The sadly underrated and forgotten 1997 Martial Arts fest Six String Samurai is a bizarre Rock N’ Roll Fairy Tale that I can guarantee you will have no knowledge of.
For this obscure and entrancing independent movie was never released outside of the U.S, and as such I had to import the DVD to begin my investigation.
Filmed entirely at weekends on a shoe-string budget of $2,000,000, Samurai tells the tale of the mysterious ‘Buddy’, who roams a landscape torn apart by World War 3. Carrying only a guitar, his sword and a heavy heart, he is on his way to Vegas to follow in the footsteps of the recently deceased King.
His journey takes him into the company of a cannibalistic ‘Cleaver’ family, a bounty-hunting bowling team, the remnants of the Russian army, and a Windmill God.
Accompanied by an orphan boy and pursued by Death and his backing band, Buddy will learn what it really means to be ‘The King’…
Despite the bizarre premise and audacious plot, Samurai is a sleek and stylish adventure that works surprisingly well.
C-Movie veteran Jeffrey Falcon (Indeed his real name) is believable and captivating as Buddy. His witty and stylish presence shines through as Falcon (Also the writer and producer) delivers memorable one-liners and the sombre, forlorn presence that one should expect from the hero of a kung-fu movie.
For that is what this is, or at least a fond comedic tribute to such. Falcon choreographed and performed all of the fight scenes himself, utilising his impressive skills as a martial artist and stuntman to create smooth, fluid battles. Cinematically impressive, they can be forgiven as acting as a vehicle for Falcon’s capabilities due to how well he pulls them off.
Backed all the while by Russian surf-band “The Red Elvises” (equally eccentric figures bedecked in red suits and colourful shoes), the sound-track could merit a separate article in itself. The band plays ballads of sorrow to compliment our hero and his ruined set, followed by funky and upbeat riffs that wouldn’t be lost in an episode of Hawaii Five-O as Buddy and Death do battle.
Referencing the golden years of music with clever passing references to Slash, Elvis Presley and, of course, the immortal Buddy Holly, Samurai is a tale of heart and a strangely surreal, distant beauty that one would normally obtain by looking through the bottom of a looking glass.
Its clever analogy for the death and subsequent rebirth of Rock N’ Roll is told with grace and splendour yet at the same time it weaves a good yarn and allows you to bask in the glories of companionship and humour thanks to Falcon’s impressive writing and aforementioned skill at constructing violence.
So try, if you can, to discover this elusive and wonderful masterpiece of independent cinema.
Unique, cool, stylish and riotously entertaining, it is certainly one you won’t forget in a hurry.
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