Dead & Buried is a taut, low-budget, atmospheric tale of little coastal town where strangers tend to disappear. But then they turn up as residents of the town!

The movie has a shocking opening. A vacationing photographer is strolling a deserted beach looking for things to photograph when a cute blonde approaches him. She determines two things -- he is not from nearby and he is not famous. Then she proceeds to seduce him, flashing her breasts. Just as he is about to put a serious move on her, a bunch of town folk appear out of nowhere and beat the crap out of him.

Then they tie him to a stake, pour gas on him and set him on fire. They film the whole, screaming thing.

Whoa.

More gruesome murders follow. The town sheriff (played by James Farantino) is baffled. Can the town funeral director (played by Jack Albertson, at a time he was dying of cancer), who is also the town coroner, offer any clues? He basically just shrugs.

A few things stand out about this little shocker. For 1981, it's pretty damn ruthless. It has an abrupt and startling ending that will leave you with jaw hanging open.

Besides Albertson and Farantino, the movie stars Melody Anderson, Robert Englund, Dennis Redfield, Nancy Locke and Lisa Blount.

It's crying out for a remake.

By the way, trivia fans, the final line is the same as in the movie Ghost Town.