Compelling performance and directing in 'Buried'

Director: Rodrigo Cortes

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Samantha Mathis, Robert Paterson

Cert: 15

Not for the faint-hearted, or those struck with the fear of confined spaces … but a well-constructed drama for those who appreciate first-rate acting and inventive directing.

Reynolds, tackling a demanding role that allows him to work well outside the limits of what he has done previously, plays a contract truck driver, Paul Conroy, working in Iraq, who has been kidnapped by locals aiming to use him as a money-making hostage.

The drama begins when Paul wakens up in a dark, confined coffin … buried alive.

Luckily enough, he has more space than he could have hoped for, as well as some unlikely aids: a flashlight, a pen, medicine and a cell ‘phone, all clearly essential for the buried alive.

The action is, like Paul, largely confined to the coffin and to his frantic efforts to reach somebody on the phone who can rescue him … and he does manage a lot of calls to a lot of people, even to his captors.

The strength of the film is Reynolds, who brings us his most compelling performance to date, and to Cortes whose ability to extract so much from such a limited setting.

Star Rating: 4/5