Investigating the case was the first thing he did when he was awake. Also checked what he had on hand which wasn´t anything that could possible save his life except for possibly the cell phone. If you manage to break the case which he foolishly did. But who wouldn´t waking up under such circumstances it´s only human, you are getting drowned by dirt so it´s a last measure anyway before you run out of air. Which I suppose is way earlier IRL but it´s a movie afterall
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I wouldn´t expect a snake coming in from any small hole myself so I would make the same misstake not covering that up myself. Though covering it up is perhaps not the brightest idea if it acts like a ventilation shaft to give you air if you are so happy to get a snake making such for you. Though I didn´t understand how it got into his pants but that is due to dramatic effect I suppose lol. I think he handled the snake really well by scaring it off with alcohol and fire? Not much more you can do unless you try the stay still method. Wonder how many would be totally cool with a potentionally poisonous snake in a casket like that. I do enjoy he is actually human and not an immortal super mutant makes it more real and believable.
Houdini was a fraud so shouldn´t compare his staged breakout attempts. He would have died in this coffin as well I am absolutely sure. .
