The Bikeriders

SHOWTIMES 21454134

Content Advisory: Rape and Sexual Assault

The young woman recalls her experiences with a Chicago area motorcycle club in The Bikeriders. In 1973, Kathy Bauer (Jodie Comer) gives an interview to Danny Lyon (Mike Faist), about what happened to the Chicago-based Vandals Motorcycle Club, which Lyons previously followed as a young photographer. Kathy first encountered the club, founded by Johnny Davis (Tom Hardy), in 1969 and soon finds herself married to Benny Cross (Austin Butler), a hotheaded young club member. What began as a racing club soon finds itself attracting more violent members and Benny will soon have to choose between his loyalty to the club and his love for Kathy.

The Bikeriders Synopsis

The Bikeriders is a biker gang drama written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter, Mud), inspired by the photobook of the same name by Danny Lyon, played in the film by Mike Faist (Challengers). The film stars Jodie Comer (Free Guy), sporting a very thick midwestern accent, as Kathy Bauer, who serves as the narrator of the story. At the centre of the plot is Kathy’s rocky relationship with Benny Cross, played by Austin Butler (Elvis, Dune: Part II), who is prone to fits of violence, as seen in The Bikeriders’ opening scene.

The ensemble cast of The Bikeriders also includes Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road) as Vandals Motorcycle Club founder Johnny Davis, Damon Herriman (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) as Johnny’s second-in-command Brucie, and Jeff Nichols’ frequent collaborator Michael Shannon as club member Zipco. The members of the Vandals are rounded out by the likes of Boyd Holbrook (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) as Cal and Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead) as Funny Sonny. The Bikeriders also features a subplot featuring Toby Wallace (The Royal Hotel) as “The Kid,” a violent youth aspiring to become a member of the Vandals.

My Thoughts on The Bikeriders

The Bikeriders marks the first feature by Jeff Nichols, since the double releases of Midnight Special and Loving in 2016. It’s probably not far off to say that Nichols was aspiring The Bikeriders to be akin to a film such as Easy Rider, which is even namedropped at one point in the film. At the same time, The Bikeriders also documents a turning point in motorcycle culture, as the previously docile motorcycle club evolves into a criminal gang.

The violence of this biker culture is established in the Bikeriders’ opening scene as Austin Bulter’s Benny Cross gets into a fight with two bar patrons for refusing to remove his gang colours. This scene is later returned to as being a turning point in Kathy Bauer’s views of the motorcycle club. As the Vandals recruit younger members, more prone to violence and sexual assault, Kathy eventually gives an ultimatum to Benny that he either stays with her or the club.

While The Bikeriders has solid performances by its three central leads, the film ended up not leaving much of a lasting impression. The Bikeriders is probably more memorable for British actress Jodie Comer putting on a very distinctive working-class Chicago accent for her role as Kathy. Comer’s accent almost ends up being a distraction in the film, since it is incredibly distinctive.

When it is all said and done, The Bikeriders will probably not end up being remembered as the modern equivalent of Easy Rider. However, this is still a fine enough film that is perfect viewing for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

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Trailer for The Bikeriders