YMMV / Buried

• Alternative Character Interpretation: The Cruel Twist Ending can be interpreted two ways:
  • Dan never did rescue Mark White and only told Paul that he did to give him some hope.
  • Dan did rescue Mark White, and the insurgents are entirely capable of reaching Paul's family.
  • As for Paul himself, did he really have an affair with Pamela Lutti as CRT and Alan Davenport claim, or was it a misunderstanding that tragically could cost his family their livelihood, on top of possibly being targeted by terrorists? Paul’s strong reaction to being sent the photo of her gagged with a gun to her head elicits a strong, panicked reaction from him, prompting him to defy Brenner’s orders and make the ransom video. Later, when he gets sent the video of her execution, he vomits and is nearly Driven to Suicide. This could all just be him in despair having lost his presumably last colleague and assuming that he’s not going to be rescued, so it’s better to die on his own terms, but it’s not made too clear.
• Big-Lipped Alligator Moment: The “fight scene” with the rattlesnake. It finds its way into the coffin about midway into movie, while Paul takes a nap after making a ransom video against the wishes of the negotiation team in an attempt to save his colleague, Pamela Lutti. Paul manages to drive it away with his zippo and whiskey flask, and.. that’s the end of it. Paul never brings it up again.
• He Really Can Act: Many critics were captivated by Ryan Reynolds' borderline one-man act.
• Nightmare Fuel: Especially if you're claustrophobic.
• Paranoia Fuel: Insurgents truly kidnap foreigners in the Middle East and treat them in brutal ways until (or ''even if'') payment is made (when they are not killed because they are the enemy). Sweet dreams!
• Tear Jerker:
  • Paul calling his mother only for the viewer to realize that she has Alzheimers and barely remembers who her own son is. It's just downright cruel.
    • As if it couldn't be any more of a sadistic moment for poor Paul, he tells his mother that he loves her, and begs her to say it back when she doesn't immediately do so. She instead keeps talking about her bingo games, making him hang up and sob. Jesus.
  • Paul being informed that his employment has been terminated and therefore his family will not be receiving any insurance from his death. To make it worse, the company retroactively dates his dismissal to the previous day, meaning that they're not responsible for what happened and thus immune from any legal action.
  • Linda finally calls Paul back when he’s about to be rescued. She tearfully makes him swear that he’ll come back safe and sound, to which he complies. Sadly, his would-be rescuers find the wrong coffin, and Paul is left to die.
• Too Bleak, Stopped Caring: The film is one long downward spiral that ends with most viewers probably feeling like they were buried alive as well.
• The Woobie: It's difficult not to feel really bad for Paul, given that we spend the entire movie watching him panic, suffer and eventually die.