I Bury The Living

1958
Directed By Albert Band


SYNOPSIS

The new caretaker of a cemetery (Richard Boone) sells two plots to newlyweds. He accidentally puts two black pushpins (meaning occupied plots) into the map in his office, instead of white ones (meaning unoccupied.) Within hours the two are tragically killed. He messes up again with the same results. He gets freaked out by his apparent godlike powers and questions his own sanity. Those he seeks for help don't believe him and urge him to use some more black pushpins. Then, he gets the idea to switch the black pushpins back to white ones... and the graves empty!

MY THOUGHTS


An ingenious and different 50's horror film.

I Bury The Living, like most of its genre at the time, is strictly a low budget 'B movie' affair. Unlike most of it's genre, it eschews the need for a silly looking monster or alien to bring the horror, keeping the film from becoming instant camp. Instead, 'I Bury' is able to provide authentic chills through psychology and paranoia.


Richard Boone's performance is roughly on par with most 50's sci fi/horror acting. It's a bit wooden, but Boone's a slight cut above the rest and helps to convey a darkness and paranoia in his character that benefits the film. Editing and music add to Boone's paranoiac performance.

Also look for Dennis The Menace's father Herbert Anderson in a supporting role, wearing what could be the same glasses from the TV classic.

My main fault with the film is its cop-out ending that lacks the punch of the rest of the film. Still, I Bury The Living is a worthy trip even though the destination is kind of lame.