Buried

Paul Conroy, a U.S. truck driver working in Iraq, is on a routine mission to transport cash to various military outposts. On a particularly chaotic night, chaos erupts when his convoy is ambushed by a group of insurgents. As the chaos unfolds, Paul finds himself gravely injured, buried alive inside a small wooden coffin in a desolate Iraqi grave site. The camera pans out to reveal a dark, cramped coffin, with only a lighter and a cell phone as Paul's sole possessions. As Paul comes to, a combination of pain and panic sets in. He tries to move but is met with the harsh realization that he's trapped, buried six feet underground with no visible means of escape. Determined to survive, Paul assesses his situation and quickly realizes that the lighter and cell phone are his only hope. Using his lighter to create a makeshift torch, Paul lights the phone to signal for help. He quickly dials a US State Department number on his phone, connecting him to an FBI agent, Jennings. As the situation unfolds, Jennings and her colleague provide updates and offer hope, telling Paul that a rescue team is on its way. But the reality soon sets in: it's going to take hours for the rescue team to reach Paul, and it appears to be a long and arduous wait. Paul uses this time to ration his water, try to free himself, and assess the state of his body. He realizes the extent of his injuries and that the pain will only worsen as time passes. The situation in Iraq is volatile, and a rescue mission is fraught with risk. As the hours tick by, Paul's desperation intensifies. He frantically calls Jennings, hoping against hope that she's still on the other end of the line. Jennings, determined to get word of Paul's location to the rescue team, keeps talking to him, updating his status, and encouraging him to hold on. Paul's confinement has a profound impact on his mental state. The claustrophobia takes its toll as he experiences anxiety attacks, paranoia, and hallucinations, further complicating the desperate bid for survival. The coffin feels like a miniature universe, with Paul being its sole inhabitant. Jennings keeps trying to stay in touch with Paul, but as time passes, her voice becomes a constant source of reassurance and hope. Despite her repeated efforts to provide updates, it becomes increasingly difficult for her to communicate with Paul as the network connection starts to drop, and she struggles with keeping track of Paul's location. The clock is ticking, and rescue teams are facing obstacles, including bureaucratic red tape and the dangers of traveling in Iraq. With each passing minute, Paul's chances of survival seem to dwindle. Paul, desperate to survive, begins to take drastic measures. He uses the lighter to burn a hole in the roof of the coffin, creating a small opening to the outside world. He takes deep breaths of air to calm himself as he assesses his immediate options for escape. As tensions rise, the stakes are raised. With his limited time running out, Paul takes a series of daring risks. With each failed attempt to escape, Paul faces a growing sense of despair and hopelessness. However, just when it seems like the situation cannot become any more dire, Paul's determination gives him the strength to find an alternative. Using the lighter, Paul sets the coffin on fire, creating a beacon of smoke and a desperate plea for help. With his fate hanging in the balance, Paul manages to free himself just as the rescue team finally arrives to extract him to safety.