JUST BURIED

Directed By Chaz Thorne

Just Buried was a fun quirky film that deals with death, deception and love with a tongue firmly planted in the cheek.  Director Chaz Thorne found the delicate balance between the very dark comedy and even darker subject matter and crafted a very fine film that pleases the eye and tickles the funny bone over and over again.

Oliver (Played with chilling finesse by Jay Baruchel) finds himself inheriting a funeral home that belonged to his estranged father. Since he leads a very boring life as a grocery bagger in the city, he accepts his inheritance and stays in the small town.

On his first day at work, he discovers that the funeral home is bankrupt because of another parlour that has stolen all the business from the retirement home.  Apparently, in this small town almost no one dies.  Well that is about to change. 

While driving after a few drinks Oliver and Roberta (Brilliantly played by Rose Byrne) hits a hiker who is taking a nighttime walk.  They decide to hide the body and let it be discovered.  Roberta is also the town coroner, and they get away with murder as well as get the first client for the funeral parlour.  Many other deaths follow, including a beautiful explosion of the opposing rival home.  They get adept at killing and staying one step ahead of the local authorities, Roberta’s father and fiancée.  Oliver and Roberta begin an affair and end up getting themselves way in over their head.

By the end you do not know who to trust, as secrets are slowly exposed and the body count keeps rising.

It sounds dark, and it is.  But the comedy is firmly in place and plays nicely.  The themes of death, ambition, jealousy and greed keep this dark comedy firmly on course. Marvelous performances from Baruchel and Byrne keep you guessing at the motives of these two twisted characters as they get themselves in and out of murder scenes with perfect timing. 

Give this Indie Film a chance.  You will enjoy the ride they take you on.

Shane Morton