The Dukes' handsome son Patrick ("Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger", "Young Guns") headlines this amiable, if routine drive-in / hicksploitation action picture. Patrick plays the part of Clay McCarthy, movie stuntman making a long distance drive from California to Nashville. Along for the ride are his brother Dale (Mitch Vogel, "The Reivers", 'Bonanza') and sister Sugar (Lindsay Bloom, "Sixpack Annie", 'Mike Hammer'). While driving through Texas, they have their van and belongings stolen by escaped convicts. Stuck in this place for a while, they agree to work as ranch hands for arrogant local fat cat John Hunter (Cameron Mitchell, 'The High Chaparral', "Without Warning") while waiting for the sheriff (R.G. Armstrong, "Evilspeak", "The Beast Within") to locate their vehicle. Things turn dramatic in a hurry thanks to Hunters' lowlife son Beau (Anthony James, "In the Heat of the Night", "Unforgiven").
You pretty much get what you pay for with this kind of diversion. It's all entertaining enough to watch, complete with stunts, lovely scenery, an even lovelier Priscilla Barnes ('Three's Company', "The Devil's Rejects") as Hunters' daughter, somewhat thin but still well defined characters, with villains you enjoy booing and heroes you enjoy rooting for. The soundtrack is full of good tunes (especially the opening one, which Vogel performs himself), but on the Blu-ray they're too loud in the mix and become somewhat overbearing. The likable Wayne gets to ride a motorbike, ride a horse, romance Ms. Barnes, and scrap with excellent screen villain James, whose character doesn't take too much time to reveal himself as pure creep. Armstrong is great value as always, even if he's essaying the stereotypical Southern lawman who generally loathes outsiders. He's also easy to manipulate for the boorish Mitchell, who doesn't get much to do at first. For those who are interested, Barnes parades around a room topless for a few minutes.
The story (concocted by writer / producer / director Hikmet "Howard" Avedis, a familiar name to fans of 70s and 80s exploitation), refreshingly, is not 100% predictable, throwing an interesting twist along the way. While things do get rather sordid (there's one unfortunate incidence of rape), the movie refrains from becoming too melodramatic.
If you're a devotee of this genre, you will want to see this one for completions' sake.
Seven out of 10.
