The Alpine Meadows ski resort was a popular attraction for locals and travelers alike–but no one was privy to the dangers that lurked just feet away from them. With only the employees aware of the constant threat of avalanches, guests went about their business each and every day without a care in the world. That was until March 31st of 1982–that’s the day that everything changed for the resort. Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche sees individuals who were part of the catastrophic event relive their pain and suffering in order to shed light on all that occurred.
I instantly got vibes of Action Park when Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche began. With Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears essentially getting the film started, viewers are transported to a place that they believe will be full of fun and entertainment. With this being Directors Jared Drake and Steven Siig’s choice to begin the film, it feels like they may be taking somewhat of a laissez faire approach toward telling this story to viewers. I don’t believe that the directors are trying to downplay the severity of what took place, but the reality is that it gives off comically neglectful vibes much like the world saw in the 2020 documentary Class Action Park. This is a great song–but not a great choice to get Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche started–not given how important and heartbreaking the content present in this film is.
Beyond that opening faux pas, Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche is wonderfully constructed. It’s heartfelt, passionate, and honest in regard to all the things that took place behind the scenes at the resort. Those involved with ensuring that avalanches didn’t occur during business hours sat front and center, spilling their guts and letting the world know about the struggles of not only working at the resort, but the toll that it took on them knowing that they, in one way or another, played a role in the naivety of the guests. It’s easy to see their pain, and they hold nothing back, opening themselves up to ridicule–but it’s clear that their purpose is to speak the truth, nothing more and nothing less. That is communicated well, and they do a wonderful job of bringing Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche to life in an effective way.
Drama plays a pivotal role in Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche’s delivery. It’s effectively what keeps viewers intrigued. We all know that people are attracted to drama, confrontation, and the like–and Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche plays on that beautifully. With an astounding score, intense visuals, and open and honest testimonies by the people who were there, this documentary is able to reach viewers very early on, and it stays true to what it intends to be–keeping viewers locked in throughout.
I’m impressed with the vigor of everyone involved, even if some of that vigor (i.e. the opening song) is a tad misplaced. Regardless of whether or not certain portions of the film land in an appropriate fashion, I have to commend how willing and able the subjects of Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche were to communicate the horrific events of the past. There are moments of the film that are difficult to get through, because they are heartbreaking, troubling, or worse–and those situations are developed appropriately. Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche is wonderfully constructed, and viewers will certainly enjoy their time understanding the important details of this deadly tragedy.
Directed by Jared Drake & Steven Siig.
Starring Anna (Conrad) Allen, Mike Alves, Matt Brown, Tom Burt, Troy Caldwell, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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