A word of advice to those that haven't seen this one: do *not* take it seriously. As written by Bill Milling and directed by Simon Nuchtern, this mid-80s update of '60s and '70s biker flicks is pretty damn stupid. But it's a pretty funny kind of stupid. Milling & Nuchtern throw in everything, *including* the kitchen sink, for the sake of a good show. A rich variety of B movie perennials and a heavy dose of chaotic action make this a hoot to watch. Millings' dialogue is often absurd, and his characters are a bunch of cartoons.
Lance Henriksen stars (although George Kennedy is top-billed) as a bike-riding loner who comes to the small Southern town of Agua Dulce to visit his old friend Kennedy. At the same time, other strangers arrive: a bunch of trouble-making bikers who paint the town blood red. Kennedy, who's good at making homemade weapons, Henriksen, and assorted townspeople bring the fight to the bikers.
Punctuated by atmospheric music from ever-reliable Pino Donaggio, "Savage Dawn" offers up plenty of violence, and doesn't seem to ever concern itself with being logical or probable. Henriksen and Kennedy are effective heroes, while a strutting William Forsythe plays the main heavy (he and Henriksen were on the same side six years later in another biker-themed favourite, "Stone Cold"). Forsythe does look like he's having a great time. Karen Black has a particularly ridiculous role as a town harpy who *hates* the place and throws in with the villains the first chance she gets. Sam Kinison makes his film debut in a priceless role as a Born Again barber who annoys the hell out of a biker named Zero (musician / character actor Mickey Jones). Richard Lynch has a change of pace role as a simpering, impotent preacher / mayor. Other familiar faces include Lewis Van Bergen, Leo Gordon, Michael Sharrett, and Claudia Udy.
One highlight (or low point, depending on your sensibilities): a catfight between Black and Udy that seems to go on for days.
Six out of 10.
