‘Bikeriders’ An Impactful, Character-Driven Drama
- Matt Palmer
- Sep 23, 2024
- 2 min read
‘The Bikeriders’ captures a rebellious time in America when the culture and people were changing.
After a chance encounter at a local bar, strong-willed Kathy is inextricably drawn to Benny, the newest member of Midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals led by the enigmatic Johnny.
Much like the country around it, the club begins to evolve, transforming from a gathering place for local outsiders into a dangerous underworld of violence, forcing Benny to choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club.
The film festival selection ‘The Bikeriders’ is an exhilarating and, at times, captivating take of the bike culture that was rising in the 60s and 70s.
The story of the film is sort of like an origin story of sorts of a motorcycle club, which can be rather interesting at times. We get to see how this biker’s club evolved through the eyes of Kathy, who is telling most of the film’s events during a series of interviews.
The main focus of the film involves Johnny (the club’s leader), Kathy and Benny (the newest member of the club and is in a relationship with Kathy). Benny’s story/character arc is really quite compelling since he tries to determine after a while whether to stay loyal with the club or Kathy.
Things begin to get a little tense and out of control once we see the club make drastic changes where we see the Vandals grow a lot more and get out of control as drugs and alcohol become more involved.
‘The Bikeriders’ also features a great cast that delivers us amazing performances. So, if you’re interested in the late 60s/early 70s era and love motorcycles, then I’m sure that ‘The Bikeriders’ will be right up your alley!
Some of the cast: Tom Hardy as Johnny; Jodie Comer as Kathy; Austin Butler as Benny; Michael Shannon as Zipco; Mike Faist as Danny; Boyd Holbrook as Cal; Emory Cohen as Cockroach; Damon Herriman as Brucie and Norman Reedus as Funny Sonny, among many others.
‘The Bikeriders’ is written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter; Mud; Midnight Special) and is inspired by a book of the same title by Danny Lyon.
The film’s Vandals motorcycle club is based on the real-life Outlaws Motorcycle Club. The biker gang that ‘Bikeriders’ is inspired by still exists as of this year and is a rival to the Hell’s Angels.
‘The Bikeriders’ premiered as the opening film of the 50th Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023 and was initially taken off the original release schedule due to the dual strikes. The film was initially a 20th Century Studios film before production company New Regency brought it to Focus Features.
‘The Bikeriders’ is rated R for language throughout, violence, some drug use and brief sexuality and has a running time of 116 minutes.
The remaining show dates and times for this film are as follows: Friday, Sept. 27 at 7:00, Wed. Oct. 2 at 2:30 and Tues. Oct. 8 at 7:00
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