Over the years, this writer has become somewhat of the resident Gore Girl for the site, steadily covering all manner of dark and depraved films. The latest film on this review pile is Buck Alamo, a story which follows a man whom is being stalked by death, but not all in the way that this writer is used too. Written and directed by Ben Epstein, Buck Alamo is a self-described ‘Phantasmagorical ballad’ that follows elderly Buck as he tries to make amends with the people he’s wronged as he approaches the end of his life. Those people include his daughters, one of whom wants nothing to do with him; the other tolerates him, but has found herself tied to an abusive partner.
Buck Alamo certainly lives up to its phantasmagorical description, the whole film has an entirely dreamlike and slightly fantastical feeling to it. An example of this is in the way that the film flits from scene to scene, sometimes with no clear connecting thread between them. One second Buck is in one place, the next he’s somewhere entirely different. Unlike other films where this narrative device would frustrate, here it reinforces Epstein’s unique approach to story-telling. Watching Buck Alamo, the viewer experiences a sensation not too dissimilar to inhabiting someone else’s memories. It makes for an interesting, and oddly relaxing, watch as we join Buck as he moves through his life determined to finally make something of himself.
Visually, the film is constantly shifting, reflecting Buck’s nomadic nature. Epstein expertly morphs from monotone black and white images to full technicolour, the choice of colour palette emphasising different moods and feelings. There are also some artsy flourishes that embellish certain moments, one such involves a lot of lighting behind Buck that shines so brightly it causes massive amounts of lens flare, which gives the moment a shimmery and sparkly appearance. It plays nicely into the dreamlike vibe of the piece and it’s touches like these that make the film very easy on the eye.
Adding to the almost out-of-body viewing are a series of country and western songs sung by Buck and those around him. Buck Alamo isn’t a musical in the traditional sense, but shares a lot of DNA with the genre. There’s a song of some kind in practically every scene, but there’s none of the elaborate numbers or group collaboration. The songs here are all stripped back bare, and they convey all the things that Buck himself is unable to otherwise convey to those around him. It’s an interesting method of storytelling, and one that is akin to watching a really long music video.
Leading the cast is Sonny Carl Davis. A veteran actor with over eighty credits to his name, Davis is wonderfully charismatic as the tragic ageing cowboy. He also has a good set of pipes on him; he channels his inner Johnny Cash wonderfully. It’s a layered performance that hints at plenty of aspects of Buck that we don’t get to explore and David has put his years of experience to good work here.
Buck Alamo’s style and narrative devices won’t be to everyone’s satisfaction, but if you’re a fan of character profile pieces that veer away from the expected, then this little gem is perfect for you. A dreamlike walk through the mind and experiences of a broken old man, with a trunk full of catchy songs to boot, Buck Alamo is infectiously entertaining.
Buck Alamo was reviewed at Oldenburg Film Festival.
Buck Alamo
Summary
Infectiously entertaining, Ben Epstein’s exploration of an old cowboy on the brink of death transports the viewer into the world of true country music.
