End of the World Cinema: Six String Samurai

Oh boy, in these grim times of global financial breakdown, international terrorism, imminent climate disaster and Jimmy Carr, you’d think that the toupee supporting Goldbergenstein’s running Hollywood would be sending some goodtime flicks the way of honest old Joe Schmoe, something to lighten the mood a little, to take the edge of the impending doom.

Well, apart from a slew of distressing remakes (Karate Kid, Teenwolf, Nightmare On Elm Street), Tinsletown has decided to hop aboard the zeitgeist by stuffing it’s bucks into a series of ‘End of the World’ movies to keep those smiles upside down well into the New Year. ‘2012’ is out now, borrowing all the old ideas and FX from the likes of ‘The Day After Tomorrow, ‘Armageddon’ and ‘Deep Impact’, while Denzel Washington’s ‘Book of Eli’ and the big screen adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer winning ‘The Road’ bring the joys of post apocalyptic struggle to your attention. I’ve seen the latter and it’s no chucklefest!

Well, if it’s got to be doom and gloom, please let me offer you an alternative ‘Life after the Bomb’ movie, one with swords, guitars, Ruski-surf-rock and a story so out there that it’ll have you sweating like a Geordie in a spelling contest. Ladies and Gentlemen.....Six String Samurai!

In 1957, the Russian’s dropped several nukes on the good old USA, turning the landscape into a scorched and inhospitable desert. With the government wiped out, the leadership of the fractured nation was placed on the shoulders of Elvis, who would fly the flag for what was left of America from his desert throne at ‘Lost Vegas’.

A couple of decades later and a mysterious Disc Jockey sends a message over the airways; The King is dead! A challenge is issued for musicians to fight their way to Lost Vegas and claim the throne of the King. Among those making the deadly journey is our hero for 90 minutes, Buddy (yep, Holly). Buddy is equal parts guitar virtuoso and deadly samurai, who hides his razorsharp katana sword behind his beloved Gibson E S 335, battling scumbags and scavengers, a Russian Surf Band (The Red Elvises), a murderous bowling team and what seems to be Death, done up as Slash, on his way to claiming the throne.

Ok ok, its shit. But at least somebody out there is using their imagination and, at the very least, it’s worth a few cheap laughs. Here’s the trailer. I apologise in advance.