Buried
An American truck driver buried alive in Iraq fights panic, dwindling oxygen, and institutional indifference through the fragile connection of a cellphone.
Overview
Trapped in darkness, one man's desperate fight for survival unfolds in a coffin.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- claustrophobic
- panicked
- oppressive
- late night thriller viewing
- claustrophobic movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a gripping, nerve-wracking showcase for Ryan Reynolds that extracts sustained drama from its claustrophobic premise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Paul remains trapped inside a buried wooden coffin while the external world is accessed only through communication devices.
Paul's dwindling air supply and limited lighter, phone battery, and time drive each decision.
Paul's cigarette lighter provides intermittent, fragile illumination inside the coffin.
Paul contacts people outside the coffin, but bureaucratic and logistical obstacles repeatedly obstruct rescue.
Films like Buried, and why
127 Hours
shared single-location suspense, escalating claustrophobia, and a protagonist forced to improvise under extreme pressure
Phone Booth
shared real-time survival thriller structure, confined setting, and intense psychological distress
Rear Window
shared Hitchcock-influenced suspense, enclosed spaces, and a desperate race against an unseen threat
Movie Details
- Director
- Rodrigo Cortés
- Release Date
- 2010-09-24
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (3156)
Cast
- Ryan Reynolds
- José Luis García Pérez
- Robert Paterson
- Stephen Tobolowsky
- Samantha Mathis
- Ivana Miño
- Warner Loughlin
- Erik Palladino
- Kali Rocha
- Chris William Martin
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Buried about?
- An American truck driver buried alive in Iraq fights panic, dwindling oxygen, and institutional indifference through the fragile connection of a cellphone.
- What is Buried like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Buried as breakneck, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Buried violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Buried as mild.
- What did critics think of Buried?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a gripping, nerve-wracking showcase for Ryan Reynolds that extracts sustained drama from its claustrophobic premise.
- Which films are like Buried?
- Films with a similar feel include 127 Hours, Phone Booth, and Rear Window.
- How long is Buried?
- Buried runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch Buried?
- In United States, Buried streams on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel.
