Directed by Manu Boyer, Lifetime’s latest thriller, “Buried Alive & Survived,” draws inspiration from a true story following a mother’s harrowing journey to escape her dangerous past. Despite her best efforts to cut ties and start anew, her plans fall apart when her violent husband is released from prison and hunts her down. Eva Marcille, best known from America’s Next Top Model, delivers a powerful performance as the resilient mother, while Tyler Lepley, from Harlem, infuses his portrayal of Victor with menace and intensity. Together, their performances heighten the film’s suspenseful atmosphere that Boyer masterfully crafts.
Following the chilling Nightmare in the Desert, this film emerges as an equally gripping thriller. The storyline keeps viewers hooked as the mother’s desperate fight for both her own safety and her son’s takes center stage. The tension steadily escalates with every twist as she battles to shield her son from Victor’s impending threat, culminating in a finale charged with raw emotion and nerve-wracking suspense.
Spoilers Ahead
Buried Alive & Survived (2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
“Buried Alive & Survived” opens with Alicia trapped inside a coffin, fighting desperately to escape as she is buried alive. Her struggle sets the tone for the intense sequence of events. The narrative then shifts to two days earlier, where Alicia works at a packaging company. Her security clearance is delayed due to a recent name change, which raises questions about her past. Alicia avoids the topic when her friend Jo asks about the reason for this. Jo later attempts to set Alicia up with her cousin Darien, who has recently gone through a divorce. However, Alicia hides a crucial fact: she isn’t divorced but has been running from a dangerous man named Victor, her estranged husband.
Meanwhile, Victor is released from prison earlier than expected and reconnects with an old associate. The two had stashed a large sum of money before Victor’s incarceration. When Victor returns to claim his share, his friend admits to investing the money, expecting a larger profit when Victor gets out. Enraged by this betrayal, Victor seizes everything of value, including a diamond bracelet and a truck. His quest for control eventually leads him to Alicia’s sister, Kamlyn, setting the stage for a tense confrontation.
How does Victor Find out about Alicia?
Victor enters Alicia’s life through their son, Malcolm. Frustrated with Alicia’s invasive behavior, Malcolm starts distancing himself from her. When Victor reappears, he takes advantage of this tension. He meets Malcolm, who is already upset with his mother and uses this opportunity to reconnect. Victor shows Malcolm a picture of the family together, revealing that he is his father.
Alicia’s fear intensifies when she returns home to find Victor playing with Malcolm in her house. The claustrophobic atmosphere suggests Alicia’s deep discomfort. For Alicia, Victor represents a past she has tried to escape, and now he is not only back in her life but also influencing her son. This encounter shows Victor’s persistence in re-entering Alicia’s life.
Victor’s disappointment grows when he realizes Alicia has stopped wearing her wedding ring, a symbol of their fractured relationship. Despite this, Victor convinces her he has changed, leading to a lunch outing together. However, Alicia’s true feelings emerge when she calls her sister Kamlyn, revealing her deep desire to escape from Victor again.
Why does Alicia Decide to Run Away Again?
Alicia decides to run away again because she knows Victor hasn’t changed. His past actions, like threatening her with a knife, have left deep scars. Despite his claim of getting therapy in jail, Alicia understands that Victor’s anger issues and narcissism make him unpredictable and dangerous. She realizes that staying with him puts both her and her son Malcolm at risk. Victor tries to manipulate Alicia by suggesting she turn him over to the police to get rid of him. His attempt to move into the house shows his desire to control her again. Alicia senses this manipulation and wisely suggests they need to take things slowly.
Alicia’s primary concern is her son, Malcolm. She believes Victor cannot care for anyone but himself, even his own child. Given his violent tendencies, Alicia fears that Victor will harm Malcolm without hesitation. Her instinct to protect her child pushes her to act swiftly. Alicia knows that leaving town is the only way to ensure their safety. She realizes Victor will never change and that staying would only lead to further harm. By packing up and leaving, she chooses freedom and safety for herself and Malcolm over the fear of staying with an abusive partner.
What does Victor do to Alicia?
Victor, driven by a desire for control and revenge, refuses to let Alicia escape from him. After Alicia’s attempts to convince Malcolm fail, Victor confronts her outside her house. He is aware of her plan to flee and prevents it. Victor shows Alicia a knife, signaling that Malcolm will be harmed if she resists. Victor forces Alicia into his car under the guise of taking her for a ride. He drives her to a motel, where the tension escalates. During a heated argument, Victor loses control and knocks Alicia unconscious.
When she awakens, she finds herself in a dire situation. Victor has dug a grave and procured a coffin, clearly indicating his cruel intentions. With her hands bound and weakened from the assault, Alicia is unable to resist as Victor buries her alive. This horrifying act is fueled by Victor’s twisted desire to punish Alicia for attempting to escape his grip. Victor’s cruelty extends beyond Alicia. After burying her, he encounters the motel owner, whom he kills without hesitation. His actions demonstrate a complete lack of remorse or empathy, emphasizing his dangerous and violent nature.
Victor’s desire for control continues when he returns to find Malcolm and Kamlyn. Kamlyn, worried about Alicia, confronts Victor but is overpowered. Victor strikes her unconscious and forcibly takes Malcolm with him, further tightening his grasp over Alicia’s loved ones. Victor’s actions stem from a deep-seated need to maintain dominance over Alicia. His violent tendencies suggest that he cannot bear the thought of losing control, and his use of force reveals his incapability of handling rejection or betrayal. This need for control, combined with his violent nature, drives his extreme actions against Alicia and those close to her.
Buried Alive & Survived (2024) Movie Ending Explained:
How does Alicia Survive?
Alicia’s survival hinges on her will to save her son, Malcolm, from Victor. Buried alive in a coffin, she refuses to give in to despair. After struggling for a long time, she discovers a small hole inside the coffin. Using this hole as leverage, she breaks open one of the wooden boards. Alicia then starts digging through the soil, pushing her hand upward until it reaches the surface. Despite the physical exhaustion, her determination never wavers, driven by the thought of Malcolm’s safety.
Her maternal instincts fuel Alicia’s survival. She understands that Malcolm will remain vulnerable to Victor’s manipulations if she doesn’t escape. Her desire to protect her son gives her an adrenaline boost, allowing her to endure the extreme physical and emotional strain of digging herself out of the grave. The thought of reuniting with her son and ensuring his safety is a powerful motivator.
After escaping the grave, Alicia drives to Jo’s house, realizing that Kamlyn’s house is farther away. Jo reveals that she’s been receiving strange texts from Alicia’s phone, which confirms Alicia’s suspicion that Victor has her phone. Before she contacts Victor using Jo’s phone, Malcolm begins to understand his mother’s warnings about his father. Victor’s violent behavior in front of Malcolm cements this realization, prompting Malcolm to take subtle actions, like wearing sneakers with trackers, in hopes of being rescued.
How does Alicia Rescue Malcolm from Victor?
Alicia calls Victor, who informs her that he is taking Malcolm off-grid, implying that searching for them is futile. However, Malcolm mentions wearing the sneakers she gave him when he speaks with Alicia. This detail triggers Alicia’s memory of those sneakers having a GPS tracker, revealing her son’s clever hint. Wasting no time, Alicia begins tracking Victor’s car and leaves Jo’s house immediately. The following day, Alicia tracks Victor and Malcolm to a remote location.
Victor, aware of the tracker, confronts Alicia with a gun that he had taken from an old man he had killed earlier. He tells her that he plans to kill her, ensuring she can’t continue the pursuit. However, Alicia is resourceful. She manages to stab Victor with a knife and seeks refuge in a nearby church while awaiting help. Concerned for Alicia and Malcolm’s safety, Jo contacted the police and shared their location. Before Victor can harm Alicia, the police arrive, ordering him to drop his weapon. Rather than surrender, Victor chooses to retaliate, leading to his death at the hands of the police.
Victor’s fatal decision not to kill Alicia immediately is driven by his inflated ego and sense of pride. He could have killed her first and then dealt with the police, but his arrogance makes him prioritize confronting the authorities. This lapse in judgment gives Alicia and Malcolm a crucial opportunity to survive. Victor’s egotistical nature ultimately benefits Alicia, allowing her to reunite with her son, Malcolm, as they embrace outside the church, grateful for their second chance at life. A few months later, we see Alicia is ready to go on a date with Darien, finally deciding to come out of the shell.
