Gus Van Sant’s dreamy second feature, Drugstore Cowboy, starring Matt Dillon, Kelly Lynch, James Le Gros and Heather Graham, examines the world of drug addicted drifters in the late 1980’s. 

Bob Hughes (Matt Dillon) and his wife Dianne (Kelly Lynch) move from squat to squat, robbing pharmacies for opiates to keep themselves high. Rick (James Le Gros) and his young girlfriend Nadine (Heather Graham) follow along, aiding the elaborate schemes Bob comes up with to trick unsuspecting pharmacy owners. While Nadine fakes a seizure, Rick riles up the staff and Bob sneaks behind the desks to rifle through the drawers. Dianne waits in the car outside. Barely away from the pharmacy and Bob is shooting up in the back seat, derided by Dianne but unable to hear her as he drifts into blissful oblivion. 

A colourful host of characters surround them, most of whom want to score from Bob and his crew’s hard work. A playful tone belies the hazards in their lives, and the risks they take. From their criminal endeavours to their self-medication with dangerously strong pharmaceuticals. Of course, at some point the bubble has to burst, and they find themselves needing to dispose of an overdosed body. 

At this point the tone shifts, from playful and strangely humorous to plodding and almost boring. An intentional transition that belies the difficulty clean living brings. As the haze of drugs fades, the real danger becomes clear and shows that addiction is a multifaceted beast that isn’t easily escaped. 

Based on an at-the-time unpublished autobiography by career criminal James Fogle – Drugstore Cowboy is a clear influence on numerous films that came after it. From Requiem for a Dream to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas via Trainspotting – the influence here is clear. But it’s a difficult watch, the tonal shift makes for something that goes from uncomfortable to testing. While the intent is clear – Bob is an unreliable narrator. His playful and comedic reflections in the first hour are betrayed by the monotony of the second. His unsympathetic actions at times make it difficult to sympathise for him when bad things inevitably happen, but the tone never seems to entirely catch up. 

Drugstore Cowboy is an interesting exploration into drug addiction in the 1980s, with a clear and worthy cult following that gives space for Van Sant to explore and develop his talents. But a challenging watch that may lose many viewers due to its uneven tone and difficult pacing. 

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