Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- eerie
- dread-filled
- visceral
- late night horror viewing
- cult movie marathon
What critics said
Critics generally find the film atmospheric and entertaining, praising its suspense, practical effects, and gruesome shocks despite reservations about its plot logic and uneven balance between mystery and visceral horror.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Sheriff Dan Gillis discovers that the friendly residents of Potter's Bluff share a horrifying secret and appear to be involved in the murders.
The foggy seaside setting, mysterious killings, and superficially pleasant town sustain an atmosphere of total dread.
The film is noted for Stan Winston's special-effects work and visceral corpse imagery involving murdered and reanimated victims.
Dan investigates individual murders, suspects Janet's witchcraft book, and encounters misleading clues before learning the mortician's secret.
Films like Dead & Buried, and why
The Fog
foggy coastal setting, supernatural mystery, atmospheric horror, and gruesome shocks
The Stepford Wives
small-town paranoia, uncanny neighbors, and horror built around concealed collective secrets
Messiah of Evil
surreal coastal dread, mysterious deaths, and an eerie supernatural atmosphere
Humanoids from the Deep
slow-building seaside terror, isolated community unease, and escalating supernatural violence
Movie Details
- Director
- Gary Sherman
- Release Date
- 1981-05-29
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (341)
Cast
- James Farentino
- Melody Anderson
- Jack Albertson
- Dennis Redfield
- Nancy Locke
- Lisa Blount
- Robert Englund
- Bill Quinn
- Michael Currie
- Christopher Allport
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Night Flight Plus, Screambox Amazon Channel, Midnight Pulp, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Dead & Buried about?
- A small-town sheriff investigating grisly murders discovers that Potter's Bluff is hiding a corpse-reanimating secret.
- What is Dead & Buried like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dead & Buried as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Dead & Buried violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Dead & Buried as graphic.
- What did critics think of Dead & Buried?
- Critics generally find the film atmospheric and entertaining, praising its suspense, practical effects, and gruesome shocks despite reservations about its plot logic and uneven balance between mystery and visceral horror.
- Which films are like Dead & Buried?
- Films with a similar feel include The Fog, The Stepford Wives, Messiah of Evil, and Humanoids from the Deep.
- How long is Dead & Buried?
- Dead & Buried runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch Dead & Buried?
- In United States, Dead & Buried streams on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Night Flight Plus, Screambox Amazon Channel, Midnight Pulp, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel.
