Quoted from dresseme I've been thinking about this script (and actually, the more I think the less I like it) and I thought about something in particular that's been bugging me: Ok, so the "terrorist" (or whatever you want to call him) buries our protag with a cell phone.....with two bars of life.   Now, obviously this is a ploy to add suspense to the film; leaves you wondering "Oh man, is it going to run out?" Problem is, why in the world would the terrorist do this?  He's clearly using the phone as not only a means with which to speak with him MULTIPLE TIMES but then he wants him to record video (which takes up even more battery life).   Why would the terrorist risk losing his only connection with him by giving him a half-dead phone?  I, for one, know that when my phone is at two bars and I'm using it, it barely lasts. I know the argument could be made that the terrorist never planned on releasing him, BUT he did plan on contacting him and using him for his nefarious deeds via the phone.  So why the two bars?

I know. I was thinking too. It's highly convenient that he was buried with the phone. Initially, I just thought it must have happened in a rush that he was buried by them and they overlooked the fact that he had a phone; THEN, they thought, maybe we can use it to further our demands with a picture etc... It was contrived I thought, but there's always a way around this kind of thing. Just need to figure it out. You're right though. It's a bit, "Yeah, right."

Sandra

I sort of liked it. Was it great? NO, but for the cheapest movie idea ever written, I thought it was decent.

I personally liked the ending. I don't like happy feel good endings.

I wonder though, how exciting this would actually be as film. It would take some skill I would think to keep an audience interest with a mostly dark screen and one character.

William Goldman famously said "No one knows anything" when it comes to movies.

This rather proves the point. I bet you that this script would have been torn to sheds by all those so called "gurus" of screenwriting, and yet it has been made - and with a Hollywood star too, not by a couple of film geeks in their back yard!

Mark this one up to the people with imagination.

Like Shelton said this is a quick read, I think the fastest I have ever read a screenplay.

I have no major issues with it though agree that there is no way the movie is going to end the same way.

I think they will keep the climax in there somewhere, probably as the end to act 2 where they get to the coffin only to find it is the wrong one. Pretty cliched hollywood moment (think of silence of the lambs) but it is very dramatic and works to buiild suspense. But somehow he will get away in the end.

Again thinking with a liberal Hollywood hat on my suggestion would be that one of the Iraqi's lets him out after realizing he cannot let him die. This would be Hollywood's way of telling us that not all Muslims are bad people etc.. etc.. (not of course I think that anyway).

There are million twists available here, all fairly cliched and silly, but would certainly make for a better ending.

How about that the Americans really do pay ransoms but do it secretly? (many other countries appear to do this). What if he does escape the coffin and find out that he is actually buried in the desert in Nevada? and it turns out that his employers actually secretly fly people home and stage the kidnappings to get the ransom payments.

I was expecting something more along these lines, in the end it is a great premise and great script but not really much of a thriller. I mean did QT not write and direct an episode of CSI that was not much different from this?

So since I mentioned the QT made episode of CSI, I thought about it some more and now would probably have to wonder whether Quentin is not a tad miffed about this script...

There are some striking similarities, even the fire ants.

Having a little rummage though Scriptshadow when I found this...

Quoted from The Other SS 5. BURIED (564 pts.) Writer: Chris Sparling Premise: A man wakes up in a coffin with no idea how he got there. Status: Already finished shooting. Played at Sundance. Was purchased at Sundance. Should be getting a release sometime later this year. Review: http://scriptshadow.blogspot.com/2009/06/buried.html Interview: http://scriptshadow.blogspot.com/2009/10/interview-with-chris-sparling-writer-of.html

Shot, sold and showing soon. So, stroll shortly sooth silver screen. What?

I really gotta cut down on the Bells. They keepa dinging.

R

So I finally got around to reading this. It's been on my list for a while, simply because it sounds like the kind of script that couldn't work. Anyway, I had a three hour train journey a couple of weeks ago, so I downloaded it, powered up the laptop and dove in.

It's not the greatest script ever written, but I will say this - I read it in one go, was gripped the whole way through, and when I finished and looked at the time, I was genuinely surprised that well over an hour had just disappeared. So in that sense, it's actually a very effective script. Will it work as a film? Well. We'll see.

Just on this point:

Quoted from Murphy I agree that there is no way the movie is going to end the same way. I think they will keep the climax in there somewhere, probably as the end to act 2 where they get to the coffin only to find it is the wrong one. Pretty cliched hollywood moment (think of silence of the lambs) but it is very dramatic and works to buiild suspense. But somehow he will get away in the end. Again thinking with a liberal Hollywood hat on my suggestion would be that one of the Iraqi's lets him out after realizing he cannot let him die. This would be Hollywood's way of telling us that not all Muslims are bad people etc.. etc.. (not of course I think that anyway).

It's actually ended up as a Spanish indie film, even though it stars Ryan Reynolds. So perhaps the ending will survive the way it is. Anyway, aren't downbeat endings pretty 'in' right now? REC, Paranormal Activity, Cloverfield, The Mist...plenty more besides.