I Bury the Living

1958

1h 16m

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

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2 Videos

17 Images

Mystery

Thriller

Horror

A newly appointed cemetery chairman believes that, merely by inserting a black plot-marking pin into a wall-sized map of the cemetery, he can cause the deaths of that plot's owner.

Directors

Albert Band

Writers

Louis Garfinkle(story by)

Louis Garfinkle(screenplay by)

Stars

Richard Boone

Theodore Bikel

Herbert Anderson

See production, box office & company info

Videos2

Trailer
Watch Trailer: I Bury the Living (1958)
Featurette
Watch Joe Dante on I BURY THE LIVING

Top cast

Robert Kraft

Andy McKee

Jess Jessup

Lt. Clayborne

George Kraft

Ann Craig

Henry Trowbridge

Stuart Drexel

Elizabeth Parrish Drexel

Ken Drake

Bill Honegger

Matt Moore

Charles Bates Sr.

Cyril Delevanti

William Isham

Directors

Albert Band

Writers

Louis Garfinkle(story by)

Louis Garfinkle(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

No needles, just pins! I Bury the Living is directed by Albert Band and written by Louis Garfinkle. It stars Richard Boone, Theodore Bikel, Howard Smith, Herbert Anderson, Robert Osterloh and Peggy Maurer. Music is scored by Gerald Fried and cinematography by Frederick Gately. Robert Kraft (Boone) is appointed as the custodian of Immortal Hills Cemetery. On the wall in the cemetery office is a large map that details the plots that are taken by the dead, and the plots that are reserved by other town members. These are signified by black (taken) and white (reserved) pins. When Kraft accidentally places a black pin on the names of living people, he is stunned to find they end up dead shortly after. Coincidence? The title and the fabulous poster art that accompanies it has lured in many a horror fan, only for them to be disappointed with the end product since it's more a mystery thriller with potentially supernatural overtones. A slimline and modest budgeted pic, it's a film that sadly doesn't make the most of the premise at its core. However, there's still a very enjoyable movie here, one that thrives on an uneasy atmosphere and showcases some neat visual film noirish, touches. Shot in stark black and white to perfectly emphasise the shadowy tension in the plotting, director Band deftly lets the office cemetery map become the dominant force of the piece, marrying it up with the ever fretful Kraft's mental being. These scenes with just Kraft in the cold isolated office are the films best. Though the outer shots in the cemetery, with tombstones and wrought iron fencing, are suitably eerie too. Boone leads off with a very good performance as a man trying to comprehend the situation whilst doing the right thing, and music and photography is well worthy of our eyes and ears. It could have gone a darker route with Boone's protagonist, while the resolution has understandably infuriated more than it has pleased, but for its unique feel and worthy tech credits it's a better than average time filler. 7/10 DVD viewed was French Region 2 release from Bach Movies. Good print

John Chard10 Jan, 2019