Dead & Buried (1981)
A chilling small-town horror mystery where the dead refuse to stay buried and every neighbor may be hiding a terrible secret.
Dead & Buried - Movie Information
- Original Title: Dead & Buried
- Release Year: 1981
- Directed by: Gary Sherman
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Horror, Mystery
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 34m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): July 27, 1981 (Germany - 18), August 19, 1981 (France - 16)
- Alternative Titles: Ζωντανός και θαμμένος (GR), Dead and Buried (UK), Muertos y enterrados (ES), Похоронены, но не мертвы... (SU), Réincarnations (CA), Noituutta (FI), Zongeria (JP), Mrtvi i sahranjeni (YU)
- Production Companies: Barclays Mercantile Industrial Finance
- Production Countries: United States of America
Dead & Buried - Plot
After a series of gory murders commited by mobs of townspeople against visiting tourists, the corpses appear to be coming back to life and living normally as locals in the small town.
Dead & Buried - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the dread of Potter's Bluff unfold:
It will take your breath away. All of it.
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Dead & Buried - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Gary Sherman
Main Cast
- James Farentino
- Melody Anderson
- Jack Albertson
- Dennis Redfield
- Nancy Locke
- Lisa Blount
- Robert Englund
- Bill Quinn
- Michael Currie
- Christopher Allport
Writers
- Dan O'Bannon
- Ronald Shusett
- Jeff Millar
- Alex Stern
Producers
- Robert Fentress
- Ronald Shusett
Dead & Buried - FAQs
Where can you stream Dead & Buried?
Dead & Buried is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Night Flight Plus, Screambox, Midnight Pulp, and Pluto TV, Tubi TV, and Fandango at Home Free with ads. It can also be rented or purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and YouTube.
What is the ending of Dead & Buried explained?
In the film's shocking finale, Sheriff Gillis discovers that his own wife Janet is one of the reanimated corpses controlled by the town mortician Dobbs. The twist reveals Gillis himself is also a resurrected dead man, making the entire town a community of the undead secretly maintained by Dobbs.
Is Dead & Buried based on a true story?
Dead & Buried is not based on a true story. It is an original horror screenplay written by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett, the duo behind Alien, with additional work by Jeff Millar and Alex Stern. The film draws on classic horror tropes involving small-town secrets and the undead.
Who are the main actors in Dead & Buried?
The film stars James Farentino as Sheriff Dan Gillis and Melody Anderson as his wife Janet. Jack Albertson plays the unsettling mortician Dobbs. The cast also includes Robert Englund, years before his Freddy Krueger fame, along with Lisa Blount, Dennis Redfield, and Christopher Allport.
Why was Dead & Buried banned as a video nasty?
Dead & Buried was placed on the UK's infamous video nasty list in the early 1980s due to its graphic depictions of violence, including a needle-to-the-eye scene and brutal mob killings. Its disturbing imagery led to prosecution under the Obscene Publications Act before it was eventually cleared.
Who directed Dead & Buried?
Dead & Buried was directed by Gary Sherman, known for his atmospheric and unconventional approach to horror. Sherman also directed Raw Meat (1972) and Poltergeist III (1988). His work on Dead & Buried is widely regarded as his most accomplished and enduring genre achievement.
What is the age rating for Dead & Buried?
Dead & Buried is rated R in the United States, reflecting its graphic horror violence, disturbing imagery, and mature themes. Viewers should be aware the film contains scenes of mob violence, gore, and unsettling supernatural content that make it unsuitable for younger audiences.
How long is Dead & Buried?
Dead & Buried has a runtime of 94 minutes, or approximately 1 hour and 34 minutes. The film moves at a deliberate, atmospheric pace, building dread through its mystery-driven narrative before escalating to its memorably disturbing climax in the final act.
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