This is one of the last of the films of the original bikersploitation boom. Set in a small town, a corrupt police officer rapes a woman and blames it on a generally good-natured biker gang, leading to a bloody showdown between the free-spirited bikers and sadistic hick police.
I would have to say that, despite being late to the party, this one is in the upper bracket of the genre. It does have a simple by-the-numbers story but the ingredients are mixed well. They have hired a real biker club to play the gang and that really adds to the authentic feel. There's an effective country-rock soundtrack from none other than Monkee Mike Nesmith. On the more left-of-centre side of the fence is the presence of a gun merchant who lives in an underground bunker replete with periscope! But if there is a single individual factor which gives this one its reputation it has to be the finale, which is so full-on, it ensures that the title of this one is highly accurate. The influence of The Wild Bunch is pretty easy to spot - its slow-motion deaths and exploding blood packs galore in this intense shoot-out in a graveyard. And they even somehow also manage to shoehorn in an exploding helicopter! Its great, violent fun basically and a hell of a good way to round off what had already been an above par bit of biker action.
I would have to say that, despite being late to the party, this one is in the upper bracket of the genre. It does have a simple by-the-numbers story but the ingredients are mixed well. They have hired a real biker club to play the gang and that really adds to the authentic feel. There's an effective country-rock soundtrack from none other than Monkee Mike Nesmith. On the more left-of-centre side of the fence is the presence of a gun merchant who lives in an underground bunker replete with periscope! But if there is a single individual factor which gives this one its reputation it has to be the finale, which is so full-on, it ensures that the title of this one is highly accurate. The influence of The Wild Bunch is pretty easy to spot - its slow-motion deaths and exploding blood packs galore in this intense shoot-out in a graveyard. And they even somehow also manage to shoehorn in an exploding helicopter! Its great, violent fun basically and a hell of a good way to round off what had already been an above par bit of biker action.