Opened: April 28, 2017

Directed by: Sarah Adina Smith

Starring: Rami Malek, DJ Qualls, Kate Lyn Sheil, Sukha Belle Potter, Lin Shaye, Toby Huss, Mark Kelly, Teresa Yenque, Bruce Bundy, Jared Larson, Sandra Ellis, Nicholas Pryor, Lily Gladstone, Sandra Seacat & Ross Partridge

A strange story with a fantastically disturbed Rami Malek at the center of it, Buster’s Mal Heart will take you on a journey leaving you with many questions.

Jonah (Malek) is a nighttime hotel concierge who befriends conspiracy theorist Brown (DJ Qualls). When the unthinkable happens to Jonah’s family life, he escapes reality and lives as a wandering mountain man that’s acquired the nickname “Buster.”

Starting in the present with Buster and quickly flashing back to Jonah’s life, there’s a sense of dread and loss that looms over much of the film while you’re waiting to see where these two storylines become one.

Malek is fantastic as both the past-Jonah and present-Buster. But, when the story takes a turn, there’s not a strong enough payoff to make it worth his performance.

Final say: Heartbreaking in a few ways. ★★★☆☆