Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on November 2010

Buried: ©2009 Versus Entertainment S.L. All Rights Reserved

The mere concept of being buried alive is enough to cause many people to pass on this brutally intense little squirm-fest from Spanish director Rodrigo Cortés, but that would be a mistake. A kidnapped civilian truck driver in Iraq (a very good Ryan Reynolds) awakes inside a buried coffin. He finds in there a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, a cellphone and a few surprises. What’s notable is that not a frame is shot outside the coffin—no flashbacks, no mounting rescue efforts, no teary loved ones on the other end—and it still manages to keep you riveted throughout. I’m not telling you anything else.