16 reviews
Dark comedy that means what it says.....
This funeral home based dark comedy is somewhat of a rarity. It does not pull any punches, at times is gritty, and resolves itself with quite a satisfying ending. The fact that other than Graham Greene's character, no one will elicit any sympathy just adds to the fun. If you like death as a motivation for personal gain, then "Just Buried" is a must see. The acting and character development is quite good for this limited budget endeavor. It is funny, never boring, and at times unpredictable. The conclusion especially is surprisingly original. I recommend this black comedy for both it's creativity and entertainment value. - MERK
- merklekranz
- Feb 13, 2009
- Permalink
Amateurish Dark Comedy
Aimless Oliver Whynacht (Jay Baruchel) inherits his estranged father's nearly-bankrupted funeral home. There is a lack of people dying. With worker Roberta Knickle (Rose Byrne), they set off to kill so they could resume their funeral work.
This dark comedy lack the require style to be quirky or dark enough. It's a Canadian indie but director/writer Chaz Thorne just don't have the skills to pull this off. There's a definite lack of energy in the shooting style. As hard as the actors try, they just couldn't fill the lack of pace. It does pick up later on as more and more people are killed. But it doesn't save the movie.
This dark comedy lack the require style to be quirky or dark enough. It's a Canadian indie but director/writer Chaz Thorne just don't have the skills to pull this off. There's a definite lack of energy in the shooting style. As hard as the actors try, they just couldn't fill the lack of pace. It does pick up later on as more and more people are killed. But it doesn't save the movie.
- SnoopyStyle
- Aug 27, 2013
- Permalink
Would Work Better As A Short
After his father dies a young man inherits an old funeral home. The problem is that it isn't getting any business. So he, and the beautiful mortician, decide to kill people from the town to get the business booming. Sound familiar, that's because this is basically a remake of sorts of an old film starring Boris Karloff and Vincent Price called The Comedy of Terrors.
This film feels like a mixes dark comedy and horror. There are numerous deaths but all of them are off screen, with the exception of 3. One of which is pretty gruesome. It stars Jay Baruchel and rose Byrne, as the son and mortician. Byrne is pretty sweet here, in her dark and twisted role. Baruchel plays awkward well, and it fits the character here. It's just too bad I wasn't a big fan of this character. I found him annoying and incompetent.
The film has a few funny moments, but a lot of it is dark and doesn't get many laughs. It's more concerned for it's characters and morbid story then laughs. The film isn't for everyone and it tends to drag in parts, but for the most part I enjoyed it. It has a good twist and the good outweighs the bad.
This film feels like a mixes dark comedy and horror. There are numerous deaths but all of them are off screen, with the exception of 3. One of which is pretty gruesome. It stars Jay Baruchel and rose Byrne, as the son and mortician. Byrne is pretty sweet here, in her dark and twisted role. Baruchel plays awkward well, and it fits the character here. It's just too bad I wasn't a big fan of this character. I found him annoying and incompetent.
The film has a few funny moments, but a lot of it is dark and doesn't get many laughs. It's more concerned for it's characters and morbid story then laughs. The film isn't for everyone and it tends to drag in parts, but for the most part I enjoyed it. It has a good twist and the good outweighs the bad.
- Matt_Layden
- Oct 13, 2009
- Permalink
A Comedy Of (Homicidal) Errors
- Heres_Johny
- Sep 7, 2016
- Permalink
Far From Fargo
With the cold climate and attempts at dark humor, I could definitely see that a Fargo-like picture was this filmmaker's goal. Unfortunately, desire to be like Fargo doesn't necessarily result in a movie that's anywhere near the same league as Fargo. In fact, mentioning Just Buried and Fargo in the same sentence is an enormous cinematic sacrilege.
Some actors transcend horrible writing. Jay Baruchel is not one of those actors. I can see how, with Judd Apatow pulling the strings in Undeclared, Baruchel might have appeared as brilliant to a prospective casting agent. For a while I was quite enamored. If you could actually sit through this entirely movie like I did, though, you'd see how painfully unbrilliant Jay Baruchel really is.
Ultimately, though, at the end of the day, this isn't Jay's fault. The fault lies squarely in the hands of one of the most hackneyed writers to come along in quite some time. This script has the mental acuity of a 6 old. At first you groan at the hideous choices the writer makes, but, by the end, you're laughing- a lot. It's just so stupid and so far-fetched- there's nothing left to do but laugh.
Boring, predictable and dumb. This is in my top 10 most miserable movie going experiences. Rose Byrne, shame on you for accepting this role. If this is indicative of your ability to weed out good scripts from the bad, you're in heaps of trouble. At no point in time could this script ever have looked like a viable project.
Unless, of course, you have a 6 year old reading scripts for you.
Some actors transcend horrible writing. Jay Baruchel is not one of those actors. I can see how, with Judd Apatow pulling the strings in Undeclared, Baruchel might have appeared as brilliant to a prospective casting agent. For a while I was quite enamored. If you could actually sit through this entirely movie like I did, though, you'd see how painfully unbrilliant Jay Baruchel really is.
Ultimately, though, at the end of the day, this isn't Jay's fault. The fault lies squarely in the hands of one of the most hackneyed writers to come along in quite some time. This script has the mental acuity of a 6 old. At first you groan at the hideous choices the writer makes, but, by the end, you're laughing- a lot. It's just so stupid and so far-fetched- there's nothing left to do but laugh.
Boring, predictable and dumb. This is in my top 10 most miserable movie going experiences. Rose Byrne, shame on you for accepting this role. If this is indicative of your ability to weed out good scripts from the bad, you're in heaps of trouble. At no point in time could this script ever have looked like a viable project.
Unless, of course, you have a 6 year old reading scripts for you.
Satire Let Down
I thought it was going to be a satire. It wasn't it was just weird and sad. Weird and sad.
- nightblooming_violet
- Aug 27, 2018
- Permalink
A Deadly Affair
I had a hard time warming up to 'Just Buried'. I came in with high expectations but it initially gave me an impression of unbelievability. I had a hard time believing Jay's character, and the beginning dialog. As I continued watching the movie I understood the universe director Chaz Thorne created. After understanding the intentions behind what was happening the film became very entertaining, extremely ironic and in many ways quite clever. It's not a complicated plot nor a complicated film but for something made in such simplicity there's a lot it has to say.
I hope you watch it. I hope you enjoy it.
PS: Rose Byrne was gold!
I hope you watch it. I hope you enjoy it.
PS: Rose Byrne was gold!
- mystery_bear
- Sep 8, 2007
- Permalink
Fargo meets Trouble With Harry
To me this movie felt like a combination Fargo and The Trouble With Harry. It's witty, hilarious unpredictable black comedy with one specific scene (you'll know which one when you see it) which got one of the loudest reactions I've ever heard in a theatre. It takes place in Nova Scotia (although I noticed the Canadian elements weren't heavily emphasized, perhaps so it might pass as the US for American distribution?) and it definitely has a small town feel. A likable, harmless and rather bumbling son comes to a small town to inherit his father's funeral home. He tries to run it, then he tries to sell it, fails to do either and during all this all the "fun" takes place. The movie has the courage to go for the comedic jugular (like Fargo ex: the wood- chipper scene) which carries it past so many of the comedies out there.
True Alfred Hitchcockian dark comedy thriller.
Jay Baruchel plays a nerd and he plays it well. He has nosebleeds if he's stressed out so of course when he inherits a funeral home, he gets many nose bleeds. The movie was filmed in Windsor and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The camera shots are wonderful. But wait: the plot (or plots?) is convincing and I must warn those who are easily grossed out not to watch this movie. I hooted and cringed all in a matter of minutes. You'll see what I mean when you see certain scenes. I haven't seen a movie that is as original as when I'd last seen of one Alfred Hitchcock movies. So its true: this is a "very" dark comedy. If it was released by Paramount, talk show hosts would be talking about it. But once again, I warn you that certain scenes are beyond gross. I rate "Just Buried" highly. Spend the ten bucks and go see it for yourself, while it's still in Canadian theaters.
corpses, funerals and formaldehyde...
The dark comedy genre has always been a favorite of mine. From the Coen's comedy efforts to award winning films like American Beauty and indie smash hits like Little Miss Sunshine. I am always amazed on how comedy and tragedy blend and mix perfectly so whenever I hear of an upcoming dark comedy release, I do everything in my power to grab ahold of a copy. Just Buried I have to say, is entertaining in many ways. From the clever script to solid gold acting from both Byrne and Baruchel, and let's not forget the picturesque setting the director created. This movie will make you laugh, you will be scratching your head at times when you see the ridiculousness but that isn't really a bad thing. It might be silly but hey, this is no Fellini artpiece either so you just have to let go and let the movie take you in a wild ride about corpses, funerals and formaldehyde.
- mr_popcorn
- Dec 17, 2008
- Permalink
Soooo Twisted, yet so good.
I wasn't expecting much from this film at first, but minutes in, I was intrigued, and as time went on, I really dug the story and the characters. Oliver inherits his father's funeral home in a town where no one is dying. The solution? Kill people. It's dark comedy at its finest. Jay Baruchel plays a nerdy weasel while his partner in crime, Rose Byrne, mixes seductive tendencies with a cold blooded streak. It's quirky and gory (a warning to those people who are squeamish). The twists and turns shocked me each time. I only wish the film was longer, because the story has so much potential. But don't let that dissuade anyone. The film is great.
- leegaccmovies
- Mar 29, 2009
- Permalink
A crypt "ick" plot
Oliver Whynacht inherits his father's ailing funeral home. Due to location, it looks like its competing funeral home is getting all of the business.
Poor Oliver seems to be having bad luck; due to a series of accidents several locals are being dispatched. He is consoled and supported by the female mortician. Soon Oliver and the mortician must take positive action to mask the previous accidents. Oliver is getting good at this and now sees a bright future. But is there some underlying plot that Oliver is not aware of?
Never let it be said that Canadians don't know how to produce dark comedies.
The plot is relatively transparent so it might not be of interest to people that are waiting for a lot of plot twists and the butler to come out of the closet at the last minute.
It is, however, fun to watch the characters go through their motions and allow you time to kibitz.
Poor Oliver seems to be having bad luck; due to a series of accidents several locals are being dispatched. He is consoled and supported by the female mortician. Soon Oliver and the mortician must take positive action to mask the previous accidents. Oliver is getting good at this and now sees a bright future. But is there some underlying plot that Oliver is not aware of?
Never let it be said that Canadians don't know how to produce dark comedies.
The plot is relatively transparent so it might not be of interest to people that are waiting for a lot of plot twists and the butler to come out of the closet at the last minute.
It is, however, fun to watch the characters go through their motions and allow you time to kibitz.
- Bernie4444
- Dec 15, 2023
- Permalink
Criminally Underrated
- clarkcwilson
- Jul 21, 2018
- Permalink
A young man comes to father's burial and fell in love with local mortician
- goldenchakram
- Mar 2, 2009
- Permalink
Black comedy...Got to see it.
- VladMaster99
- Mar 23, 2009
- Permalink
A Remake
At first, I have no idea that this film is a remake from a film made years ago. After reading the comments and the forum in IMDb, I went to rent the film. And yes, I was surprised to know that both film were the same, down to the incidents and some of the dialogues! However, even though it is a remake, the cast made a huge difference to this film. Whilst the older film excelled, this film didn't quite make it.
I do not think the problem is with the individual character, but to the cast as a whole. They lacked chemistry that it made the film rather dry.
However, a give a decent 6 for this film, mainly because it copied (thus made it a remake) and I liked the original film.
I do not think the problem is with the individual character, but to the cast as a whole. They lacked chemistry that it made the film rather dry.
However, a give a decent 6 for this film, mainly because it copied (thus made it a remake) and I liked the original film.