Emily Gault arrives at the Carrell mansion determined to rekindle an old relationship with Guy Carrell, despite the disapproval of his sister, Kate. Guy overcomes his all-consuming fear of being buried alive long enough to marry Emily but soon becomes obsessed again, building a crypt designed to guarantee that he will not fall prey to his most dreaded nightmare. Trying to prove that he has been cured of his phobia, he opens his father's tomb and is shocked into a catatonic state. His worst fears are realized as he is lowered into a grave and covered over, apparently never to learn that the treachery of someone very dear to him was directly responsible for his predicament. 雷·米兰饰演的主人公因父亲僵硬症假死被活埋的心理阴影始终挥之不去，自造了一座号称充分防错的活人墓地。这场戏就是向妻子、医生介绍自己的完美计划。而更有趣的是，此计划陈述的形式氛围以及雷米兰陈述过程中所展示玩世自负神情都如同他自己在《电话谋杀案》中向杀手陈述谋杀计划的翻版。唯一的差别：那片是在完美谋杀，而这片却在完美防被杀，被活埋！
