Is this a horror movie?

Not really. It's a psychological drama with some thriller elements. There are no jump scares or monsters, just a lot of tension and a mounting sense of unease.

How much nudity is actually in it?

There is a brief scene of full-frontal male nudity. It's not sexualized—it's more about the character's primitive, 'mountain man' state—but it's definitely there.

Do I need to explain Y2K to my kid first?

It helps to give them the 30-second summary: people were terrified that computers would crash and society would collapse when the clock hit 2000. It sets the stage for the main character's paranoia.

Is the ending depressing?

It's ambiguous and heavy. It’s not a 'feel-good' ending, but it’s the kind of conclusion that makes you want to go back and re-watch the first ten minutes to see what you missed.

Buster's Mal Heart – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Buster's Mal Heart

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2017

62%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Rami Malek goes full mountain-man in a surreal, Y2K-obsessed head-trip that's half psychological thriller, half existential crisis.

69%

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Buster's Mal Heart

movie

18A, 2017

62%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Rami Malek goes full mountain-man in a surreal, Y2K-obsessed head-trip that's half psychological thriller, half existential crisis.

69%

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69%

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Screenwise Verdict

Buster's Mal Heart is a 'vibe' movie. If you want a straightforward story where everything is explained by the credits, stay far away. But if you have a teen who's into Mr. Robot or Donnie Darko, this is a solid, weird find that respects the viewer's intelligence.

It's not 'fun' in the traditional sense, and it definitely earns a watchability penalty for being a bit of a slow burn. However, as a character study of a man falling through the cracks of society, it’s memorable and visually striking.

Age Fit

This is strictly for the 16+ crowd. Between the brief nudity and the heavy psychological themes, younger kids will either be bored or weirded out. It's a great pick for a mature teen who already likes A24-style indie films.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The film deals heavily with isolation, mental breakdown, and a man living a transient, somewhat criminal life by breaking into empty vacation homes. It's not aiming for a warm-and-fuzzy tone.

Imaginative

The non-linear structure and surrealist 'Inversion' plot are genuinely creative. It's a puzzle-box movie that trusts the audience to keep up with three different timelines.

Safe

Contains brief nudity, sexual situations, and some violence. The psychological intensity and themes of existential dread make it unsuitable for younger viewers.

Enriching

It offers a heavy-duty look at grief and how conspiracy theories can fill the void of a broken life. It’s a great conversation starter for older teens about mental health and the 'system.'

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Rami Malek is magnetic, playing three distinct versions of the same man with total commitment.
The surrealist structure is a breath of fresh air if you're tired of predictable, cookie-cutter Hollywood plots.
It captures a very specific Y2K-era paranoia that feels weirdly relevant to today’s internet rabbit holes.
The cinematography of the snowy mountains vs. the sterile hotel interiors creates a haunting visual contrast.

⚠

What to Watch For

There is a brief scene involving full-frontal male nudity that catches most viewers off guard.
The non-linear timeline is confusing by design; if your kid gets frustrated when they don't know 'what's real,' this will be a tough watch.
The depiction of mental illness and grief is raw and doesn't offer easy, happy resolutions.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Jonah was so susceptible to the 'Last Free Man's' conspiracy theories?"
"How did the movie use the different timelines to show Jonah's mental state?"
"What did the 'Inversion' represent to Jonah—was it a real event or a metaphor for his escape?"
"Is the 'mountain man' lifestyle an act of freedom or just another kind of prison?"

Deep Dive

The Rami Malek Show

Before he was winning Oscars for Bohemian Rhapsody, Rami Malek was doing the heavy lifting in weird indie projects like this. He plays Jonah, a hardworking concierge who loses his mind and becomes 'Buster,' a mountain man who breaks into vacation homes to survive. The movie splits his life into three strands: the family man, the fugitive, and a man adrift at sea.

Why the Y2K Angle Matters

Setting the 'past' timeline in 1999 isn't just for the aesthetic. It taps into that specific pre-millennium tension—the feeling that the world was about to break or reset. For a modern kid, this is a great window into how conspiracy theories functioned before the social media era. It’s about the 'Last Free Man' and the idea that we’re all just cogs in a machine that doesn't care about us.

Not Your Average Thriller

Director Sarah Adina Smith doesn't give you the satisfaction of a clean ending. Like the heart condition the title refers to, the movie feels slightly out of rhythm. It's a puzzle box where some of the pieces might be missing on purpose. If your family enjoys 'theory-crafting' after a movie ends, you'll have plenty to talk about. If you just want to see a guy run from the cops, you'll probably find it too artsy for its own good.

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