Dead & Buried

Dead & Buried

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	1981
Founder	Gary Sherman (director), Dan O'Bannon (screenwriter), Ronald Shusett (screenwriter)
Products	Horror film

Dead & Buried is a 1981 American horror film helmed by director Gary Sherman, featuring performances from Melody Anderson, Jack Albertson, and James Farentino. This movie marked the last live-action appearance of Albertson before his passing six months post-release. The narrative unfolds in a small town where visitors are murdered, and their bodies mysteriously come back to life. The screenplay, crafted by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett, faced an initial ban in the U.K. as a "video nasty" but was eventually cleared of any obscenity allegations.

Despite its lackluster box office results, the film received praise for Stan Winston's special effects work and Albertson's acting. It was adapted into a novel by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and has since cultivated a devoted cult audience.

Plot

Photographer George LeMoyne arrives in the coastal town of Potters Bluff, where he accepts an invitation from a local woman, only to be attacked by the townsfolk and ultimately killed by the woman masquerading as a nurse.

As more tourists are slain, Sheriff Dan Gillis teams up with the quirky coroner William G. Dobbs to investigate. Each murder is documented through photographs, while Gillis becomes increasingly suspicious of his wife Janet’s strange conduct.

Following an incident where Gillis strikes someone with his car, he discovers the victim’s severed arm twitching on the vehicle’s grill. A tissue analysis reveals that the individual had been dead for several months. Doubting Dobbs’ integrity, Gillis learns that Dobbs was previously terminated for conducting unauthorized morgue experiments.

Dobbs confesses to reanimating the dead and manipulating the townspeople as part of his "artistic" vision. Janet is revealed to be among the reanimated. After shooting both Janet and Dobbs, Gillis honors Janet’s wish by burying her. The townspeople gather to pay their respects at the cemetery.

When Gillis returns to Dobbs’s office, he finds that Dobbs has revived himself and watches a film depicting Janet stabbing him to death. As Gillis’s hands begin to decay, Dobbs offers to restore them.

Production

In a 1983 interview with Starburst while promoting Blue Thunder, Dan O'Bannon distanced himself from the film, explaining that although Ronald Shusett wrote it alone, he needed O'Bannon’s name attached with promises to incorporate his revisions. Upon viewing the final version, O'Bannon realized none of his contributions were included but it was too late to remove his credit.

The opening street scene was filmed on Lansing Street in Mendocino, California.

Critical reception

Rotten Tomatoes lists a 68% approval rating based on 19 reviews, with an average score of 6.2 out of 10.

Upon release, Gene Siskel criticized the movie as a "hideously gruesome thriller," dubbing it his "dog of the week" on Sneak Previews.

Academic Peter Dendle, author of The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia, commended its suspenseful atmosphere and well-executed twists despite its intricate storyline. Arnold T. Blumberg, who wrote Zombiemania: 80 Movies to Die For, regarded it as a powerful tribute to EC Comics horror and reminiscent of classic episodes from Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone, recommending it as an ideal late-night thriller.

Glenn Kay, author of Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide, described it as "solidly entertaining," highlighting Stan Winston’s special effects. Critic Matt Wavish emphasized the film’s persistent sense of dread, calling it a "master class in sheer terror." Donald Guarisco from AllMovie noted its niche appeal—too complex for fans seeking straightforward scares yet too graphic for those preferring subtle horror—while praising its combination of eerie mood and shocking gore.