Review of Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974) by Mister C — 03 Jan 2014

Sam Peckinpah's next to last real masterpiece was also the film that nearly destroy his career as one of Hollywood's most maverick filmmakers both personally and professionally. "Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia" was a major flop upon its original release on August 14, 1974.

"Alfredo Garcia" was made while the "Straw Dogs" and "The Wild Bunch" director was debilitated by excessive drug usuge and alcoholism. The film's central frank and controversial subject matter of its strong graphic scenes of explicit violence throughout not to mention strong language and brief nudity were perceived as misogyny,but to this day has a strong cult following in one of the risque' films ever made despite given its black comedy and existential storyline that has been duplicated numerous times in many movies.

In the most astounding best performance of his career,the great character Warren Oates(who also starred in Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch",but his resume follows a long list of classics including "In The Heat Of The Night" as one of the most diverse actors of his generation)as an alcoholic piano player who takes his prostitute girlfriend on a road trip through the seedy and dangerous Mexican underworld to collect a huge payday only to be have the titular noggin of the notorious drug lord calling for his reward.

Oates and his girlfriend are on the run from the two notorious hencemen(Robert Webber and Gig Young)out to get them not to mention coming to a violent cilmax with the drug lord and the million dollar bounty.

Oates literally takes advantage with the head of the dismembered body(in a brown sack) as he seeks vengeance for what he has lost in the quest. It's one of the purest distillations of Peckinpah's nihilistic vision,along with a rare supporting turn from Mexican-American actress Isela Vega as Oates' victimized girlfriend of a prostitute.

It may not be out of the best films of 1974,but with some of its action scenes and violent content,it's worth taking a second look.