Frontier (2001)

In the wake of their debut film PLASTIC UTOPIA being declared too unconventional by the majority of festival gatekeepers, the Zellner brothers retaliated in the only way true indie filmmakers can: by crafting something even more peculiar. FRONTIER, an unflinching and earnest spectacle, ingeniously marries Soviet propaganda with the intoxicating allure of East Texas psychedelia. Purportedly adapting a "literary masterpiece" from the fictitious nation of "Bulbovia," the film industriously chronicles the peculiar frontier-establishing rituals, national conquest traditions, accordion-infused folk songs and the bizarre practice of raw-chicken duels of the Bulbovian populace. Thrust into an alien world, Bulbovia's least savvy pioneers (portrayed by David Zellner and Wiley Wiggins) strive to faithfully colonize an unfamiliar territory. However, they soon find their prim attire and logical thinking rapidly dissolving into a wild frenzy of beetle-consumption, tree-harassment, and matrimonial madness. FRONTIER, reminiscent of a Guy Maddin's rendition of AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD, or an inebriated Austinite's daydream of STALKER's existential "zone," masterfully appropriates classic art-film elements to construct its own eccentric, zero-budget universe. Shot entirely in the enigmatic language of "Bulbovian," the film also led its lead actor Wiley Wiggins to an unexpected familial revelation. As David Zellner later disclosed in an interview, "During the shoot, Wiley discovered that he is indeed one-quarter Bulbovian." This revelation adds another layer of intrigue to a film that already teems with unexpected twists and turns, making FRONTIER a must-watch for those seeking a unique cinematic experience.

Frontier is an action movie featuring David Zellner.

Frontier is currently streaming on Fandor Amazon Channel.