"So imagine if David Lynch had the flu, and he had a really wacked-out fever dream, and when he woke up before he could write it out as a screenplay, he had a stroke. So he explained his idea to John Waters, who then produced and shot the film frame-for-frame as stroke-addled Lynch described it. And then it was edited by a middle-schooler on meth."
-Dana Morgan
The quote you just read is word-for-word how my good friend, Dana Morgan, described this strange and surreal film after we witnessed it together for the first time, and it's more or less the best way to describe Six-String Samurai; a film that is so unbelievably strange, seemingly random, and yet so bafflingly well put together, that I can't help but wonder if this is the first film in existence that only makes sense if you're under the influence. Many people claim that David Lynch's or Terry Gilliam's films are "better when watched drunk or high." However, I'd argue that even their films still have an enjoyable amount of entertainment value when viewed sober.
Director Lance Mungia's Six-String Samurai, on the other hand, is a completely different situation entirely!
So, the basic plot (for lack of a better term) is an alternate future where nuclear war happened in the 1950s, creating a total wasteland worldwide. Fast forward forty years later, those who survived have resorted to a Mad-Max style of living with eccentric characters and over-the-top themed gangs coupled with various flavors of insanity, including but not limited to dangerous levels of denial. Our "hero" is a man named Buddy (likely a reference to Buddy Holly) who is on his way to "Lost Vegas," where (and this is where things get even stranger) the city needs a new king and can only be crowned if they can prove themselves in the ways of Rock & Roll. Along the way, Buddy reluctantly picks up an annoying kid sidekick simply known as The Kid (more on him later) and encounters other would-be rockers trying to reach Lost Vegas for their shot at the throne. Not to mention one rocker in particular on everyone's tail known as Death.
Oh, and everyone's instrument has a sword or some kind of bladed weapon, and everyone knows martial arts, and no one gets sunburned despite being outside all day.
Six-String Samurai feels like the kind of movie that relies on symbolism and dream logic for the best possible entertainment value. That's not to say that the film is bad; it's just that it's a sudden surprise from what you might have expected. On the surface, the film sounds like a fun and imaginative martial arts action film with a decent amount of legal insanity for good measure (which it is in some ways). It's not until you actually sit down to watch the film do you realize its genuine nature, a strange and seemingly incomprehensible art house picture that becomes increasingly absurd as it progresses. It's like watching a Loony Toons cartoon while you unknowingly sip your drink that your friend laced with a mild dose of LSD.
I can speculate that the best possible explanation for the film's nature is that it's possibly intended as an art-house tribute to Rock & Roll. Many of the characters and locations feel reminiscent of various subgenres of rock music. There's classic rock, heavy metal, alternative, punk, and so on. This might also explain why the film's score never seems to stop. Seriously, the music in this film is perpetually playing and at a constant high energy level. Even in moments that might typically call for a slower & quieter soundtrack, the music never lets up. This can get a little annoying at times, but not as much as the little kid (again, more on him in a moment).
While I can't say that this film was bad, I don't deny that I certainly didn't quite understand it entirely. Even so, there are at least a few aspects of the film I wholeheartedly enjoyed.
The Cinematography
Photographed by Kristian Bernier, Six-String Samurai boasts some of the most gorgeous shots and lighting styles I have seen in a film. His use of natural un-stylized color adds realism to the images making everything feel a bit more plausible than it otherwise might have been. Because the film was likely predominantly lit by the sun, the film retains a deep focus style which I tend to prefer. There are also some beautiful shots involving water and shadows that genuinely blew me away. Visually, the film is a winner in my book.
The Fight Scenes
You can't reference some kind of fighting style in the title of your film and not feature at least one decent fight scene showcasing it. It's worth noting that Jeffery Falcon (who played Buddy and co-wrote the film) did all of his own stunts and fight scenes. No wires or special effects of any kind were used in the staging or creation of the fights.
The Production Design
The sets, the costumes, and the props all look gorgeously detailed and meticulously crafted. Everything in the film looks exactly how it likely should for the world of the story. There are so many fascinating pieces of craftsmanship in this film; many of them deserve a place in a movie museum, especially Buddy's Gibson guitar & sword combo. That's the kind of prop that legends are made of.
While the film is fascinating to observe and, in some ways, enjoy, at least one aspect of it constantly drove me nuts: the kid.
Imagine my surprise and disappointment when it became apparent that the kid would remain by Buddy's side throughout the entire film. Probably the most annoying aspect of this kid is this terrible grunting yell he makes every five minutes. It's not as awful as nails on a chalkboard, but it's damn close! This child character is so annoying, useless, and aggravating that I was constantly waiting for the little bugger to leave the story entirely. But alas, he never does. I'm not sure what purpose this character is meant to serve outside of a reference to the classic Japanese story, Lonewolf & Cub. The story of a Samurai traveling with a child, likely the primary inspiration for the film.
Six-String Samurai is an unusual film in most of the right ways. I can't say that I was expecting it to be this strange and surreal, but I am glad to own a copy of it in glorious 4K. Perhaps I'll have to revisit the film after a few cocktails for a brand new experience. Don't worry, I'll do so responsibly. I encourage you to do the same should you decide to check this one out. It just might enhance the experience.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
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