Rating: 
Summary: Creepy Little Gem
Review: A cemetery director finds that whenever he places a certain color pin in his graveyard map, the owner of that burial plot suddenly dies. Creepy premise and some fun thrills make this one way better than your average horror flick of the time, although it is slightly hampered by it's non-supernatural denouement. Worth a look for fans tired of recent Hollywod (stuff), rumor has it it's in line to be re-made (please spare us).The new Midnite Madness DVD from MGM is a welcome release and finally is given the treatment it deserves after years of terribly blurry public domain VHS versions. The film looks great. HOWEVER, one small gripe about this release is that the trailer is NOT COMPLETE. It's missing all the title cards that are supposed to be super-imposed over the image. There's no "Horror Beyond Belief" and "I Bury The Living" and "Starring Richard Boone", etc. that are supposed to be there...so instead you just have a series of clips from the film with no marketing pitch. The trailer is intact and complete (although in bad shape) on the Madacy DVD version so it's a shame MGM used the pre-finished trailer without any titles on this one. Without the titles, the trailer is just a series of somewhat average and awkward shots ending with Boone just sitting at a desk on the phone which was supposed to be covered by the title of the film. Without the "hype" covering up part of the image, some of the scenes look absolutely pointless. Still, the movie here is the key. Don't go in expecting too much, and you'll have a great time.
Rating: 
Summary: Is your name on the board? A black pin means death.
Review: A Maxim Productions Inc. Presentation. Robert Kraft (Richard Boone) is now Chairman of Immortal Hills Cemetary. He doesn't really care to be, but his uncle says it is tradition and mostly for business. Mr. McKee (Theodore Bikel) who oversees everything shows Kraft the old office and a most unusual grounds map. Every plot is there. The black pins are for those already buried there. The white pins are for those who have made arrangements for the plot in the future. Two newlyweds, just married, drive into the cemetary to say hello. As a wedding present to his new wife, he gives her a cemetary plot. A few hours later, the young couple is dead. Kraft later realizes the pins on the board map need to be changed to black. But Mr. McKee says there is already two black pins there. Kraft could have sworn there were two white pins there. Herbert Anderson (Dennis the Meance tv series 1959-1963) walks in. He has to write the "obit" for the newspaper. The reporter explains the pins are like being "marked for death". Alone, Kraft decides to have fun by taking a black pin and without looking, puts a black pin anywhere on the odd board. It sticks to W. Isham. nearly two minutes later, W. Isham is dead. Later, the reporter tells Kraft "coincidence is part of everyday life..." But Kraft says he has been though this before. "Regularly". More deaths and eerieness abounds. Did you see your name on the board?
Rating:
Summary: Is your name on the board? A black pin means death.
Review: A Maxim Productions Inc. Presentation. Robert Kraft (Richard Boone) is now Chairman of Immortal Hills Cemetary. He doesn't really care to be, but his uncle says it is tradition and mostly for business. Mr. McKee (Theodore Bikel) who oversees everything shows Kraft the old office and a most unusual grounds map. Every plot is there. The black pins are for those already buried there. The white pins are for those who have made arrangements for the plot in the future. Two newlyweds, just married, drive into the cemetary to say hello. As a wedding present to his new wife, he gives her a cemetary plot. A few hours later, the young couple is dead. Kraft later realizes the pins on the board map need to be changed to black. But Mr. McKee says there is already two black pins there. Kraft could have sworn there were two white pins there. Herbert Anderson (Dennis the Meance tv series 1959-1963) walks in. He has to write the "obit" for the newspaper. The reporter explains the pins are like being "marked for death". Alone, Kraft decides to have fun by taking a black pin and without looking, puts a black pin anywhere on the odd board. It sticks to W. Isham. nearly two minutes later, W. Isham is dead. Later, the reporter tells Kraft "coincidence is part of everyday life..." But Kraft says he has been though this before. "Regularly". More deaths and eerieness abounds. Did you see your name on the board?
Rating: 
Summary: I Bury the Living
Review: Although you'll find it listed under "Horror/Thriller," about the only claim I BURY THE LIVING has to the genre is its provocative title and lurid tagline: 'A creature to freeze your blood! A story to chill your soul!'
The creature referred to must be Robert Kraft (Richard Boone), president of Kraft's Department Stores and newly selected committee chairman of Immortal Hills Cemetery. The cemetery's caretaker is Andy McKee, played in not very convincing aged makeup and with a Scottish brogue by veteran character actor Theodore Bikel. McKee introduces Kraft to The Map. The Map displays all the plots in the graveyard and their owners - a white pin in the map means that person is still alive, a black pin means they're dead. On his first day on the job Kraft mistakenly puts a pair of black pins where white ones ought to be and the owners of the plots die. When he replaces a third white pin with a black and THAT owner dies, all sorts of mayhem ensues.
Richard Boone is effective in what is nothing much more than a longish Twilight Zone episode. Rather than a slime creature carting off the living to their final rest I BURY THE LIVING sprays a mist of sweat on Boone's forehead and follows his descent into madness. Well, that may be overstating it a bit, but he does have to wrestle with an inner demon that seemingly gives him the power of life and death over people. At least he believes it's so, long after the audience has cast skeptical eyes at more likely suspects.
You'll have to stretch credibility to the breaking point to accept the premise of this movie and stretch it again some more to accept its resolution. I BURY THE LIVING doesn't deliver many shocks or thrills, but it does offer some fine performances, especially by Boone.
Rating:
Summary: I Bury the Living
Review: Although you'll find it listed under "Horror/Thriller," about the only claim I BURY THE LIVING has to the genre is its provocative title and lurid tagline: `A creature to freeze your blood! A story to chill your soul!'
The creature referred to must be Robert Kraft (Richard Boone), president of Kraft's Department Stores and newly selected committee chairman of Immortal Hills Cemetery. The cemetery's caretaker is Andy McKee, played in not very convincing aged makeup and with a Scottish brogue by veteran character actor Theodore Bikel. McKee introduces Kraft to The Map. The Map displays all the plots in the graveyard and their owners - a white pin in the map means that person is still alive, a black pin means they're dead. On his first day on the job Kraft mistakenly puts a pair of black pins where white ones ought to be and the owners of the plots die. When he replaces a third white pin with a black and THAT owner dies, all sorts of mayhem ensues.
Richard Boone is effective in what is nothing much more than a longish Twilight Zone episode. Rather than a slime creature carting off the living to their final rest I BURY THE LIVING sprays a mist of sweat on Boone's forehead and follows his descent into madness. Well, that may be overstating it a bit, but he does have to wrestle with an inner demon that seemingly gives him the power of life and death over people. At least he believes it's so, long after the audience has cast skeptical eyes at more likely suspects.
You'll have to stretch credibility to the breaking point to accept the premise of this movie and stretch it again some more to accept its resolution. I BURY THE LIVING doesn't deliver many shocks or thrills, but it does offer some fine performances, especially by Boone.
Rating:
Summary: Pin me!
Review: Bob Kraft (Richard Boone) believes there is a sinister relationship between a string of recent deaths and black pins in a map of cemetery plots. This movie is an intriguing blend of The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock. Kraft, the innocent man caught in what appears to be a supernatural conundrum, suffers the torments of the damned. Each black pin he sticks in the map causes another person to die, or so he thinks. Boone is effective as a bewildered victim, caught in a web of mystery, a contrast to his tough guy roles. Take special notice of the large map on the wall of the caretaker's cottage. It is the mute monster of our story. White pins mean that the plot is sold, but not yet occupied. Black pins mean that the dear departed has, well, departed. Switching the pins before death appears to hasten the process. Hence, the mystery. The roads of the map twist, turn, and curve until they resemble a disjointed human face that sneers at the puny man. Kraft alerts the police that he is responsible for the recent deaths, but the cops are skeptical. The deceased people expired from natural causes. Classic TV fans will recognize Herbert Anderson (Henry Mitchell of "Dennis the Menace") as an owlish reporter. This little thriller is a classic horror gem. The presentation is low budget, but the result is superior. Ownership is a definite must. ;-)
Rating:
Summary: Pin me!
Review: Bob Kraft (Richard Boone) believes there is a sinister relationship between a string of recent deaths and black pins in a map of cemetery plots. This movie is an intriguing blend of The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock. Kraft, the innocent man caught in what appears to be a supernatural conundrum, suffers the torments of the damned. Each black pin he sticks in the map causes another person to die, or so he thinks. Boone is effective as a bewildered victim, caught in a web of mystery, a contrast to his tough guy roles. Take special notice of the large map on the wall of the caretaker's cottage. It is the mute monster of our story. White pins mean that the plot is sold, but not yet occupied. Black pins mean that the dear departed has, well, departed. Switching the pins before death appears to hasten the process. Hence, the mystery. The roads of the map twist, turn, and curve until they resemble a disjointed human face that sneers at the puny man. Kraft alerts the police that he is responsible for the recent deaths, but the cops are skeptical. The deceased people expired from natural causes. Classic TV fans will recognize Herbert Anderson (Henry Mitchell of "Dennis the Menace") as an owlish reporter. This little thriller is a classic horror gem. The presentation is low budget, but the result is superior. Ownership is a definite must. ;-)
Rating:
Summary: This is NOT a zombie movie - it is a slick thriller.
Review: Don't let the packaging and title mislead you. Although one would think this is some kind of zombie flick, it is anything but. There's a hint of creepiness due to the graveyard setting, but the film plays more like a Twilight Zone episode and winds itself up as an old fashioned murder mystery. Excellent writing, high caliber cast, and good pacing set this film apart. It's a wonder it has been so obsure - it really is a gem of a movie.
Rating:
Summary: Weird Psychological Chiller
Review: I bury the living is a good film, not a great one, but a good one. It's in black and white and has absolutely no gore factor (it is from the fifties). It kind of reminds me of the Universal Monster movies but without the glamour. It does have cool cinematography and the ending is a huge surprise. I bury the living is a Midnight Movie, meaning that is should be watched late at night when you've already watched the best and won't get too bored.
Rating:
Summary: PIN PAL
Review: I BURY THE LIVING is a true lost gem. It covers so many areas in such a short time that you can't help but be impressed by the sheer scope (and speed) of it. It skips from outright horror, to a tension filled thriller, to a downward spiral into insanity, all coming to a head with a PERRY MASON like reveal all capped off with a TWILIGHT ZONE twist. A top notch affair that rarely loses its hold on viewer (the 50's typical romantic subplot is the only thing that drags the story here). For fans of THE SIMPSONS this film also features the possible template for Grounds Keeper Willie in the grounds keeper for the cemetary - uncanny. I BURY THE LIVING from top to bottom is a classic and a must for any collector of the genre. For the casual buyer, you could do worse than having this effective and watchable chiller in your collection.
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