SincereFinest disgusting, overrated, pointless

Kamila Bell This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Cody One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

GL84 Following his wife's return from a trip away, she begins to notice her husbands' growing concern and fascination with the concept of being buried alive has consumed him to the point of madness and tries in vain to find a solution while he remains convinced of his beliefs.This here was a decent enough if slightly flawed effort. What this one gets right is the exact same elements that have always worked so well before in the other Corman/Poe films in the striking atmosphere present here that effectively takes the Gothic setting to it's fullest. Taking place at their usually large, elaborate mansions with the main fixings to be found in these types of efforts with the grandiose layout, usually large spacious rooms and decorations that keep the flow and flair of the decrepit mansions of the genre, and along with the moss-overgrown columns and fog-laden grounds that permeate the house makes for a grand setting that perfectly fits in this kind of Gothic effort. The different settings here, from the gnarled trees fitting around the cemetery outside or the fool-proof mausoleum he built for himself makes for a series of great set-piece settings here with these being added nicely to the film's atmospheric ideals and allowing for some creepy scenes throughout here, from his feverish search deeper and deeper into the cemetery to find the cause of the nightmarish whistling the tune that's befallen his nightmares for years, the nightmare hallucination he has letting his escape fantasy come to fruition of escaping from the coffin inside the tomb or the futile search through the house for the infamous whistling once again. As well, there's the usual fun to be had in the finale where he leads them into the burial crypt that triggers the final charge which lets this one let it's main plot get worked out rather nicely in a series of chilling and truly suspenseful series of scenes that are far better than anything else in the rest of the film. These here are what make this work, although it does have a few flaws here. The biggest factor here is the fact that there's just no real action to be had here which comes from the rather dull, plodding pace featured which doesn't have a whole lot to do throughout here. For the majority of the film this one concerns itself with the very idea of his condition grating on everyone rather than actually doing anything, and with his affliction growing worse all it concerns itself with is his delusional ramblings and misplaced paranoia that just ends up doing nothing of any real interest and turning him into an utterly unlikable bore with his constant blathering about the condition. Not only does this not really produce any action but it just makes the film pretty boring as a result, which also makes for the finale being quite bland as well without the high-energy action of the usual burning-down-the-house finish that most of the others really used. These here are what hold this one back.Today's Rating/PG: Violence.

Reno Rangan A very surprising mystery-thriller from the 60s that I usually won't write reviews for the old flicks, but for this one an exception. The film was based on the book of the same name that sets in the early 19th century. Since it was a short tale the film was just a 80 minutes long. It looked like the film 'Take Shelter', but while progressing its narration totally impressed me with the uniqueness in the development area. However, I did not understand the final scene after all those twists, yet it is obvious an agenda that was achieved.The cast was small and a single location concept where most of them takes place inside a building and its surroundings which were obviously settings. The story was very interesting with turns in every few minutes and incredible performances. This is not a popular film, but surely it deserves more attention for telling a quality tale. Or maybe a remake won't be a bad idea to make it more thrilling product with the availability of the present technical assistant. It is no masterpiece like Hitchcock films, but still worth watching, so I recommend it.7/10

TheLittleSongbird Premature Burial is not Roger Corman's best filmed Poe adaptation, Masque of the Red Death is my favourite, but I did prefer it over the interesting but uneven Tales of Terror. It could have been a little longer, and not all of it is what you call surprising. However, it is well worth a look. It is well shot and I loved the Gothic atmosphere of the sets. The music really haunts your mind, at its best in Milland's hallucination dream sequence. The script is very literate and maintains interest, with Alan Napier getting the best lines, Milland showing his wife and friend around his tomb and the story has some fine moments especially with the dream sequence, Court's shadow and with the grave-diggers helped by a genuinely creepy atmosphere that Corman evokes wonderfully. Corman does direct assuredly. I was impressed by the performances also. Ray Milland is going to have inevitable comparisons to Vincent Price, who for me gave pitch-perfect performances in the rest of Corman's Poe adaptations(all but this one), but he deserves to be judged on his own merits, and I think he does give an understated and vulnerable performance that proved most effective. Hazel Court is also terrific, and Alan Napier relishes some of the best lines of the film. The rest of the cast do solidly in their roles also. In conclusion, a very under-appreciated Corman film that shouldn't be dismissed because it doesn't have Price in it. 8/10 Bethany Cox

El_Rey_De_Movies "The Premature Burial" is not a bad movie. It's got a very sumptuous look, good performances from Ray Milland and Hazel Court, solid cinematography by Floyd Crosby, and strong, atmospheric direction by Roger Corman. But it still may not satisfy and I think I know why. It's because, by the time this movie came out, Corman's Poe adaptations had fallen into a predictable rut. The combination of morbid insanity, betrayal, and psychological trauma that was innovative and daring in "House of Usher" and "Pit and the Pendulum" had gotten clichéd. Ray Milland's Guy Carrell is a very close twin to Vincent Price's Don Nicholas Medina - even their childhood trauma is the same. No matter how much atmosphere, fog, set direction, musical stings and acting juice that Corman injects into this movie, it has a hard time overcoming that almost-fatal flaw. Having said that, I still like this movie. Some have said that Ray Milland is miscast - he is, if you think of his age, but if you insist on viewing it in those terms, so would Vincent Price have been. He does bring great acting talent to the table, and carries the role well. Hazel Court, as his paramour, never looked lovelier or behaved more despicably. The dream sequence is actually quite unsettling and disturbing, with the swirling mist and gel lighting. It's still nice to see such a pristine presentation of this movie. The DVD is just gorgeous, with absolutely no wear visible. There's no commentary from Corman (shame, MGM!) - instead, all we get is a very short interview with him. Not the best of the Poe movies, but still a good example of old school, American-made Gothic horror.