Dead and Buried (1981)

73% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
55% of users liked it
(4,723 ratings)

Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett, the screenwriters behind the highly successful Alien, turned their attention to earthbound terrors with this creepy horror tale. Dead and Buried focuses on Dan Gillis (James Farentino), a man who has recently returned to his hometown of Potter's Bluff to be its… More Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett, the screenwriters behind the highly successful Alien, turned their attention to earthbound terrors with this creepy horror tale. Dead and Buried focuses on Dan Gillis (James Farentino), a man who has recently returned to his hometown of Potter's Bluff to be its sheriff. His job becomes difficult when a series of strangers who visit Potter's Bluff begin dying in violent and mysterious ways. To make matters worse, his wife, Janet (Melody Anderson), has begun to act strangely, taking an odd interest in voodoo and acting like she might be having an affair. As the murder victims pile up, Gillis discovers that all his troubles have an occult origin that has to do with the town's elderly mortician, Dobbs (Jack Albertson, in his final feature film role). Gillis gets to the bottom of the mystery, only to discover that the truth is much worse than he imagined. Despite effective direction and solid acting, Dead and Buried got lost in the shuffle of the early '80s horror boom and failed to click with the movie-going public. However, it later gained an audience via home video and cable and remains a minor cult favorite today thanks to its singular blend of creepy atmosphere and gruesome shocks. ~ Donald Guarisco, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Gary Sherman
Written By: Jeff Millar, Alex Stern, Dan O'Bannon, Ronald Shusett
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Horror

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1981 Wide
On DVD: Jul 29, 2003

Critic Reviews

Staci Layne Wilson, Horror.com
While Dead and Buried is undeniably cheesy and clichéd here and there, it's a surprisingly competent and effective film for being so little-known.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Director Gary Sherman stills the camera only long enough to compose deep-focus Gothic
Bill Gibron, PopMatters
Dead and Buried is one exceedingly creepy experience. It's a gruesome, slightly gory take on the whole >Invasion of the Body Snatchers/Night of the Living Dead dynamic.
Anton Bitel, Movie Gazette
Darkly funny horror about a town that cannot keep its secrets buried.
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central
Dead & Buried is indescribable to modern audiences despite its familiar elements
Bryant Frazer, Bryant Frazer's Deep Focus
The kind of horror movie that can't be made in Hollywood today -- serious but not high-minded, meticulously crafted but not showy.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
Dead and Buried isn't awful, but it's not good either.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Seriously creepy and inventive little thriller. Check it out!
Alan Simpson, Sex Gore Mutants
a modern horror classic

Read all 9 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

Time has taken a toll on this '80's offering but <i>Dead and Buried</i> retains a measure of macabre creepiness that compensates for its campy transparency.
AJ V

This horror movie combines a bunch of really creepy elements. It's got witchcraft, zombies, and a whole town of people attacking travelers. I was really surprised, as this movie starts out so seemingly dull, and then escalates quickly into your worst nightmare. Plus, the… More
This horror movie combines a bunch of really creepy elements. It's got witchcraft, zombies, and a whole town of people attacking travelers. I was really surprised, as this movie starts out so seemingly dull, and then escalates quickly into your worst nightmare. Plus, the ending is great. This is a good horror movie.
Conner R

Dead and Buried has an amazing concept and looks beautiful. Why it almost completely lacks memorable characters and a well thought out plot, it's at heart a really cool horror story. The idea of it is ridiculous, but somehow it works in the end. I find it hilarious that Grandpa… More
Dead and Buried has an amazing concept and looks beautiful. Why it almost completely lacks memorable characters and a well thought out plot, it's at heart a really cool horror story. The idea of it is ridiculous, but somehow it works in the end. I find it hilarious that Grandpa Joe from Willy Wonka ended up being a deranged mortician. What this really needed to be was a short film or part of something like Creepshow because you can only do so much with such a particular concept. The opening is the most suspenseful and well put together part of the movie, but after that it just sort've loses its edge. However, this movie has a great style and totally nails the spooky small town atmosphere.
Jeff "

Dead & Buried is an incredible horror film from the creators of Alien. I really don't know how to describe this film. People have said that this is a zombie film, and I guess they're right in a way. Strangers in Potter's Bluff are murdered in horrific ways, and they… More
Dead & Buried is an incredible horror film from the creators of Alien. I really don't know how to describe this film. People have said that this is a zombie film, and I guess they're right in a way. Strangers in Potter's Bluff are murdered in horrific ways, and they return from the grave to kill. Dead & Buried is a well executed horror film that focuses on the atmosphere to create the tension on screen. There's plenty of tension and horror on screen. Dan O'Bannon's script is solid, and he definitely knows to create good horror. Dead & Buried is a gem of a horror film. The film is kinda of a zombie but is also different in many ways. The film will definitely appeal to gore fans and O'Bannon fans. Dead & Buried is a terrific horror film that is very creepy and is very disturbing too. Watching this film, you realize that they don't make horror films like this anymore. Films that rely on atmosphere to create effective, chilling horror. Dead & Buried is an effective horror film that should definitely be on every horror fans viewing list. Dead & Buried is an entertaining film with very acting, pacing, plot and directing. I thought that this film was superb and is one of horror's many classic films. A fine zombie film if you can call it that. Dead & Buried is an excellent horror film that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
Ken S

A nicely done little horror flick with some nice twist, turns and scares. A recommendation from Mr. Guillermo del Toro
Adam M

Unique beginning; great cinematography all the way through -- assured movements and close cuts; extraordinary make-up effects by Stan Winston; and each act of violence shot to avoid routine and get under your skin ... and eyelids. But more fog than you shake a stick at; and a… More
Unique beginning; great cinematography all the way through -- assured movements and close cuts; extraordinary make-up effects by Stan Winston; and each act of violence shot to avoid routine and get under your skin ... and eyelids. But more fog than you shake a stick at; and a performance by the male lead that makes him the sheriff in a 50s sci-fi movie crossed with the uncle from View From the Bridge ... I blame the director for giving into writer Dan O'Bannon, who has a way of crafting most of a movie incredibly right and letting the rest lapse into cult shtick. Jack Albertson, as the coroner, deserves the compliments, but for a while it's a wooden performance, a totem for a low-budget horror film. Best acting: Melody Anderson, pissing on the feminism-for-sale of The Stepford Wives, in the sliest screwball comic performance I've seen buried in a horror film. Jenny Blount, as the town tart, is another Stepford refugee, who makes her centerfold appeal as scary as Winston's effects.
Wahida K

Pretty weird but not bad.
Ed Fucking H

A damn fine little horror film and video nasty that features a creative premise, some decent gore, and above average acting for the genre. When people continue to start turning up brutally murdered a sherriff for a quaint little town vows to get to the bottom of the bizarre murders,… More
A damn fine little horror film and video nasty that features a creative premise, some decent gore, and above average acting for the genre. When people continue to start turning up brutally murdered a sherriff for a quaint little town vows to get to the bottom of the bizarre murders, but the further he digs the stranger things get. The dead seem to be returning to life and everyone in this town seems to be in on it except for the sherriff. I really like Jack Albertson in this movie as the mortician. A young Robert Englund is also featured in a small role. This film has it's moments of genuine terror. The change in tone in the beginning at the beach definently caught me off guard and genuinely shocked me. The film is also paced really well and keeps you interested in the plot througout, and on the edge of your seat as new pieces of the puzzle come to light. Highly recommended and definently one of the better video nasties.
John M

Strange cult horror movie with pleasingly effective moments, but lots of logic loopholes. It kept my attention. Worth seeing.
ken j

For years the coastal town of Potters Bluff has harbored a very dark secret it turns out that any stranger that has entered the town ends up dead only to show up later on as a town member o the sheriff and the town mortician try and uncover the mystery and find something more shocking… More
For years the coastal town of Potters Bluff has harbored a very dark secret it turns out that any stranger that has entered the town ends up dead only to show up later on as a town member o the sheriff and the town mortician try and uncover the mystery and find something more shocking then they could have ever iimagined. Really good Horror with moments of suspense that keep you interested all the way threw as with all movies though there is some slow scenes but really worth a watch i would recommend this movie to just about anyone
Barry L

Very strange film but a great watch for retro fans