Bury the Devil Review: Tight Suspense Makes This One-Shot Horror Work

Bury the Devil is a horror movie which was directed and written by Adam O’Brien. The cast includes Dawn Ford and Emmanuelle Lussier Martinez. It is a horror movie which is set mostly in one place – a house and all actions take place in one night.

The plot of the movie is about a nurse coming to help an old lady but she discovers that something terrible is going on in this house. Although the plot of possession may seem a little bit cliché, the timing helps the movie stand out.

Bury the Devil Movie Details

Bury the Devil Story Overview

It tells the story of Julia (Emmanuelle Lussier Martinez) who arrives at a secluded house to provide care for Evelyn (Dawn Ford), an old lady who suffers from dementia. What seems like an ordinary night at work quickly turns out to be something else entirely.

As the events unfold, Julia slowly begins to discover that there is more than just dementia when it comes to the state of Evelyn's health. Occurrences that take place at the house make her realize the possibility of there being a supernatural presence which she had never expected to come across.

Everything happens in real time, locking Julia up in the house with every moment getting scarier and scarier. The main conflict of the story is about Julia's struggle to comprehend everything that goes on with Evelyn while trying to survive through the night. The rest of the story is about the supernatural menace and Julia's struggle to get away from it.

Bury the Devil Review: A Simple Horror Idea Gets a Fresh Treatment

Bury the Devil does not bring anything new to the possession genre. The main idea of the movie is conventional, and those who have seen many demonic horror movies will recognize some concepts in it. The film is interesting because of the way it is done. One-shot style provides the flow of the plot without pauses, while real-time format gives the impression that the viewers find themselves locked in the house with the protagonists.

The style is effective mostly throughout the whole film. It increases the suspense in scenes that would look trivial in any other horror movie, and the confined setting compels the directors to be inventive within it. Nevertheless, this approach is also not flawless. Some camera transitions appear clumsy, especially those dealing with the staircases, and some of the acting is inconsistent. More scares and horror would do good to the movie. Nonetheless, being rather short – only 85 minutes long, Bury the Devil is quite quick-witted and does not drag on.

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Dawn Ford and Emmanuelle Lussier Martinez Keep the Tension Alive

In the role of Evelyn, Dawn Ford portrays an old woman whose condition will be keeping viewers guessing about how true it all is. This will assist with keeping some uncertainty regarding the character.

Emmanuelle Lussier Martinez connects the audience with the movie in the character of Julia, who will have to carry the whole plot on her shoulders despite the odd things taking place at home.

Since the set is confined, the acting must go hand-in-hand with the idea behind it, and although there are some inconsistencies, the two actors still manage to make it interesting.

Horror and Visual Appeal

One of the main technical elements of Bury the Devil is the one-take structure of the film. The filming is done with the continuous camera work to contribute to the feeling of urgency while Julia explores the building.

One of the main advantages of the single location of the film is that no expensive locations have been used, as well as any effects that would require a great deal of money, as the film achieves tension with spaces, movements, and suspense concerning the appearance of something frightening.

What Are the Weak Points?

• Familiar possession story
• Uneven performances
• Awkward camera movement
• Few memorable scares

Is Bury the Devil Worth Watching?

Watch it if you:

• Enjoy supernatural horror.
• Like one-shot filmmaking.
• Prefer short horror movies.
• Enjoy tense single-location stories.

Skip it if you:

• Expect lots of jump scares.
• Want a completely original horror concept.
• Dislike slow-burn tension.
• Prefer large-scale supernatural films.

Final Verdict

"Buried Alive" is a well-known narrative involving a tale of possession, but in this case, the film takes on an interesting technical angle. The live action setting and one shot approach create tension, especially since the viewers are trapped within the confines of the same house that the characters occupy.

This film does not lack its shortcomings. There are some camera angles which can be distracting and some inconsistent performances. However, its compact nature makes it an entertaining viewing experience for fans of the genre.

Rating: 3/5

Overall, Bury the Devil makes for a good single horror viewing, particularly for people who enjoy confined supernatural tales. While it will probably not scare you enough to make it an absolute standout, it definitely makes a strong effort.

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