Buried Alive (1990) (TV)

Director:

Frank Darabont

Writers (WGA):

David A. Davies (story)
Mark Patrick Carducci (teleplay)

Release Date:

9 May 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

She planned on her husband's death. But not on his coming back for revenge.

Plot:

Clint is an every day working man whose wife Joanna is having an affair with a doctor. They plot to kill him and get the insurance money...

Plot Keywords:

Buried Alive | Scissors | Cellar | Deceit | Remodeling

Cast

Tim Matheson	...	Clint Goodman
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Joanna Goodman
William Atherton	...	Cortland 'Cort' van Owen
Hoyt Axton	...	Sheriff Sam Eberly
Jay Gerber	...	Quintan
Wayne Grace	...	Bill Scorby
Donald Hotton	...	Reynolds
Brian Libby	...	Earl, the embalmer
Peg Shirley	...	Helen Eberley
David Youse	...	Billy
Milt Hamerman	...	Coroner
Michael Keep	...	Foreman
Jan Merlin	...	Attorney
James Scally	...	Priest
Dale Swann	...	Fire Captain

Also Known As:

Till Death Do Us Part (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:PG | Germany:18 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Finland:K-16

Company:

Niki Marvin Productions

Quotes:

Cortland 'Cort' van Owen: Oh great, we've got Jason upstairs and Cujo in the front yard.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Buried Alive II (1997) (TV)

Greed loses out.

Imagine the nightmare of being buried… alive! Suddenly opening your eyes to find yourself in such a condense space… to only realize where you are. In a panic, heavy-breathing kicks in and you begin scratching the inside top of the coffin in frantic desperation. Then you punch continuously as your fists go numb not feeling the pain as the adrenaline rushes to your head. Screaming out your lungs with no prevail, until you break through the coffin to have dirt pouring in. But the remaining strength you preserved, you go for bust as your hand breaks through the top layer of dirt followed by the rest of the arm to eventually pull yourself up, as your head arrives to take a big grasp of air and to finally end it yelling in growing pain. Resurrection… ready for vengeance!

The TV movie 'Buried Alive' is an exceptionally solid and always compelling atmospheric little revenge thriller with a considerable dark streak and a fitting sense of humour. The performances are very strong with Tim Matheson's hearty performance leading the way. The gorgeous Jennifer Jason Leigh's sassy, but extremely cold-hearted turn is picture-perfect and William Atherton hammers down his seamy role. Hoyt Axton is good with his short level headed part as the town sheriff.

Clint Goodman is very likable, do-it-yourself man with a very productive timber business in a small town. However his unhappy wife Joanna is having an affair with her Doctor, the weasel Cortland Van Owen. He gives her a deadly serum, taken from the ovaries of an exotic fish which will induce a heart attack. She tries it during dinner (dropping it in a glass of wine), and it comes off. Well not for long, as he didn't die and rises from his grave in anger for revenge on his wife and lover.

The brooding story sometimes moves in and out of the profound concept with it leaking some contrived aspects, but it's scheming and double crossings are pulled off in a very entertaining (if not convincing) manner. Director Frank Darabont (best known for Stephen King adaptations of 'Shawshank Redemption', 'The Green Mile' and 'The Mist') makes his directorial debut with great assurance. The direction is well-grounded and tightly handled with quite a few well-derived set-pieces of striking imagery and atmospheric tension. Michel Colombier's score is just as calculative as the story melding in a dangerously soothing current with some eerie piercing. Screaming riffs with beaming basses.

A commendably amusing TV thriller entry.