I think part of the reason why we’re so fascinated with post-apocalyptic narratives is the idea that, once civilization crumbles, anything becomes possible. That’s why it’s strange that there are so many post-apocalyptic stories specifically about a jaded curmudgeon being forced to traverse a dangerous wasteland while caring for a child. From Cormac McCarthy’s The Road to The Last of Us and even Telltale’s The Walking Dead adaptation, it’s pretty clear that this recurring setup has evolved from a familiar trope to a full-blown sub-genre.
And among these “dadpocalypse” stories, my personal favorite happens to be a strange little homage to classic rock ‘n roll that rides a chaotic line between genuine genre flick and feature-length Kurosawa-themed music video. Naturally, I’m referring to Lance Mungia’s 1998 low-budget opus, Six-String Samurai. An under-loved cult classic, this offbeat throwback deserves a place among the pantheon...
And among these “dadpocalypse” stories, my personal favorite happens to be a strange little homage to classic rock ‘n roll that rides a chaotic line between genuine genre flick and feature-length Kurosawa-themed music video. Naturally, I’m referring to Lance Mungia’s 1998 low-budget opus, Six-String Samurai. An under-loved cult classic, this offbeat throwback deserves a place among the pantheon...
- 3/3/2023
- by Luiz H. C.
- bloody-disgusting.com
If Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal are looking to put some zip back in their careers, they'd do well to hire Lance Mungia to direct their next movies.
The fresh talent behind "Six-String Samurai" -- a sort of "Mad Max"-meets-"Monty Python" take on the post-apocalyptic, sci-fi martial arts picture -- Mungia, along with collaborator and star Jeffrey Falcon, brings a loopy kinetic energy to the screen that's tough to resist.
While the plotting may be as barren as the film's Death Valley backdrop, there's a great deal of visual creativity on a minimalist budget that bodes well for the filmmaker's future. The present, meanwhile, holds some nice cult potential.
Applying a little revisionist history, "Six-String Samurai" reworks the Cold War, contending that the bomb was indeed dropped and Russia ruled what was left of America. Among the less mutant survivors is a high-kicking Buddy Holly (Falcon), making his way through the desert en route to Lost Vegas to claim the title of King of Rock and Roll, previously held by the recently departed Elvis.
First, however, he must contend with marauding bounty hunters, the Russian Army and a tag-along orphaned kid (Justin McGuire), not to mention a big final showdown with Death (Stephane Gauger). Buddy is armed only with his trusty electric guitar and trustier samurai sword.
The bad guys keep popping up with a repetitive, video game frequency and dialogue is used sparingly, but Mungia, like "El Mariachi"'s Robert Rodriguez, deftly fuses visual elements of humor and violence to original effect.
As the bespectacled Buddy, Falcon, an American who has appeared in more than a dozen Hong Kong martial arts actioners, gets the job done without breaking a sweat or further scuffing his saddle shoes, and young McGuire uses his highly expressive face to supplement his extremely limited dialogue.
Cinematographer Kristian Bernier gets a lot of surreal mileage out of all the sand and Blue Sky, as the film's whimsical juxtapositions are neatly summed up by the music of The Red Elvises, a band that corners the market on Siberian surfer songs.
SIX-STRING SAMURAI
Palm Pictures
Director: Lance Mungia
Producers: Michael Burns & Leanna Creel
Screenwriters: Lance Mungia & Jeffrey Falcon
Cinematographer: Kristian Bernier
Production/costume designer: Jeffrey Falcon
Editor: James Frisa
Music: Brian Tyler
Casting: Ross Lacy
Color/stereo
Cast:
Buddy: Jeffrey Falcon
The Kid: Justin McGuire
Death: Stephane Gauger
Russian General: John Sakisian
Little Man: Gabrille Pimenter
Clint: Zuma Jay
Running time -- 81 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
The fresh talent behind "Six-String Samurai" -- a sort of "Mad Max"-meets-"Monty Python" take on the post-apocalyptic, sci-fi martial arts picture -- Mungia, along with collaborator and star Jeffrey Falcon, brings a loopy kinetic energy to the screen that's tough to resist.
While the plotting may be as barren as the film's Death Valley backdrop, there's a great deal of visual creativity on a minimalist budget that bodes well for the filmmaker's future. The present, meanwhile, holds some nice cult potential.
Applying a little revisionist history, "Six-String Samurai" reworks the Cold War, contending that the bomb was indeed dropped and Russia ruled what was left of America. Among the less mutant survivors is a high-kicking Buddy Holly (Falcon), making his way through the desert en route to Lost Vegas to claim the title of King of Rock and Roll, previously held by the recently departed Elvis.
First, however, he must contend with marauding bounty hunters, the Russian Army and a tag-along orphaned kid (Justin McGuire), not to mention a big final showdown with Death (Stephane Gauger). Buddy is armed only with his trusty electric guitar and trustier samurai sword.
The bad guys keep popping up with a repetitive, video game frequency and dialogue is used sparingly, but Mungia, like "El Mariachi"'s Robert Rodriguez, deftly fuses visual elements of humor and violence to original effect.
As the bespectacled Buddy, Falcon, an American who has appeared in more than a dozen Hong Kong martial arts actioners, gets the job done without breaking a sweat or further scuffing his saddle shoes, and young McGuire uses his highly expressive face to supplement his extremely limited dialogue.
Cinematographer Kristian Bernier gets a lot of surreal mileage out of all the sand and Blue Sky, as the film's whimsical juxtapositions are neatly summed up by the music of The Red Elvises, a band that corners the market on Siberian surfer songs.
SIX-STRING SAMURAI
Palm Pictures
Director: Lance Mungia
Producers: Michael Burns & Leanna Creel
Screenwriters: Lance Mungia & Jeffrey Falcon
Cinematographer: Kristian Bernier
Production/costume designer: Jeffrey Falcon
Editor: James Frisa
Music: Brian Tyler
Casting: Ross Lacy
Color/stereo
Cast:
Buddy: Jeffrey Falcon
The Kid: Justin McGuire
Death: Stephane Gauger
Russian General: John Sakisian
Little Man: Gabrille Pimenter
Clint: Zuma Jay
Running time -- 81 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
- 9/18/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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