Buried

At a time when there are far too many remakes and sequels and no originality it is refreshing when a film like Buried comes along.

Having said that, its originality is the only refreshing thing about this tense, disturbing and harrowing thriller with only one person on screen for the entire 90 minutes.

Ryan Reynolds is Paul Conroy, a truck driver who has been working in Iraq who awakens bound, gagged and buried in a wooden box that is slightly longer than he is tall.

His memory of what happened to him is sketchy and time, aside from being buried in a box, is his biggest enemy.

All he has on him is a lighter, a flask and some anti-anxiety pills. Soon he discovers there is also a mobile phone in the box and he uses it to try to raise some help from the world above him. He soon also realises the phone is there for a reason.

The mood from the opening scene, which is black, is very tense and claustrophobic and the lighting is excellent, and largely very believable, considering the confined space.

Reynolds is brilliant, and he has to be, in carrying this movie. He's the only character in the film with the plot moved by voice actors as he makes contact with the phone.

Without going any further with the plot I'll say this is outstanding, it's so good to see something original even if it is uncomfortable to watch. In a way it reminds me of Moon from last year where Sam Rockwell is pretty much the only actor on screen for the whole film.

It just goes to show that risks can be taken with movies, it doesn't have to be all formula, 're-imagining' and sequels. This works through a tight script, a stunning performance and the fact that for the entire movie you're grateful you aren't in that box.

A 9 out of 10. Must-see - if you can stand it.