You won't be disappointed!

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

5 college kids go to a country house belonging to the relatives of some of them. There's the nerd, 2 cousins Zane and Rene, Rene's boyfriend and 2 sorority pledges who for the weekend have to obey whatever the Rene says. Zane though has found out that there might be gold on the property which would come in handy since he's a good-for-nothing on academic probation.They party on the way there in a spectacular Cadillac. But Zane starts having visions of some lady that looks like a witch. Once they get there, the caretaker is the obligatory creepy guy. Soon the nerd is killed brutally. The witch seeks other victims but is allergic to Indian talismans which one of the pledges has tattooed on her.The kids find a box that tells them the family secrets. Some forefather married an Indian girl but buried her alive to marry a second lady. Rene inherited the talisman from her Indian ancestor who's come back to seek revenge. As the kids fool around more of them start dying until Zane and Rene confront the ghost.Buried Alive is a high quality B horror movie- small cast, few locations, CGI gore effects. But it's a great looking movie, has a very likable and attractive cast, and a decent story. Lindsey Scott is particularly lovely. The relationships among the teenagers is well portrayed and the dialog is natural. No bickering teens screaming at each other for hours, thankfully. These are normal kids, not wanna-be actors in a reality show casting. Sure, the story could have used a bit more of an edge, it could have been scarier, and the CGI gore could have been replaced by real effects. Still, I enjoyed this movie a great deal. When you think B horror movie, this is the kind of movie you want to see- with pretty girls, some nudity, gory death scenes. The ending is not what you expect in horror movies or movies in general, it's surprising and courageous, but the final scene is a bit too sudden and gives the movie an unfinished note. I'm surprised the director and writer aren't doing more work. They are good at what they do and together make a good team.

Buried Alive Tobin Bell deserves an Oscar for best actor in this gripping horror film. Lester is not just any creepy gold digger who lives in the middle of the desert alone in his RV, but really tries to warn the dumb kids not to go into the creepy "sub-cellar". If only those dumb college kids would have listened to Lester and his third person warnings none of this would have ever happened.Phil plays his role to perfection and his stuttering goes almost unnoticed during his few but crucial lines. You can tell the other college kids not only look up to him but also fear him because his is allowed to go unquestioned on his routine 8 hour phone call.One scene I did not enjoy was where they clearly killed live innocent snakes in order for a cheap scare. I do not condone any Mike Vick behavior from film producers and they should be punished.I do not fully understand the cousin make-out scene right in front of the girls boyfriend. I mean I guess if I had a girlfriend I would let her make-out with her cousin too…….CUZ LESTER Ain't GOT NO CABLE!!

The ole "sins of the father" is mined once again in another vengeful spirit story as troubled college student Zane(Terence Jay)is hard up to find his great grandfather's buried gold and was recently put on probation for not paying as much attention to studies as he was clowning around and partying. He has the dweeby Phil(Germaine De Leon)studying up on Zane's past, letting him tag along for being such a loyal friend(..well, Phil also helped him in making better grades, using the kid's brains to get ahead). Zane's cousin is Rene(Leah Rachel), head of a sorority who will accompany him with two pledges, Laura(Erin Reese;looking like a young Charisma Carpenter)& Julie(Lindsey Scott), and boyfriend Danny(Steve Sandvoss). They head off to Zane's father's home for different reasons. Zane to find the location of the gold, manipulating Rene into thinking that the trip was so that she could mistreat her two potential sisters. A thorn in Zane's side is his father's grounds keeper, Lester(Tobin Bell, given star treatment), a foul, dirty lout who lives all alone, secretly discovering the spot in the sub-cellar where some gold was buried. Lester constantly warns Zane about being out when night falls because of the dangers of the dark. Lester is a perverted rascal who often makes sneering remarks and gestures to the girls, while also playing a series of scare-pranks on them.A Native American girl was murdered by her husband, Zane's great-grandfather(..who remarried, which birthed the new family line that would lead to Zane and Rene), buried alive presumably where the gold was hidden. Her spirit seeks revenge on all those whose blood derived from the murdering bastard who left her to die a slow and agonizing death. Equipped with an ax and the ability to pop wherever she so wishes, and a very hostile attitude, the ghoul will take no prisoners..all are fair game. There's this amulet worn around Rene's neck which works as protection from death..it's symbol will assist in keeping one character safe from harm. One victim is sliced in half(..right down the middle) while another's face slides right from the head..the ax chop happens so fast in fact that you don't(..or can barely)see the blade. The film spends an amount of time with the characters as they get acquainted with their temporary environment, with Rene, basically a bitch always ordering her girls around(..I absolutely loathe this whole process, running candidates through a series of trials just to join some stupid institution)or jealous of Julie who has caught the attention of Zane..an angle established at the beginning points out this incestuous desire present between Zane and Rene(..Rene simmers with disgust when Zane and Julie flirt). I will admit that I could care less what happened to Zane, Danny(..your basic garden variety handsome jock, a WB pretty boy Rene keeps as a trophy), or especially Rene. Rene never gains our sympathy as she insists on ridiculing and tormenting her pledges, especially Julie, who is playful, naive, and bubbly(..not to mention positively yummy in a playboy bunny kind of way). Laura is the sultry brunette, with silky smooth skin and dynamic figure. She has a thing for religious symbols of various beliefs(..like a Celtic and Chinese symbols tattooed on parts of her body)and is well studied in the practices of other countries' cultures. Bell is basically a creep, nasty and crude..but the best thing about this supernatural slasher, for at least he has presence. Despite a grim conclusion for certain characters, I was rather satisfied..not sure that was supposed to be the appropriate reaction.

Synopsis: A group of college kids at an abandoned house pull a prank that sets loose a murderous ghost.Review: There's something strange, these days and in the past, that often happens to stars of major horror films. After their success, even if their fame is not at an end, they will star in random paycheck movies simply because they're asked, regardless of the quality of the film. Buried Alive is that paycheck for Saw-series star Tobin Bell (Jigsaw). When it comes to a straight-to-video slasher film like this (especially one marketed by the usually trustworthy Dimension Extreme), there are certain things horror fans have come to expect: Heavy gore, attractive women (who, most often, take off their clothes), and, at the very least, some entertainment. Unfortunately, even on as 'unrated,' the film does not deliver on the blood & guts. There is some violence, but not enough, and the result of the violence doesn't have enough splatter. The women are attractive, so they did deliver to us the eye candy. And, as far as entertainment and enjoyment go, well. . . it varied. At some points, the film is a good time and worth a few laughs. Other times, however, the film turns into a bit of a slow-drag bore (especially during the sorority stuff). From the plot to the effects, there's nothing here that hasn't been seen dozens of times before, so if you're in need of some predictability with a bit of enjoyability, you might want to check this out. . . but, you can do a whole lot better.Final verdict: 4/10.-AP3-