Six-String Samurai

Critics Consensus

A quirky, energetic sci-fi adventure.

77%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 7,510

Super Reviewer

Movie Info

This post-apocalyptic desert spectacle of swords, adventure and rock n' roll wowed audiences at the Slamdance and South X Southwest Festivals. The King is dead. After ruling for more than 40 years from Lost Vegas, Elvis Presley has left America without its leader. Who will become king? With every sword-brandishing, guitar-playing dreamer on the road to Vegas, it's a crowded path to the top. The "Six-String Samurai" is Buddy, a guitar player on his way to Lost Vegas to claim the throne.

Rating:

PG-13 (for martial arts and swordfight violence)
Genre:

Action & Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Directed By:

Lance Mungia
Written By:

Jeffrey Falcon, Lance Mungia
In Theaters:

Sep 18, 1998 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Feb 23, 1999
Runtime:

91 minutes
Studio:

Palm Pictures

Cast

Jeffrey Falcon
as Buddy

Justin Mcguire
as The Kid

Kim De Angelo
as Mother

Stephane Gauger
as Death

Clifford Hugo
as Psycho

Monti Ellison
as Head Pin Pal

Richard McGuire
as Cantina Owner

Zuma Jay
as Car Guy

Lex Lang
as Voice of Death

Dan Barton
as Ward Cleaver

Lora Witty
as Harriet Cleaver

John Sakisian
as Russian General

Gabrille Pimenter
as Little Man

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Critic Reviews for Six-String Samurai

All Critics (20) | Top Critics (1)

'Vegas needs a new king.' That, right there, is all you need to know plotwise of this ridiculously fun no-budget actioner.

Apr 3, 2009 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
Will remain an obscure and sequel-less cult classic, having achieved that status out of sheer weirdness rather than greatness.

Mar 18, 2003 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com
So here's two good performers and a good idea, gorgeous camera work....and nothing else. The idea was funny but I thought it was executed poorly at times.

Jun 14, 2001 | Rating: 3

Karina Montgomery
Cinerina
Lance Mungia's high energy genre soup is a hoot, a low budget indie action film that embraces its limitations with a spare grunge-chic look...

Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…

Sean Axmaker
Nitrate Online

View All Critic Reviews (20)

Audience Reviews for Six-String Samurai

Jun 04, 2016

Six-String Samurai is a story about artists from around the country flocking to Los Vegas after Elvis dies so that they can become the new "King of Vegas." The titular character, played by some random guy, is one of said musicians aiming for the throne. This is a very original, very clever concept for a film, but that's about all it is. I really enjoyed parts of this movie and its sheer nonsense, but there isn't much to talk about. It's exactly what you'd expect a low-budget cult classic film like this to be, and that is an entertaining ride of stupidity. I'm not going to rag on the movie because it wasn't trying to be anything more than it is. If you enjoy silly movies like Sharknado, this will be right up your alley.

Ben B Super Reviewer
Nov 17, 2012

The United States is turned into a nuclear wasteland after losing the Cold War to the Russians in 1957 and Elvis Presley is named King of the West, but when he dies some years later, musicians from all around flock to Lost Vegas to try and take his place. Our hero is Buddy, a samurai sword-wielding rock'n'roller that must make it there without crossing paths with Death, whose heavy metal band is vying for the throne as well. Now, that's the coolest premise for any movie out there. Whether or not it is effectively executed in "Six-String Samurai" is something entirely different. Lance Mungia's direction is too offbeat and bizarre and he takes advantage of his wide-angle lens a little too often, but in the long run, his eccentric style works. It makes good use of an inventive script written by him and star Jeffrey Falcon that plays out like a post-apocalyptic fantasy Western crossed with a B movie. It's worth watching simply because of how original it's written, set up and shot, and even if Mungia's directing style is a little strange and Justin McGuire's whining is guaranteed to get on your nerves, it's a real gem of a film.

Stephen E Super Reviewer
Jul 11, 2010

Samurai and rock musician Buddy (martial artist Jeffery Falcon, a dead ringer for Buddy Holly) travels the post-apocalyptic wasteland, heading to Vegas with the other rock and rollers in a bid to assume the throne left vacant by the dead Elvis. In terms of the setting and concept, this blazingly original and well-crafted movie is so different and unique that you desperately want to fall in love with it, but the layers upon layers of stylization are just so damn thick you end up feeling alienated from the world rather than drawn inside it. Lots of people fall in love anyway, and it's worth taking a chance for fans of cult movies.

Greg S Super Reviewer
Sep 23, 2009

Can anybody tell me what the fuck I just watched, and why I hadn't seen it much sooner? This is possibly one of the oddest and most original post-apocalyptic road movies I've ever seen. Equal, in my eyes, to the likes of A Boy And His Dog and Mad Max. This is one of those movies that, whether you love it or hate it, you probably won't forget. Seriously, someone actually made a movie about Buddy Holly as a wandering, rockabilly samurai on a quest to claim the crown of the the dead king of Vegas, Elvis Presley. Not only that, but the makers pulled it off with flying colors. If I had one complaint it would be the lack of blood, but the insane storyline, the humor, and the spot on samurai aspects of the movie are more than enough to shut out that blood-thirsty bug living in my brain. If you're a fan of Samurai, post apocalyptic, or just plain strange films then I would highly recommend checking this out

Shane D Super Reviewer