Amid a storm of arguments, Buried was finally released on schedule. During this time, every single controversy on the internet boiled down to one question—how well was Buried actually filmed?
Self-media outlets went crazy pushing articles of all kinds: pessimistic takes, optimistic predictions, exaggerated praise, and even ones attacking Edward and the Devon Corporation for personal gain.
To put it bluntly, the entire Pokémon League's internet was in utter chaos. People were saying everything and anything.
Whether they were haters or fans of Edward, they kept going in circles around the same question: Was Buried a good movie or not?
If it turned out to be excellent, Edward's fans could finally hit back at the haters, and the entire online discourse would flip instantly. But if it was mediocre—or worse—it would trigger a wave of mockery and slander.
At this point, given the massive hype, Ghost Film Pictures and Edward had only two possible outcomes: soar higher heights or crash hard.
In such a high-stakes atmosphere, Buried drew in a massive audience as soon as it hit theaters. Every cinema chain gave the film the highest screening ratio of all current movies. The theater managers weren't fools—they could clearly see just how ridiculously popular the movie was.
If it weren't for the Pokémon League's Film Association requiring a minimum number of slots for every film, some theaters might've given Buried every single slot.
Even so, every screening on the first day was sold out. People were deeply curious—what kind of film had Edward made? Would it be enough to silence all the online noise?
After all, as a director, the only way to speak is through your work.
…
". . . I still have a lot of faith in Director Edward. Someone who could create a masterpiece like TheMurder on the Galar Express can't possibly be a cheap jump-scare horror director, right?" said Kai Gnat, a video streamer, live from a cinema in Rustboro City.
He was known on PoképokéTV Network for streaming horror games—though his inconsistency often led to fluctuating subscriber counts.
In his hand was a movie ticket—for the premiere, no less, and at midnight.
[This Buried hype is insane. Midnight premiere, packed house—and there are even more people waiting outside!]
[I did a quick count—at least a few hundred. Did they just take over the next few showings too?]
[LOL, in my city it's Buried from midnight to 2 a.m., then other movies take over until 7 a.m., and after that it's all Buried again.]
[Fun fact: The Film Association doesn't allow a movie to take up the entire day. Otherwise, no one else would get screen time.]
Looking at the crowd, Kai clicked his tongue. There were more people than you'd expect on a weekend, even for hit films. This kind of turnout was rare—clearly, Buried had drawn in not just curious moviegoers, but plenty of hype-seekers.
"Everyone here tonight came for Buried. After I finish the movie, I'll post a spoiler-free review with a 10-point rating," he announced excitedly. The movie was about to begin, and he had already spotted a few familiar faces—famous film critics and fellow streamers whispering excitedly.
[Calling it now—8.9/10!]
[No way. Based on Edward's previous films, I bet it'll be a 9.5.]
[A movie made in less than two weeks? 3/10 at best.]
[Forget that—who's that girl? That body, that mask… isn't she from the Piano cosplay circle?]
As his chat went wild, Kai endured the wait. Once the movie began seating, he turned off his stream, heart pounding, and found his seat.
…
Meanwhile, famous Pokémon League film critic and Tv Host Julian White had also secured a ticket to the premiere. With Buried trending so hard, only a fool would skip it. He needed to see it immediately and publish a review at once—the first few seconds could mean the difference between riding the viral wave or getting left behind.
Even as a well-known critic, Julian had to compete in the increasingly cutthroat review scene. So he had several pre-written templates ready—from harsh to glowing. He just needed to tweak them based on the movie's actual content.
"Edward, I wonder—will this be your rise to the top, or your ultimate downfall?" Julian mused as he took his seat.
A moment later, he nearly did a double-take.
A stunning woman with a voluptuous figure sat beside him. He swallowed nervously but quickly pulled his focus back to the screen.
…
Elsewhere, infamous streamer Kendall, who built his following by bashing Edward, was also in the crowd. Same premiere, same nerves. He looked around at the full theater with a mix of anxiety and excitement.
"I'm telling you, bros—there's no way a movie shot in twelve days is gonna be good!" he said to his chat, gripping his ticket tight. Whether he'd be driving a luxury sports car or a cheap electric mini next month all depended on this movie.
As the Pokémon League's Film Association logo appeared on screen, the movie began.
…
Darkness. A cough echoed.
The theater fell silent.
The audience felt themselves suddenly pulled in—something was off. The air felt heavier, just enough to make breathing feel… constrained.
Julian tugged at his collar and glanced at the theater entrance. The doors were open today, with light-blocking curtains. Normally they were shut.
A pair of terrified eyes suddenly appeared on the screen—not a jump scare, but a close-up of the protagonist, Daniel. The story progressed quickly, establishing that the character was buried in a decaying wooden box, somewhere unknown, likely to collapse at any time.
"Huh, interesting," murmured Kai, noticing that Daniel's Pokéball belt was empty. "So his Pokémon were taken? Makes sense—otherwise the whole 'Buried' part would be pointless."
He assumed this was a movie about a man escaping a burial trap.
He was completely wrong.
…
Back on the Alien set, Zoroark was watching the movie too. Edward had organized a team viewing and gave everyone the next day off as a reward.
"Boss, why did you set the story in the future, during the Warring Kingdoms era?" Zoroark asked.
"Simple. If I set it in the modern day, it wouldn't pass review," Edward replied calmly.
The hardest part of adapting Buried was the setting. The original story was about a citizen from a Western country working in a war-torn region, getting kidnapped and Buried, with their own government failing to rescue them.
There was no good way to adapt that to the Pokémon League. If he pinned it on any specific region or league, it'd trigger outrage or censorship.
So when Edward discreetly asked the League for suggestions, they smiled and pointed him to an era before the modern League—the Warring Kingdoms Era—where something similar allegedly happened.
He had no choice. Setting the story in modern times would've guaranteed censorship. So he made it into a dystopian future where the world remained in darkness, untouched by a Pokémon League savior.
"Really?" Zoroark scratched its head. "I thought the League would be more open-minded."
Edward just smirked. "Movies aren't as free as you'd think. Directors might have creative freedom, but censors don't."
Even in his previous life, supposedly "free" countries still enforced politically correct narratives, and those "daring" film industries? They never showed the real dark side of their societies.
…
"Keep watching." Edward adjusted his coat. It was strange—even he, the director, felt affected by his own film. But looking at the system interface and seeing Buried listed made him smile.
It was a thriller that earned fear points. That alone was fantastic. And given how oppressive the film was, it was sure to earn plenty.
Of course, some viewers might not find it conventionally scary—it wasn't full of jump scares. But Edward didn't mind.
…
"Damn it!" Daniel shouted in despair on screen, coughing violently, his breathing growing ragged.
Kendall in the audience began to panic—he, too, was breathing heavily, fidgeting in his seat. "Damn it… this movie…"
The film barely showed anything except Daniel's face, but Kendall couldn't find any legitimate reason to call it a bad film.
As the story reached its climax, some audience members couldn't sit still. Julian wanted to leave and write his review, but couldn't move. His chest felt tight. Only by distracting himself could he breathe normally again.
"Is Director Edward some kind of magician?" he thought in confusion—but kept watching, growing more and more suffocated.
As the final scene played—the sand pouring in, completely burying the protagonist—the audience collectively felt Buried.
When the credits rolled, no one moved. Not because they didn't want to—but because they couldn't.
They had been Buried in the theater.
…
[Hello, I'm Julian White. I can hardly describe what I'm feeling, but one thing is certain—Director Edward Stone has delivered another stunning work.]
[Buried. I was buried in that theater.]
[There weren't many big scenes or characters. Just one man, and yet it felt like suffocating slowly the whole way through.]
[Edward's straightforward storytelling was a sharp break from typical horror tropes. It felt like it was made by a different director.]
[Even seemingly useless shots conveyed powerful details. Edward Stone is still a master of subtlety.]
[I found the film's real-life inspiration—it's based on an event from the Warring Kingdoms era. Click the hyperlink to learn more.]
[Since the movie is still showing, I can't go into plot details, but I give it a 9.7/10.]
[Last advice: take a few deep breaths outside before you go in.]
Julian zipped up his coat and looked around the theater. Even after he finished his review and sent it in, some people were still inside, gasping for air. That lingering feeling of suffocation—the illusion—had left a deep impression.
"Some clowns are about to get what's coming to them," he muttered with a grin, thinking of the ones who started all the hate.
And took a long, deep breath.
(End of Chapter)