‘The Bikeriders’ Review – Strong Performances Propel This Compelling Ode To 60s Biker Gangs [AFI Fest 2023]

Jeff Nichol’s The Bikeriders takes viewers into an immersive subculture while also detailing a love triangle of sorts and a crisis of succession. The film tells a fictional story inspired by the 1967 photobook of the same name by Danny Lyon but there is a realness that permeates throughout the entire film that gives the movie a true beating heart. Even though the project is inspired by a photobook, Nichols opens up the storytelling with a sense of intensity by borrowing from genres of the past. The Bikeriders can be viewed as one part old-school western and second part thrilling mob drama as newer members joining what was once a more grounded biker club, threaten the original concept’s way of life. Everything on display in the film works, thanks in large part to Nichols, but also due to the strong performances of his stellar ensemble cast.

Johnny (Tom Hardy), is a family man and truck driver who is also the founder of the 60s motorcycle club at the heart of the story. The Vandals, as they’re called, came to be because of Johnny’s enthusiasm while watching Marlon Brando in The Wild One on television. Brando’s Johnny Strabler is asked in that film what he’s rebelling against and he simply replies, “Whaddaya got?” It’s through that very quote and Johnny’s own life situation that we can tell how he runs his world as he forms The Vandals. It’s almost like he’s seeking a little rebellious escape from his more normal and simplistic life.

The Vandals consist of Zipco (Michael Shannon), Cockroach (Emory Cohen), Brucie (Damon Herriman), Funny Sonny (Norman Reedus), Cal (Boyd Holbrook), Corky (Karl Glusman), and Wahoo (Beau Knapp). They also serve different personality traits that give the group an eclectic vibe and make them instantly relatable for viewers who might see themselves in at least one of them. However, the toughest and most eye-catching of the bunch is Benny (Austin Butler). Despite smoldering good looks that would make you think he’d be less likely to show aggression, Benny is the only one who truly stares the law in their eyes. He shows very little fear and it’s this lack of fear that leads him into violent altercation with a group of local civilians. This chain of events results in The Vandals morphing into almost an almost crime mob, which invites more off-balanced potential members who could turn The Vandals into something that Johnny might find very hard to lead.

The film is also a bit of a love story, as most of these bad boys with heart-of-gold stories tend to be on some level. Benny is madly in love with Kathy (Jodie Comer), a respectable working-class firecracker who had no intention of falling deeply into Benny’s world but their mutual attraction is something that can’t be denied. Kathy becomes the voice of the audience as she calls out the absurd masculinity of a group that was formed because they hated living by the rules and yet their codes within the club have an absurd amount of them that could only serve to get them hurt. As for that aforementioned love triangle, it’s not really what you might think. Since Kathy thinks Benny is in danger of dying in service to this group, she does what she can to pull him out which puts her at odds with Johnny, who believes his loyalty lies with him and The Vandals.

It should be noted that the film is a bit more contemplative in its nature rather than a pure adrenaline rush given its subject matter. The movie is more concerned with capturing the vibe and community that many men in America have found by adapting motorcycle culture. There is a sense of brotherhood and belonging that the film captures well but it also shows the negative side to all of that. How misplaced loyalty can sometimes negatively impact the more positive aspects of your life. This is really depicted during the film’s third act which sees the golden age of this birth of culture in the 60s giving way to more criminal activity. How far does loyalty go when the group truly begins breaking the law?

Nichols’ screenplay also deserves a lot of credit for adding color and personality to what is essentially a 100-page black-and-white picture book. For Lyon’s photobook, the bikers in question let him into their world to capture beautiful images of their lifestyle and tell their story. Nichols uses Lyon as himself played by West Side Story’s Mike Faist and he keeps us involved in the story as he snaps pictures and gets interviews from his participants. It’s a clever way to pull you into the fictional story as Kathy is the film’s primary narrator, telling the story of how she met Benny and the gradual morphing of the gang into something more toxic. While some of the character names here match the Outlaws Motorcycle Club that Lyon actually followed, Nichols has taken many liberties here and dabbles in a world that is more fiction, although the essence of it is grounded in reality. Nicholes also displays Lyons’ photography during the film’s closing credits.

The performances are the main reason the film shines. The entire ensemble is at the top of their game but it really comes down to the three central performers that give the project its edge and its beating heart. Comer is pitch-perfect as Kathy. She has proven herself to be a very diverse actress but this is a role she disappears into effortlessly. It’s a performance you can’t take your eyes off of and she more than holds her own against both Butler and Hardy.

Butler is still riding the Elvis wave here and that is not meant to be a diss. You need that level of cool and confidence to pull off this role and he has no issues doing so. He’s suitably tough in his scenes with the gang but also remarkably tender in his moments with Comer. He continues to be at the top of his game and only proves he’s emerging as one of her generation’s biggest talents.

Hardy gives one of his best performances in years as Johnny. Unfortunately, the actor has been saddled in Venom movies that don’t do his talent justice but thankfully this film proves to be a reminder of his skills. Displaying all alpha machismo, he also lights up the screen whenever he’s on. As far as the push and pull for Benny’s loyalty goes, Comer and Hardy stand firmly on solid ground with each other as they both fight to pull him in their respective directions.

The Bikeriders effortlessly captures the culture of the era while also telling a truly compelling story. Nichols mostly avoids cliches of the genre and lets the setting and his performers do a lot of the heavy lifting. There is also a level of straight-up cool that burns off the screen as you watch it. From the needle drops of the deep-cut music of the ’60s to the look and vibe of The Vandals, the viewer feels as if they’re living the life with them. It’s this level of immersion that makes the film stay with you long after it’s over.

The Bikeriders played as part of the Special Screenings section at AFI Fest 2023. The film is set to be released courtesy of 20th Century Studios. It is currently undated due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. 

Director: Jeff Nichols

Writer: Jeff Nichols

Rated: R

Runtime: 116m