The Cycle Savages (1969) in the PNW

Details: Written by: Mortado; Category: The 1970s in Northwest Cinemas

This is a collection of media from the initial runs of "The Cycle Savages" (1969) in the Pacific Northwest. "Hells Angels '69" was the second feature.

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The Cycle Savages (1969)
Watching "The Cycle Savages" is like being shoved into a greasy diner at midnight and told to enjoy the special. It does not pretend to be anything other than a nasty little piece of exploitation cinema from 1969 that delights in being ugly and loud. The plot exists only to justify a string of confrontations and mean-spirited set pieces, and the film spends most of its time luxuriating in spite rather than building anything resembling character depth.

Bruce Dern is the reason anyone sits through the whole thing. He chews scenery with the kind of relish that makes the rest of the cast look like props. When he is on screen, the movie hums with a dangerous energy. When he is not, the film drifts, exposing thin writing and performances that were never asked to do more than react. Melody Patterson is the sympathetic center, but the script treats her like a punching bag with occasional lines.

Technically, the movie is rough and proud of it. The camera work and editing are functional and sometimes clumsy. The music tries to force tension where the scenes do not naturally have any. The production values are cheap, and the film leans into that grime as if it were a virtue. That gives it a sleazy authenticity but also means the movie rarely aspires to anything beyond provocation.

If you want nuance or moral complexity, look elsewhere. If you want a film that will make you squirm and occasionally grin at how shameless it is, then this will do the job. It is not a good movie in the usual sense. It is abrasive, occasionally compelling, and stubbornly unapologetic about being trashy entertainment. If you watch it, do it for the rawness and the one actor who refuses to be ignored, and bring a strong stomach.

Director: Bill Brame
Writer: Bill Brame
Stars: Bruce Dern, Melody Patterson, Chris Robinson
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June 9, 1970 ad (Portland)