Buried (2010) ⭐ 7.0 | Drama, Mystery, Thriller

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Overview

Buried is a 2010 thriller directed by Spanish filmmaker Rodrigo Cortés and starring Ryan Reynolds. The film is a masterclass in minimalist cinema, focusing on a single character trapped in a single location for the entire runtime. With a runtime of just 91 minutes, it delivers a tense, claustrophobic, and emotionally charged experience that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. 🎬

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Chronological Summary & Detailed Explanation

1. Opening: The Nightmare Begins

The movie opens in total darkness. The audience is immediately thrown into the terrifying situation of the protagonist, Paul Conroy (played by Ryan Reynolds), who wakes up to find himself trapped in a wooden box, buried underground. He is disoriented, panicked, and has no idea how he got there.

"Buried opens with a man trapped in what appears to be a wooden box buried underground."

Paul quickly realizes he is buried alive with only a few items: a Zippo lighter, a mobile phone (with Arabic settings), a pencil, a pocket knife, and some anti-anxiety pills (hinting at his struggle with anxiety).

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2. Piecing Together the Past

As Paul tries to make sense of his situation, he recalls his last memory: he was working as an American truck driver for Creston Roland and Thomas (CRT) in Iraq. His convoy was ambushed by insurgents.

"His last memory is that of his convoy being ambushed by people (as Conroy puts it- terrorists, insurgents who the f**k cares?)."

He desperately searches for a special emergency contact number given to Americans in Iraq, but it's missing. Instead, he must rely on the phone he finds in the coffin.

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3. Desperate Communication

The bulk of the film revolves around Paul's frantic attempts to contact the outside world using the phone. He calls:

• His family
• His employer
• The State Department
• Hostage Negotiation Teams

He is met with bureaucratic obstacles, answering machines, and robotic call operators.

"Answering machines (that great trickster of a machine that promises to callback but doesn't), robot call operators (Sir, I can connect you to the FBI field office in Boston, New York, Chicago…), the protocols (Crisis Steering Committee, Hostage Negotiation Team) etc, all of which somewhat seem hopelessly trivial in the face of more existential needs."

The film cleverly uses phone conversations to build tension and reveal character, making every ring, battery bar, and screen light crucial to the story.

"Here every ring is crucial, the battery bar is nail-biting, even the light of the screen is important."

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4. The Abductor's Demands

Paul is soon contacted by his abductor, who demands a ransom from the American Embassy. The threats are real and escalate as the film progresses. Paul is forced to record a ransom video, which is later uploaded to YouTube, increasing his sense of helplessness and exposure.

"He is forced to make a video of himself which finds its way to the YouTube. As things deliberate, Conroy starts to realise he is just a small, helpless insect caught in a web spun by devious and meaner players…"

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5. Race Against Time

With air running out and the phone battery dying, Paul's situation becomes increasingly desperate. The film masterfully builds suspense, keeping viewers guessing about his fate until the very end.

"He has a limited amount of air, giving him a limited time to find a way out. All he has to aid him in this task is his cigarette lighter, a torch, a mobile phone and his will to live."

"Incredibly engrossing and tension-filled. Until the very last moment you don't know how things are going to work out."

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6. Emotional Journey

Throughout the ordeal, Paul experiences a rollercoaster of emotions: anger, pain, fear, disdain, dread, calm, and finally, acceptance.

"I found how Cortes had guided Conroy's character through a sequence of emotions - anger, pain, fear, disdain, dread, calm and finally acceptance very beautiful, though in a sense beautiful is not the correct word here."

Ryan Reynolds delivers a career-defining performance, carrying the entire film on his shoulders.

"Reynolds gives the performance of his life here, running through a rainbow of emotions, angry, sarcastic and terrified are but a few. Compelling and sympathetic, likely physically arduous too… he holds the film wonderfully."

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7. Themes & Symbolism

The film is rich in geo-political subtext and existential themes. Paul's predicament is seen as a metaphor for America's entanglement in foreign conflicts and the limitations of technology and bureaucracy in the face of real human crises.

"I read the movie as Conroy being symbolic of America trapped in a situation which he couldn't get out of despite all the technology and the capitalism abound…"

The film is described as a "21st century cinematic marriage of Kafka and Beckett", referencing the absurdity and existential dread found in their works.

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8. Cinematography & Style

Despite being set entirely in a coffin, the film remains visually engaging thanks to creative camera angles and lighting.

"Director Rodrigo Cortes has a nimble eye for visuals and angles to keep things visually interesting, while cinematographer Eduard Grau gets the best out of the mere two light sources to make the experience a frighteningly vivid one."

The minimalist approach is compared to Dogme 95 and praised for its originality.

"Spanish director Rodrigo Cortes takes minimalist cinema-making to new heights by telling a story with just only one character trapped in one location in what is almost dogma 95esque settings…"

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9. Climax & Ending (No Spoilers)

The film's ending is surprising and unexpected, leaving a lasting impact on viewers.

"The end was very surprising and unexpected. I don't want to give more details here. Just watch it."

"Just as you think that nothing more can happen, a surprise twist occurs which makes you want to stay and see if he will or will not survive. The ending was a surprise to me."

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Key Takeaways & Learnings

• Minimalism can be powerful: The film proves you don't need a big budget or multiple locations to create a gripping story.
• Performance matters: Ryan Reynolds' acting is central to the film's success.
• Tension through simplicity: Every small detail (battery life, air supply, phone calls) is used to maximum effect.
• Existential and political undertones: The story works both as a literal thriller and a metaphor for larger issues.
• Creative filmmaking: The use of camera angles, lighting, and sound design keeps the single-location setting engaging.

"Shows you don't need a big budget to make a great movie."

"Movies such as Buried ought to be encouraged, because, amongst million other reasons it defines what cinema is more than how a 3D movie would."

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Final Thoughts

Buried is a tense, claustrophobic, and thought-provoking thriller that stands out for its originality and emotional depth. If you enjoy movies that push the boundaries of storytelling and filmmaking, this is a must-watch. Just be prepared for a wild emotional ride and a few surprises along the way! 😱📱🕯️

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Rating:

• IMDb: ⭐ 7.0/10
• Reviewers: "A solid 7/10", "A 9/10 from me", "Well worth watching"

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If you like movies like Phone Booth or Man On A Ledge, you'll probably enjoy Buried too!