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Buried Alive Blu-ray Review

“Buried Alive” is Frank Darabont’s feature length directorial debut.

Clint has it all. A dream house, a stunning wife (Joanna), and his own construction business. Joanna doesn’t share her husband’s happiness though. She’s a bored housewife that misses NY and is cheating on Clint with a Doctor (Cortland). The two concoct a scheme to poison Clint and take his riches to move to L.A. Of course, as the title suggests, he didn’t die from being poisoned and is buried alive. What happens next? That would be telling. 

Before he went on to helm instant classics such as “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Green Mile,” Frank Darabont directed this 1990 TV movie (USA Network to be exact) thriller which definitely showcased the director’s skills as a filmmaker. This nasty little movie penned by Mark Patrick Carducci plays like a cross between a “Tales From The Crypt” story and an Edgar Allan Poe tale. It’s part thriller, part revenge tale, part psychological thriller and part horror movie. What intrigued me the most about this movie is just how dark it is. Even the characters you think have a moral compass are warped! The decisions you would think characters would make are not made here which makes for a compelling movie (especially in the third act).

The cast (which contains  Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tim Matheson, and William Atherton) is first rate. Leigh seems to relish playing a detestable character while Atherton once again excels at playing a slimeball. Matheson plays against type here as a man who goes through hell and is pushed over the edge. He really shows some range as an actor here.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.37:1 1080p. How does it look? You can’t ask for a better TV movie print. The clarity of the image is quite stunning.

Audio Track: 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? This 3.0 track  does the job.

Extras:
* Trailers for “Impulse,” “Heart Of Midnight,” and “Rush.”
* A new interview with William Atherton.
* A talkative and informative commentary by journalist/author Bryan Reesman.

January 29, 2021 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Buried Alive Blu-ray Review, Frank Darabont, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kino, Thriller Movie