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Through the years, many motorcycle gangs have become known for violence and crime, but that wasn’t always the case. And The Bikeriders tells the story of the early years of one group of riders while following the different characters who found their home among the bikes.
The Bikeriders follows Chicago motorcycle club the Vandals through turbulent times in the ‘60s and ‘70s. When the group was founded by family man Johnny (Tom Hardy), it was just a club—a place where a bunch of outsiders who enjoyed riding motorcycles could feel like they belong. But as the group expands and the new members become wilder and more out of control, the older members like quiet but impulsive Benny (Austin Butler) have to decide whether to walk away or keep changing with the group that made them feel like family.
Inspired by a collection of photographs and stories that were compiled into a book in the late ‘60s—and told through the eyes of Benny’s lovably Midwestern wife, Kathy (Jodie Comer)—the film follows this group of motorcycle-riding misfits through one critical turning point after another. Once just a bunch of guys who wore matching jackets and drank beer together, they gradually find themselves admired and even feared.
While the story may focus on the challenges that the group faces while continuing to grow under Johnny’s uncertain leadership, so much of the film’s personality shines through Michael Shannon, whose eccentric character, Zipco, embodies the spirit of the club’s early days. This long-haired, beer-drinking, bike-riding outsider has clearly been shunned by every group he’s tried to be a part of. He’s got a good heart, but he’s seen as “undesirable” by everyone but his fellow Vandals. And in this club of fellow outsiders, he finds a place where he belongs—where he’s a welcome part of the family. While the other characters have their own eccentricities and personalities, they’re the same: just a bunch of guys who enjoy being a part of their own club.
If you’re expecting a free-for-all of violence and crime, you may be disappointed by the often quiet drama that explores the group’s transformation. But while it may be slower than viewers might expect, the solid performances and thoughtful filmmaking make it an unexpected treat in the middle of Summer Blockbuster Season.
The Bikeriders isn’t the kind of movie that we typically see arriving in theaters in June. Instead of big and explosive and expensive, it’s eye-opening and thoughtful—and surprisingly human. It’s more drama than action—but if you go into it knowing what to expect, you’ll be fascinated by these characters and their story.
You can ride with Benny and the Vandals when The Bikeriders races into theaters on June 21, 2024.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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