Review: Devil’s Angels


John Cassavetes and his wild pack of bikers stir things up in conservative small town, running afoul of sheriff Leo Gordon (very good) when a local girl is lured to their ‘lair’.
 

Directed by Roger Corman’s favourite production designer Daniel Haller (who also subsequently directed “The Wild Racers”), scripted by Corman crony Charles B. Griffith (“A Bucket of Blood”, “Death Race 2000”), and starring a young John Cassavetes, this 1967 AIP biker film doesn’t quite live up to its pedigree (the screenplay is especially disappointing given Griffith’s track record). There’s a terrifically downbeat, cynical ending, but in order to get to that, one must sit through a pedestrian rehashing of all the usual biker clichés. In fact, for about 75% of the movie, I thought I was watching a rip-off of “The Wild One”, right down to the scared townsfolk, antagonising bikers, and battle for control of the gang. Hell, even the ending that I liked, really isn’t all that unusual in its tone (“Easy Rider” and “Hell’s Angels on Wheels” also featured downbeat endings). It doesn’t help that, with one near-rape scene excluded, these bikers carry on more like a bunch of slightly boozy juveniles than a wild pack of dangerous bikers. The cast is pretty good, though.


Personally, I’d rather watch “Hell’s Angels on Wheels” or even “Rebel Rousers”, as this one’s pretty average to be charitable. For biker flick enthusiasts only.

 

Rating: C

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