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No consensus yet.
All Critics (9) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (1) | DVD (3)
At times the perversely slow beat of each scene can irritate, but that's a reasonable price for the film's super-saturated atmosphere. Jun 24, 2006 | Full Review…
At times the perversely slow beat of each scene can irritate, but that's a reasonable price for the film's super-saturated atmosphere.
Geoff Andrew
Its evocation of tough-guy glamour is ridiculously stilted. And it regards the past with absolutely no perspective or wit. May 14, 2005 | Rating: 1.5/5
Its evocation of tough-guy glamour is ridiculously stilted. And it regards the past with absolutely no perspective or wit.
Janet Maslin
An excoriation of Reagan-era nostalgia for the Fifties Sep 25, 2009 | Full Review…
An excoriation of Reagan-era nostalgia for the Fifties
Fernando F. Croce
A strange, but compelling amalgam of art film and homage to the American International Pictures biker flicks of the 1960s. Oct 26, 2007 | Rating: 5/10 | Full Review…
A strange, but compelling amalgam of art film and homage to the American International Pictures biker flicks of the 1960s.
Josh Ralske
Bigelow's first feature, co-written and co-directed with Monty Montgomery, is a nihilistic meditation on 1950s biker flicks, featuring Willem Dafoe in his first screen role. Jan 24, 2007 | Rating: B- | Full Review…
Bigelow's first feature, co-written and co-directed with Monty Montgomery, is a nihilistic meditation on 1950s biker flicks, featuring Willem Dafoe in his first screen role.
Emanuel Levy
Mostly concerned about how it looks and not too concerned about its story or in making great observations. Nov 21, 2006 | Rating: A- | Full Review…
Mostly concerned about how it looks and not too concerned about its story or in making great observations.
Dennis Schwartz
A slightly hallucinatory homage to The Wild Ones. May 14, 2005 | Rating: 7/10
A slightly hallucinatory homage to The Wild Ones.
Jon Popick
Intelligent, provocative, camp, indulgent, erotic, occasionally frustrating, and often brilliant. May 14, 2005 | Full Review…
Intelligent, provocative, camp, indulgent, erotic, occasionally frustrating, and often brilliant.
Film4 Staff
A minor classic of a certain attitude. Mar 2, 2005 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
A minor classic of a certain attitude.
Walter Chaw
Did this movie have a story? You can't even tell, since nothing happens at all. I did not care for this movie, and I don't recommend it.
Super Reviewer
Kathryn Bigelow's feature debut is an assured, vibrant and detailed biker flick set in evocative 50's small town America. There's not much in the way of plot and the script is basic (but natural) and much of the pleasure of the film is in the way it looks more than what is being said. Interesting that the bikers themselves are rather a peaceful bunch, more interested in shooting the breeze, drinking cola and listening to rock n roll on the jukebox than causing any real trouble - it's the locals, their prejudices, and the sins of a father that lead to the brief but memorable violence. A fascinating flim.
It was worth it to see Willem Dafoe as a fifties biker in the same light as The Wild One, but the script was just not strong enough. It had a lot of bizarre stereotypes for the time that just didn't fit and almost nothing happened until the very end. I liked a lot of the cinematography and it really could have been a great movie if it would've had a more interesting plot and supporting characters.
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