The movie, Buried in Barstow, is a hard-boiled, rough film, which deals with the redemption, motherhood, coming to terms with the past. It begins by captivating its viewers into a world where things are not what they seem and in most cases, it requires extreme decisions, which are sometimes ruthless. The adventure of Hazel King, a woman tormented by the past, to a woman determined to protect her child touched me quite deeply. This author has managed to make her tough and vulnerable and this makes her a complex and likable main character because I could not stop reading because of her emotional depth especially as she plot an evil world of violence and secrets.
The mood of the movie is gritty and edgy, and it finds a balance between action and contemplation. The sharp night beauty of the desert and its grimy indoor conditions are filmed to increase the intensity of Hazel and her hardships. The actors are strong, in particular the fierce will of Hazel and the layered dubiousness of Elliott. The movie is written in taut sports and fast cuts to keep a punishing pace, which attracts the audience to the turbulent life of Hazel. The score adds more suspense and stakes to emotions that every scene is powerful.
The idea of scars, visible and not, that defines our options in the film is what remained with me most. The conflict between Hazel and her past, as well as her complicated family relations, involved emotionality and tragic background. Although not all plot turns were quite convincing, they still succeeded in making this film quite unpredictable. Buried in Barstow left me with elation and thoughtfulness, a daring tale of survival, self-sacrifice and invincible ties of family, which is not so easy to forget after the credits finish.
