Southland Tales Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Amnesiac The Rock, a porn star with a perfume line, and a cop who’s also his twin all try to prevent the apocalypse caused by a perpetual motion machine and a time rift, narrated by Justin Timberlake who’s tripping balls.

🍿 Southland Tales: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Setting the Stage: A Dystopian 2008

The film opens in a fractured, near-future Los Angeles on July 4, 2008. Following a nuclear attack in Texas, America is a police state, controlled by the US-IDENT agency. Alternative fuel sources are coveted, neo-Marxist groups plot revolution, and the upcoming election hangs in the balance. Boxer Santaros, an amnesiac action star, wanders into this chaos, setting off a chain of bizarre events.

Intertwining Destinies: Boxer, Krysta, and Roland

Boxer becomes entangled with Krysta Now, a former porn star turned media personality, and Ronald Taverner, a police officer with a fractured identity. Krysta is working on a screenplay with Boxer, which seems to mirror reality. Ronald, manipulated by neo-Marxists, is tasked with impersonating his twin brother, a cop. Their lives become increasingly intertwined as conspiracies unravel and the apocalypse looms.

Unraveling the Conspiracy: Fluid Karma and Time Rifts

The plot thickens with the introduction of ‘Fluid Karma,’ a revolutionary energy source created by Baron Von Westphalen. This technology has also created a rift in the fourth dimension. Through a series of surreal events, Boxer discovers that he traveled through this rift, creating a duplicate of himself and setting in motion a chain of events that will lead to the world’s end. As different factions fight for control, the lines between reality and fiction blur.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Boxer Santaros (Dwayne Johnson): An amnesiac action star caught in a web of conspiracies in a dystopian Los Angeles.
• Krysta Kapowski (Sarah Michelle Gellar): A porn star turned entrepreneur who becomes entangled with Boxer and a larger conspiracy.
• Roland Taverner (Seann William Scott): A Hermosa Beach police officer with a mysterious double identity and a key role in the unfolding events.
• Pilot Abilene (Justin Timberlake): A war veteran and narrator, haunted by his past and connected to the film’s central mysteries.
• Nana Mae Frost (Miranda Richardson): The head of US-IDENT and a powerful figure trying to control information in a chaotic America.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Pilot Abilene: “This is the way the world ends. Not with a whimper, but with a bang.” – The opening narration sets the tone for the film’s apocalyptic themes, referencing T.S. Eliot’s poem ‘The Hollow Men’.
• Krysta Now: “Scientists are saying the future is going to be far more futuristic than they originally predicted.” – Said during Boxer’s pitch to Ronald about the movie they’re supposedly writing, highlighting the film’s satirical take on futuristic expectations.
• Boxer Santaros: “I’m a pimp, and pimps don’t commit suicide.” – Boxer’s mantra, revealing his warped sense of self-preservation and control in the face of overwhelming chaos.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $17,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $275,380
• Worldwide Gross: $374,755

💥 Southland Tales Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, Southland Tales is a trip. I remember seeing it and being completely bewildered, but also strangely fascinated. The whole thing felt like a fever dream of conspiracy theories and pop culture, with some really out-there visuals and performances. I definitely didn’t ‘get’ everything, but it stuck with me, and I’ve revisited it a few times over the years. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re into weird, ambitious movies, it’s worth checking out. That Killers scene with Timberlake is still burned into my memory. The world created was disturbing and felt way too close to home.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Richard Kelly’s ‘Donnie Darko'”
  • “Viewers who enjoy complex, dystopian science fiction”
  • “Those interested in political satire and commentary”
  • “Audiences who appreciate films that challenge conventional storytelling”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Sexual content”
  • “Drug use”
  • “Disturbing themes”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “Southland Tales is undeniably ambitious, a sprawling, futuristic vision of Los Angeles teetering on the brink. However, its complex narrative and satirical elements often feel muddled, resulting in a film that’s more intriguing in concept than execution.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “Richard Kelly’s Southland Tales is a confusing mess of ideas and genres. Despite a talented cast, the film fails to deliver a coherent or engaging story, leaving audiences lost in its convoluted plotlines and heavy-handed satire.
• IGN: “A bizarre and ambitious film, Southland Tales is a wild ride that might leave you scratching your head. While its satire is often biting and its visuals striking, its convoluted plot and uneven performances prevent it from reaching its full potential.

Audience Reactions

Fans appreciate the movie’s unique vision and willingness to take risks.: Viewers praise its originality, satirical edge, and thought-provoking themes, even if they don’t fully understand it.

Overall Consensus: Southland Tales is a polarizing film that elicits strong reactions, praised for its ambition and originality but criticized for its confusing plot and uneven execution.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Richard Kelly sought out actors who he felt had been typecast, aiming to showcase their “undiscovered talents.””
• “Originally running 160 minutes, the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006 to a disastrous reception, leading to a re-edit and shortening of the film.”

🖥️ How to Watch Southland Tales?

Southland Tales is available for rent or purchase on various platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check local listings for broadcast schedules. Unfortunately, it’s not currently available on major streaming subscription services like Netflix or Hulu.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Southland Tales, you might like these similar films:

• Donnie Darko (2001): Both films are directed by Richard Kelly and feature complex, mind-bending plots with elements of science fiction and social commentary.
• Idiocracy (2006): Shares a satirical and dystopian view of the future with a focus on the decline of American society and culture.
• Repo Man (1984): A cult classic known for its quirky characters, punk aesthetic, and satirical view of consumerism and societal decay.
• A Scanner Darkly (2006): Explores themes of paranoia, surveillance, and altered reality through a dystopian lens and unique visual style (rotoscoping animation), similar to Southland Tales’s blend of genres and unconventional narrative.

🛒 Southland Tales Related Products

• Southland Tales – Graphic Novels 1-3: The official prequel graphic novels that explain the story’s beginning.
• Richard Kelly – Donnie Darko (Director’s Cut) [Blu-ray]: From the director who created Southland Tales comes a Blu-ray Edition of the cult classic Donnie Darko.
• T-Shirt: Krysta Now Teen Horniness is Not a Crime: Officially licensed t-shirt featuring Krysta Now’s memorable slogan from the movie. High-quality print on a comfortable shirt.
• Southland Tales: The Board Game (Unofficial): A fan-made board game, fully realized with art from fans of Southland Tales

🎧 Soundtrack

Southland Tales features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Wave of Mutilation” – performed by Pixies
• “All These Things That I’ve Done” – performed by The Killers
• “Three Days” – performed by Jane’s Addiction
• “Memory Gospel” – performed by Moby

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

WTF Happened to SOUTHLAND TALES (2006)?

Ever wonder what went wrong with Southland Tales? This video dives into the chaotic production and critical reception, revealing why it became such a notorious flop. I found it really interesting learning about all the behind-the-scenes drama!

Southland Tales – Renegade Cut

Southland Tales is a mind-bending movie, right? This Renegade Cut analysis digs into the time philosophy aspects of the film. It’s actually pretty insightful and may help you understand the movie way more. I personally recommend watching it.

Mark Kermode Reviews Southland Tales

Want a quick and brutally honest take on Southland Tales? Mark Kermode doesn’t hold back in this short review. While short, his opinions are always on point and very witty, so definitely check it out.

✨ Rate