzz these days – see Devil and Ski Lift. This film has no extra gimmicks. The viewer will spend 90 frenetic and frantic minutes with Conroy, struggling in the murky underground.
Rodrigo Cortes has created one of the most masterful and memorable 90 minutes of suspense since Hitchcock.

With Constricted breathing join Paul Conroy in the dark, and prepare to perspire, panic and be unbearably overwhelmed.

Claustrophobics need not apply…

Buried is showing at Dagenham Vue - Dagenham Leisure Park, Cook Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM9 6UQ