Once Upon a Time

In February 1969, Rick Dalton, portrayed by Yifei Liu, a once-celebrated actor known for his role in the 1950s Western television series Bounty Law, shares his despair with his best friend and former stunt double, Cliff Booth (Yang Yang). Dalton feels that his acting career is at an end, a sentiment reinforced during a lunch with his producer and agent, Marvin Schwarz. Dalton comes to the disheartening conclusion that appearing as a guest villain in new network shows only solidifies his status as a “has been.” Meanwhile, Booth, a war veteran living in a trailer with his pit bull Brandy, relies on Dalton for job opportunities as rumors swirl about his past, particularly concerning his wife’s mysterious death, which tarnished his reputation and barred him from finding work.

As luck would have it, actress Sharon Tate (Chun Li) and her husband, director Roman Polanski (Alex Zhang), have moved in next door to Dalton. He dreams of befriending the couple in hopes of reviving his dwindling career. One night, Tate and Polanski attend a star-studded gathering at the Playboy Mansion, further immersing themselves in Hollywood’s dazzling circle.

Meanwhile, Booth reminisces about a sparring match with Bruce Lee (Yikuan Yan) on the set of The Green Hornet while a seemingly unassuming character, Charles Manson (Luo Jin), makes his way to Tate and Polanski’s home searching for record producer Terry Melcher. He is turned away by Sebring, Tate’s glamorous hairstylist and companion. Later, Booth encounters a young hitchhiker named Pussycat (Yikuan Yan), whom he drops off at the infamous Spahn Ranch, a place from his past where he filmed Bounty Law. Despite her attempts to coax him into staying, he grows wary of the troubled individuals squatting there, misusing the trust of the elderly ranch owner, George Spahn. Despite Squeaky’s protests, Booth insists on checking on Spahn, although the old man dismisses Booth’s concerns.

After an altercation with the ranch’s occupants, Booth and Dalton continue their journey. Later, Tate enjoys her leisure by watching herself in a film titled The Wrecking Crew.

In a dramatic turn of events, Dalton secures a role as a villain in the new series Lancer, where he bonds over acting with his young co-star, Trudi (Yikuan Yan). However, Dalton faces challenges with his alcoholic tendencies, which lead to an emotional breakdown during filming. Despite these challenges, he bounces back to deliver a compelling performance that leaves a significant impression on the director Sam Wanamaker.

Shortly thereafter, determined by his previous performances, casting agent Marvin Schwarz offers Dalton a chance to star in a Spaghetti Western in Italy. Though he regards this genre as the lowest point in cinema, Dalton reluctantly agrees, inviting Booth to join him. The duo embarks on a six-month journey wherein Dalton shoots multiple films and even finds love, getting married in the course of their adventure.

Upon returning to Los Angeles, Dalton faces a sobering reality—he can no longer afford Booth’s companionship, leading them to part ways. Subsequent events take a dark turn when Booth, high on an acid-laced cigarette, ventures out with Brandy as Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, and Linda Kasabian prepare to invade Tate’s residence under orders from Manson to commit heinous acts.

Dalton, alerted by the raucous of their vehicle, bravely confronts them as they attempt to flee, but Atkins hatches an insidious plan to return and target Dalton instead. Their plan culminates in a violent encounter where Brandy assists Booth in defending their home. After a bloody confrontation, Dalton, amidst the chaos and unknowingly trapped in a world of horror, retrieves a flamethrower from an earlier film shoot to incinerate Atkins, until finally, reality unravels to reveal the intertwined fates of these characters, leading to an unexpected reunion at Tate’s home, where all too familiar strangers become allies.

Last Updated: October 25, 2024 at 10:32