JUST BURIED is first time director Chaz Thorne’s black comedy involving so-called murder and owning a funeral home.

Oliver (Jay Baruchel) inherits the funeral home from his late father.  Trouble is that business is dying as there are no deaths in the town.  His late father’s last wish is for the home to be successful.  It does not take a genius to put two and two together to figure out that the rest of the movie involves Oliver and new girlfriend embalmer (Rose Byrne) bumping off townsfolk (the bad ones or non-noticeable ones anyway) to drum up business.

Thorne’s film is predictable and too good natured to be a black comedy.  Even his soundtrack is pleasant music to the ears.  But this is not the main flaw of the movie.  The film is just not funny or biting.  Baruchel and Byrne are believable in their roles but are no comedians.  Surprisingly, Graham Greene (THUNDERHEART) a serious actor succeeds in creating laughter from his few lines of dialogue.  The addition in the script of the local law to induce a bit of suspense does not work either.

I really tried to like this film, viewing it the second time - first time being at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival.  But you can’t beat a dead horse.