Overview
A man just released from prison finds himself in a bizarre situation when he kidnaps a young woman to pose as his fiancée.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- melancholic
- awkward
- sardonic
- late night viewing
- indie film marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the film intriguing and emotionally affecting, praising its performances and distinctive visual style despite its self-indulgent qualities.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Billy abducts Layla to impersonate his girlfriend, yet their forced road trip gradually becomes emotionally intimate.
Billy's memories appear in stylized flashbacks described as comic-book-like thought balloons, while washed-out colors reflect his alienation.
Billy forces Layla to act as his fiancée while visiting parents whose warped behavior exposes longstanding neglect and resentment.
Billy and Layla travel through the Buffalo and New York State area after his prison release, with winter shaping the film's isolated atmosphere.
Films like Buffalo '66, and why
The Station Agent
shares an offbeat road movie structure, damaged protagonists, abrasive humor, and unexpected romantic tenderness
The Royal Tenenbaums
shares eccentric independent filmmaking, dysfunctional family dynamics, melancholy comedy, and emotionally guarded characters
Wild at Heart
shares a volatile outsider protagonist, stylized neo-noir atmosphere, romantic vulnerability, and darkly comic crime elements
Punch-Drunk Love
shares unconventional romance, emotional isolation, quirky visual storytelling, and wounded central characters
Movie Details
- Director
- Vincent Gallo
- Release Date
- 1998-01-20
- Runtime
- 110 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (1093)
Cast
- Vincent Gallo
- Christina Ricci
- Ben Gazzara
- Anjelica Huston
- Mickey Rourke
- Rosanna Arquette
- Jan-Michael Vincent
- Kevin Corrigan
- Kevin Pollak
- Alex Karras
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel
- 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 Buffalo '66 about?
- A volatile ex-convict drags a kidnapped young woman into a fake family reunion that unexpectedly becomes a strange search for tenderness.
- What is Buffalo '66 like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Buffalo '66 as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Buffalo '66 violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Buffalo '66 as mild.
- What did critics think of Buffalo '66?
- Critics generally found the film intriguing and emotionally affecting, praising its performances and distinctive visual style despite its self-indulgent qualities.
- Which films are like Buffalo '66?
- Films with a similar feel include The Station Agent, The Royal Tenenbaums, Wild at Heart, and Punch-Drunk Love.
- How long is Buffalo '66?
- Buffalo '66 runs 110 minutes.
- Where can I watch Buffalo '66?
- In United States, Buffalo '66 streams on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel.
