‘The Bikeriders’ Review: Time to Rev Up The Drama

Jeff Nichols’ latest film, ‘The Bikeriders,’ roars onto the screen with the intensity of a classic western mixed with the gritty excitement of a mob drama. Inspired by Danny Lyon’s 1968 photojournalistic study of Chicago bikers, the movie brings to life a tale of love, power, and loyalty within a rugged motorcycle gang. Lyon’s evocative black-and-white images even make a poignant appearance in the closing credits.

Set against the backdrop of 1960s Chicago, the story revolves around Johnny, played by Tom Hardy, the charismatic leader of the Vandals motorcycle club. A former truck driver and family man, Johnny’s inspiration to form the gang stems from watching Marlon Brando in ‘The Wild One,’ capturing the spirit of rebellion encapsulated in Brando’s iconic line, “What do you got?”

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The plot thickens as Johnny finds himself entangled in a love triangle and a succession crisis. He’s grooming his fiercest follower, Benny (Austin Butler), to take over the gang, but complications arise when Benny’s girlfriend, Kathy (Jodie Comer), enters the picture. Kathy, with her sharp wit and thick northwestern accent, is both tough and perceptive. As the film’s de facto narrator, she provides a grounded perspective on the Vandals’ chaotic world, often comparing it to a regimented club with paradoxical rules.

The gang members, with their colourful nicknames like Zipco (Michael Shannon), Cockroach (Emory Cohen), and Funny Sonny (Norman Reedus), add depth to the narrative. Each character brings a unique energy, from the loyal Brucie (Damon Herriman) to dependable foot soldiers like Corky (Karl Glusman) and Wahoo (Beau Knapp). Benny stands out as the most daring and rebellious, unafraid to confront the law, a move that eventually pushes the Vandals towards a life of crime, attracting a new wave of members, including troubled Vietnam vets.

Kathy’s love for Benny and her disdain for the Vandals’ macho posturing set the stage for a dramatic conflict. She foresees Benny’s inevitable fate, bound to the gang’s violent code. Her struggle to pull Benny away from this destructive path creates a gripping tension with Johnny, whose fatherly relationship with Benny complicates matters further.

Unlike the quest-driven characters of ‘Easy Rider,’ the Vandals lack a clear purpose. They meander through their days, staging “picnics” that devolve into muddy races and bar fights. Much of their time is spent in a near-stupor at their local bar, debating trivial club matters, like the installation costs of a phone.

Nichols paints a vivid picture of this subculture, akin to Kathryn Bigelow’s ‘The Loveless,’ portraying a weekend existence detached from their daily lives. Johnny’s mundane truck-driving job and Benny’s dependency on Kathy’s financial support highlight the duality of their lives – wild bikers by weekend, regular folks by week.

The film refrains from overt satire, instead offering a raw and unfiltered look at the bikers’ lives. Johnny and Benny’s bond, reminiscent of a father-son relationship, forms the emotional core of the story. The performances are robust and impactful, with Comer’s fierce portrayal, Butler’s smooth charisma, and Hardy’s nuanced intensity making ‘The Bikeriders’ a compelling watch.