While watching History channels "Gangland" a program dedicated to show the origins of various crime syndicates, I got the feeling that most outlaw biker gangs were created in the aftermath of Vetnam.
Bandidos, Mongol Nation, Warlocks, are just few the many notorious biker gangs that was founded by Vietnam vets. In case of Bandidios, their leader was former marine who supposedly used the marine corps as rolemodel when it came to structure, chain of command.
This biker film is apparently inspired by an offer Hells Angels leader Sonny Barger made to President Johnson. Barger offered some of his men to be used as an guerrilla force behind enemy lines in Vietnam.
Johnson turned him down and thus Hollywood took over the idea.
Basically this film is about some very mean, violent, outlaw biker gang who are deployed in Vietnam in rescue mission of an American diplomat.
But as it turns out, is not going to be easy...
To be honest this just your average B-movie biker film, but it does have a few surprises up its sleeve.
The director is clearly inspired by Sam Peckinpahs films, when it comes to the violence(often shot in slowmotion) but the also the main protagonists being antiheroes.
Even one of this films taglines is inspired by the The Wild Bunch (1969):It's The "Dirty Bunch" On Wheels! There are also heavy criticisms against USA and its foreign policy, the way US military handles the Vietnam war. Another subject this film touches upon is the racial tension that exist in the US army.
It is unusual to see that kind of material in a cheaply made b-movie and makes this film a bit more interesting then the rest.
William Smith playing Link Thomas is very convincing here and plays the gangs leader very good.
Vic Diaz, who always been a favorite of mine, plays another one of those sleazy characters that he was so good at.
So if you like bikerflicks but want something a little different from the average then see this even though it is cheaply made b-movie its still more interesting then Twilight(2008).
