Buried

Logic takes a beating in a much harsher way than I'm used to in the thriller genre, and everything relies solely on Ryan Reynolds. He delivers a performance as likable as usual, but unfortunately he doesn't have, nor could he have, the ability to carry the whole film on the surface of a single coffin, even with enough oxygen and signal. The salvation of this good but poorly executed concept is the ending, which, despite my slight apathy towards the protagonist's actions, stretched me to the brink of breaking. (01/09/2011)

The male breed must be in deep trouble if even someone like Ryan Reynolds who can boast the title of Most Attractive Man in the World 2010 isn’t able to deal with a situation that members of the gentler sex can get out of blindfold (Uma) and (Noomi). And although overall he does this in an entertaining and appealing way, I can’t help feeling that this movie could have been a little shorter. (01/10/2011)

Really suspenseful, almost worth a heart attack at the end. God. While I would have voted for the film to be set anywhere other than Iraq, the location was ultimately the last thing I was interested in. The theme of the living funeral has been interesting for both readers and viewers since E. A. Poe and director Cortés handled it brilliantly. The atmosphere is dense, unpredictable things happen, and the main character's phone calls from trying to find anyone to help him in one of the final scenes are more chilling than the underground stay itself. Ryan Reynolds gave a great performance and I praise Victor Reyes' honestly over the top music. (09/26/2012)

The equipment from which MacGyver would make a mining drill, an air supply that exceeds the physical limit of volume and a phone signal that would make a regular operator pay in gold are compensated by an unpredictable plot and an excellent Ryan Reynolds. What is most surprising is that the director squeezes the original concept throughout the entire runtime, without any significant slump or climax. Rodrigo Cortés is a concept for the future, and not just for those opening "Hitchcock credits." 4 ½. (12/29/2010)

I can't say I was bored, but some of the script choices really spoiled the overall impression for me, like the snake and the frustratingly inept people on the phone. The same premise was handled much better in the two-part episode "Grave Danger" from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, directed by Quentin Tarantino. However, I do give a thumbs up for the intense and surprising ending. Overall, though, it felt like a bit of a missed opportunity for such an interesting concept. (05/08/2018)