as the last hours of 2013 go by, and my blood-alcohol content goes higher, i find myself drawn to something other than horror. I love exploitation films, the reason being that they were most times not made by people who knew anything about the culture they represent in the film - there were suits interpreting, and moreover restricting what represented that culture at the time.
I turn my bloodshot eyes to one of my favorites - is it yetisploitation? Blaxploitation? Nope, of all of them nothing is dearer to my heart than biker movies. My dad was a biker in his prime, and a weekend warrior at the end. Nothing captures the late 60's/early 70's era in america like biker films.
First up was The Mini-skirt mob. What? Miniskirts?
Like all trends that sweep the nation the youth leads the charge to the theatres with their wallets. While the skirts are indeed mini, and the sweaters achingly wrapped around the breasticles of the hot biker mamas, it's clearly aimed for the 16 year old drive-in crowd. They drink, but there is no nudity (heaven forbid), no drugs, and no real violence other than completely ham-fisted fisticuffs.
Hard Ride, however is a different story altogether.
America spasmed as the vietnam war brought men home from a hated conflict that shattered lives there and here, and therein (as always) lies a market. This movie is one of many "returning home" culture-shock biker films that sees the protagonist, once deep in rice paddies and machine gun fire, now facing another war at home as they try to settle back into civilian life.
Therein lies the realm of the biker-sploitation films, this is what "ride to hell:retribution" tried ( and failed spectacularly) to encapsulate in its formula. Lots of sex, drugs, and rock and roll to go around and it's just fun as hell. The hairstyles and period lingo are hilarious to boot.