‘Buried in Barstow’ Review

I may not always be a fan of Lifetime movies, but I am always a fan of Kristoffer Polaha and Angie Harmon. So when I saw the advertisement for Buried in Barstow, I knew I was going to watch it. And I was pretty sure I was going to love it. I was so happy to find out that I was right. This is definitely going to be one Lifetime movie I’m going to be watching again and again. Plus, there are going to be more and I’m all over that! So keep reading below for my review.

Deceiving Appearances

From the moment we meet Elliot, it’s clear he has some things going on in his life that aren’t so great. He stated he wasn’t able to pay for his meal, but then also said he was a former surgeon. So, naturally, my first question was about how the hell a former surgeon could get to the point where he couldn’t afford a meal at a diner. But Elliot’s story unfolds just as Hazel’s seems to. Hearing about his accident and the death of his fiancee certainly cleared some things up. The way Hazel and Elliot have been through entirely different experiences but still have parallels is amazing. And is clearly a huge part of the draw between them. The way they were able to find common ground and bond over how they have both survived traumas in their life was truly beautiful to watch.

Image via Lifetime

Then there is Hazel. At first glance, she appeared to be someone who was just going through the motions of small-town life and loving it. On top of that, she seemed to make it her life mission not to judge others along with doing whatever she could to make their life a little bit easier. Whether that meant telling them not to worry about a check they couldn’t pay or letting them work the check off. If that didn’t seem to be the way to go about things, Hazel would give them a job and a place to stay, as she did for Elliot. But Hazel certainly turned out to be quite a bit different than she first appeared.

Mothers and Daughters

Joy is pretty lucky to have a mom who would clearly do anything for her. Even when she acts like a brat and tries to convince her mother to give her money she feels she is owed. And while I support a mother sticking up for her kid, especially when it comes to their significant other hitting them, I was left a little wide-eyed at Hazel’s reaction. The punch in the face? Well deserved. But tying Travis up and taking him out to the desert where she had already dug a grave for him? Possibly a bit of an overreaction. And something that had me questioning Hazel and her character.

But still, I didn’t think that there was any way Hazel would actually go through with the act of killing Travis. Especially not with the way she runs her diner. Hazel made it clear that while she takes no bullshit, she also helps those who are in need. So I figured she was just going to scare the ever-loving shit out of him and let him go. Maybe even leave him in the desert to walk his sorry ass home. But it was also clear that Hazel had been through abuse of her own and had made a decision to never allow herself or her daughter to be abused by anyone. Their mantra alone makes that clear. “He raises a hand, I raise a fist. He raises a fist, I raise a gun.”. Hazel certainly stayed true to that mantra. But in the end, it appeared that Travis was alive, though slightly worse for the wear, as he deserved. And it appeared he didn’t learn anything as he gets Joy to leave with him.

Revelations

Finding out Hazel was a hitwoman had my jaw dropping a bit. Along with getting me to nod my head because at least that helped make sense of why she went after Travis the way she did. It seemed like Hazel’s past was coming back for her at every turn and so, it seemed, was Elliot’s, making this movie one that kept me tuned in from start to finish. I loved watching the developing relationship between Hazel and Elliot. Their chemistry was amazing. Finding out that Elliot was working for Hazel’s former boss absolutely had my jaw dropping. What the hell, dude?! Did he really think that Hazel wasn’t going to find out? At least he seemed to prove himself to be on Hazel’s side in the end. And then of course there was Javi getting taken and Hazel getting shot! To be continued?! Come on, Lifetime. That was just cruel.

Image via Lifetime

This felt like a great base layer to something that I think has the potential to be an absolutely amazing series. What did you think of Buried in Barstow? Did you fall in love with Hazel and Elliot as I did? What did you think about the movie as a whole? Are you excited to watch the next movie in the series? What do you think is going to happen in the next movie? Who was your favorite character? Did you see that ending coming? Or was it a shock for you? Find and follow us on Twitter @capeandcastle to share all of your thoughts on Buried in Barstow with us! And be sure to check out our site for more content on all things Disney and beyond! You can find me on Twitter @Sarah_Jeanne17!