The Losers (1970)

Jack Starrett directed this mishmash of rowdy biker movies meets The Dirty Dozen in The Losers, a slice of exploitive goodness delivered with drive-in sensibilities and a bleak 1970s sneer. The movie features a wild collection of motorcycle death machines that mow down the bad guys in bootleg Peckinpah slow-mo action mayhem that is so over-the-top that it almost makes it easy to buy into the "Hells Angels in Cambodia" storyline. A young William Smith returns to the biker genre and turns in another tough performance, despite his ridiculous dangling earring that apparently gets longer depending on the dramatics of the scene. With go-go clubs, drug freak-out scenes, and a slick '70s cop score from Stu Phillips, The Losers has it all -- including a surprisingly unpredictable script. While some may see the end coming, there are a few twists along the way that keep the movie from settling into stereotypical territory. In fact, Starret shoots for serious sentimentality in the tender love scenes, some of which certainly lead to the flick's most amusing moments. For the most part though, The Losers is an action-packed ride turned grim, whose last moments have just enough political leanings to keep it poignant. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide