Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Dense
- Violence
- Mild
- eerie
- paranoid
- surreal
- late night viewing
- thoughtful solo viewing
What critics said
Critics generally found the film an ambitious, atmospheric mystery elevated by Rami Malek's charismatic and unsettling lead performance, despite its challenging ambiguity.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Buster's fugitive mountain-man existence, family memories, and recurring sea dream create overlapping versions of the same character.
Buster is haunted by recurring visions of being lost at sea, which shape the film's mystery and atmosphere.
The mountain man's winter survival in empty vacation homes makes the remote wilderness central to his paranoia and estrangement.
Buster's life on the run contrasts with his former role as a family man and his resistance to authorities and systems.
Films like Buster's Mal Heart, and why
Mr. Robot
shared paranoid atmosphere, fractured identity, and psychological mystery
Enemy
shared surreal dream logic, unreliable perception, and isolated protagonist
The Machinist
shared nonlinear mystery, family trauma, and ominous psychological ambiguity
The Double
shared eccentric outsider protagonist, surrealism, and spiritual symbolism
Movie Details
- Director
- Sarah Adina Smith
- Release Date
- 2017-05-28
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (328)
Cast
- Rami Malek
- DJ Qualls
- Kate Lyn Sheil
- Toby Huss
- Lin Shaye
- Mark Kelly
- Brooke Bundy
- Teresa Yenque
- Sandra Ellis Lafferty
- Nicholas Pryor
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Buster's Mal Heart about?
- A fugitive mountain man's fractured memories and sea-haunted visions blur survival, family life, and spiritual rebellion into an enigmatic mystery.
- What is Buster's Mal Heart like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Buster's Mal Heart as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as dense.
- Is Buster's Mal Heart violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Buster's Mal Heart as mild.
- What did critics think of Buster's Mal Heart?
- Critics generally found the film an ambitious, atmospheric mystery elevated by Rami Malek's charismatic and unsettling lead performance, despite its challenging ambiguity.
- Which films are like Buster's Mal Heart?
- Films with a similar feel include Mr. Robot, Enemy, The Machinist, and The Double.
- How long is Buster's Mal Heart?
- Buster's Mal Heart runs 96 minutes.
- Where can I watch Buster's Mal Heart?
- In United States, Buster's Mal Heart streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
