Darkling_Zeist Hugely effective, 50's B-horror from one of Hollywood's most prolific genre producers. Suspenseful, paranoiac and downright eerie, 'I Bury The Living' is everything one could wish for from a modestly budget horror quickie. Basic premise has Richard Boone's character discovering he literally has the power of life and death, via the implausible, but fun conceit of sticking pins into a well-worn cemetery schematic. It's the film's palpable sense of hysteria and claustrophobia that leaves such a deep and lasting impression; and while, Albert Band is clearly no Jacques Tourneur, Band still manages to eek out maximum mileage from such a simple, yet eerie premise.

AaronCapenBanner Richard Boone plays Robert Kraft, the newly elected director of a cemetery who finds himself involved in a morbid mystery when people who have plots in the cemetery begin mysteriously dying, especially when Robert realizes that he mistakenly put a black pin(for dead) in place of a white pin(for living) on a big map representing all the burial plots in the cemetery, for people who subsequently died. This doesn't seem to be a coincidence, since every time he does it, someone else dies... Can Robert stop this jinx, or is something else going on here? Theodore Bikel costars as the retiring caretaker Andy McKee. Despite a good score and direction, this film is ruined by the revelation at the end, which is simply not credible, as if it was thought of at the last minute. Too bad, because this could have been good.

Neil Doyle Up until the last fifteen minutes or so, I BURY THE LIVING makes you think there's a paranormal explanation for all the weird things going on at a cemetery where Richard Boone is put in charge. But the whole story collapses like a house of cards when the writer couldn't figure out how to resolve the plot.In the meantime, you'll be reminded of a "Twilight Zone" similarity between the plot that does exist and you'll certainly expect an ending that is more satisfying than the twist supplied here.Richard Boone hasn't much of a characterization to build on but does a passable job of acting as the man who feels he's being manipulated by a board that shows the layout of the cemetery and its white and black pins for designating life and death.As a Scottish caretaker who is facing retirement, Theodore Bikel is hardly recognizable behind some heavy age make-up that has an artificial look. His character gets a bit annoying after scene one, decidedly lacking in the likability department. Other performances are rather lifeless in support of Boone, who is left to do most of the heavy emoting.An undistinguished, jarring background score is no help in sustaining the mood, but the B&W photography is effective enough.Summing up: Promises more than it delivers with an ending that's a complete letdown and seems too fabricated.

bkoganbing This low budget independent film for United Artists, I Bury The Living, given its limited resources was not too bad of its type. It's got an Edgar Allan Poe like quality albeit cut rate Poe.Richard Boone who was between his Medic and Have Gun Will Travel TV series stars in this film as a newly appointed chairman of a cemetery board. Part of his job is to sell cemetery plots and he inherits a map of the grounds with pins showing the used and unused lots that were sold. A black pin means someone is buried there and the white pin means the lot was sold and waiting for occupancy.When Boone mistakes a black for a white pin and the plot owner conveniently dies to keep the books in order, it's a coincidence. When it happens a few more times, some other forces are at work. And Boone starts really believing that he's got a power of life and death working here that he really doesn't want.Fans of his will be surprised at Theodore Bikel who plays the cemetery caretaker, a man who loves his work. He has a thick head of hair and beard and a Scot's accent. I didn't realize it was him until I saw the credits.Although it won't take too much to figure out who's behind all these mysterious deaths, I Bury The Living given its limited production values is not too bad a film.