Plot
Harry Houdini has kidnapped and buried alive a rich businessman's wife. He demands $1 million in cash from the woman's husband in return for the release of the location of her burial site before she runs out of oxygen. He also states that if police involvement is initiated, he will ensure she is never found alive. As expected, however, police involvement is initiated and Detective Madeline Foster is assigned the task of finding the buried woman and catching Houdini. It is quickly realized though that Houdini, in fact, wanted the police to get involved so he could commit a second kidnapping - that of Foster. When Houdini is finally caught as the result of a car chase involving him and Detective Foster, she attempts to get him to reveal the location of his buried victim. When Foster's initial interrogation of Houdini proves unsuccessful, the FBI are assigned to take over the case, although they do not have any more luck. In a plot twist, it is revealed that Houdini has already committed a murder, that of his accomplice. He now has nothing to lose and the police realize the death of the buried woman would not be as significant as first thought. However, Houdini offers them a final lifeline - if he is allowed to talk to Foster, alone, he will allow his victim to be recovered alive. The police, now just puppets in Houdini's plan, agree to his request. Troubled, Foster begins to reveal her darker side to Houdini and he sees a kindred spirit in her. Soon after, it is revealed that Houdini was in fact a painter in the police department, and outlined the entire building in a very detailed map. Just as Foster is revealing the truth, Houdini takes her to the place where he buried the first woman. Foster escapes her hold, and releases the woman and takes Houdini's gun, then pushes him inside the coffin. As he taunts Foster, she shoots him rather than burying him.Popular culture
Exhibits
The House of Houdini is a museum and performance venue located at 11, Dísz square in theOther media
The deathcore bands Job for a Cowboy and Killwhitneydead have both released songs that feature a sound sample from this film where the woman is being buried. Job for a Cowboy included the sample in their track "Catharsis for the Buried" which appears as an intro for their ''Doom'' EP (2005). Killwhitneydead included the sample (among others from this film) on their song "I Already Have Enough Friends (Take Two)" (2004).Reception
The film aggregatorReferences
External links
* {{Richard Shepard 1999 films 1999 crime thriller films 1999 psychological thriller films Films shot in New York City Films set in New York City American crime thriller films Films scored by Rolfe Kent Films directed by Richard Shepard 1990s English-language films 1990s American films English-language crime thriller films