The Bikeriders Review – Life in the motorcycle club

Motorcycle gangs are an aspect of American society that has always attracted fascination on television and in movies. From the harsh and harsh realities of life to the exaggerated sense of loyalty among peers, biker gangs have been portrayed in many ways in American crime series. The Bikers is a different approach to showing motorcycle clubs on screen, while also having the same reverence and fascination that films of the past have had for the subject. It’s a story told from the perspective of someone who was part of the crew on the fringes, but who nonetheless witnessed the changes that took place during the golden years of motorcycle clubs.

The story of The Bikeriders is told from the perspective of Kathy, a young girl who falls in love with a guy named Benny, the newest recruit of a Midwestern motorcycle club called “The Vandals.” The film jumps back and forth between the 1960s and the 1970s, with Kathy describing events to photographer and filmmaker Danny Lyon. Both Kathy and Benny experience many challenges that come with being part of a motorcycle club that accepts outsiders from all walks of life. However, as the years go by, things change drastically as the club grows exponentially and becomes more and more involved in crime and violence. Things get so bad that Benny must decide whether to remain a member of the Vandals or quit and build a life with Kathy before it’s too late.

The film does a good job of showing how much the changes of the decade affect the Vandals as a group, both in terms of their scope and their core values. In the beginning, a lot of emphasis is placed on accepting members who have a strong personal connection to each other (around 10 members). But as the group grows and additional out-of-state branches are established, many of the core values ​​are lost in favor of instant gratification, causing everything to become very chaotic. Kathy experiences this first hand when she accompanies Benny to several of the crew’s meetings and sees how the group of misfits interact with each other.

The relationship between Benny and Kathy, however, is an interesting aspect of this story. Austin Butler plays Benny as the classic handsome guy with a motorcycle, while Jodie Comer plays the young and naive Kathy who gets sucked into the motorcycle club lifestyle. Both do a great job in their respective roles, portraying the weight of events in their own way. Kathy excuses many of the bad aspects of Benny’s affiliation with the crew, but becomes increasingly disillusioned as everything changes in the club itself. Benny remains stoic for most of the film, but also becomes burdened, reaching a breaking point at the end that leads him to make an important decision. When Kathy explains the ultimate outcome of everything, it’s a slow burn that is very well executed.

An excellent supporting character in this story is Johnny, the leader of the Vandals, played by Tom Hardy. He is present throughout the film in Kathy’s retelling as the founder of the club, and brings in all the other members of the original group. Tom Hardy does an excellent job of portraying the role of the tough guy whose heart is hidden behind the armored facade. He is a likable boss who relies on loyalty from his crew, and Benny is someone he values ​​very highly. Some of Johnny’s best moments are when you see or hear the reasons behind his actions in the club, even after something very bad has happened beforehand. In one scene, he takes a conflict to the extreme, only to do something right after that that earns him the full trust and loyalty of the person he was arguing with. Hardy’s take on the character is so well done that everyone will definitely have a feel for where Johnny ends up at the end of the film.

Something that The Bikeriders also does well is its timing, both comedic and serious. While most of the plot is very serious, there are some humorous moments in the interactions between the members of the motorcycle gang. While the sense of humor the bikers display isn’t the same as the audience, it’s the reactions they have to each other that provide laughs. But this humor is reserved for only the peaceful moments of the film, and when things need to get serious, it does so very quickly. A later scene involving a red dress starts off innocently at first, then becomes ominous and sinister shortly after. This goes hand in hand with the way the film focuses on how much changes for the group, and how much of what made things work is lost over time.

The Bikeriders also have a few weaknesses. Some of the supporting characters don’t have much screen time or much impact on the main story between Kathy and Benny. They can end up feeling like a footnote, despite being an important part of the crew. Others only appear in a few key scenes and then disappear altogether. This is largely because the story is told from Kathy’s perspective, and in some cases she only provides context for how certain characters end up. The epilogue about the lives of the original Vandal members ends up being a bit rushed, with Kathy only mentioning what she knows happened to everyone.

In a movie about a motorcycle club, you expect there to be a lot of riding. Thankfully, all of the main members of the club are shown riding in different ways, whether alone or as a whole crew. The scenes where all of the Vandals move together as a unit are great, but are conveyed even better by the reactions of the people around them as they ride by. When the Vandals go to a picnic where a ton of other groups are hanging out, they catch everyone’s attention, leading to a clash between the clubs and a beer-fueled reconciliation shortly after. Everyone feels a sense of awe and fear towards the Vandals, especially when they ride around nearby on their motorcycles. This is also reinforced in a scene where Johnny burns down a bar and the fire department waits until the group is gone to put out the fire.

Although there is violence in some parts of the story, we never really see the Vandals doing anything chaotic other than speeding on their motorcycles. There are moments with Benny and the crew where they read about him outrunning cops on red lights until he is later caught because his motorcycle runs out of gas. The serious crimes don’t come until much later, when the group’s membership begins to grow dramatically. Part of the change is said to be due to the end of the Vietnam War and the rise of drug use in the country. This is an interesting thought that is partially explored, but not as much as the impact it has on the motorcycle club. The strong sense of loyalty and safe haven for outcasts is lost as more and more members join, drastically changing the foundation of the group that Johnny built it on.

There’s a lot to like about The Bikeriders as a film, especially if you have a fascination with looking back at this part of American culture. The characters in this story are likable and interesting, told from a perspective that feels fresh. Although fascination with crime and rebellious attitudes are still a staple of cinema, it’s nice to see an interpretation of it that makes it all seem new. It’s a slow move in places, but this is definitely a film to enjoy a ride with.