This 1975 Japanese bikersploitation film is a funk-fueled blast of fast-paced action and free-spirited youth. As directed and co-written by Teruo Ishii for the venerable Toei studio, the Japanese biker subculture is laid bare in more ways than one. Ishii’s party on wheels is a particularly heady mix of rival gangs, free love, sweaty topless dance parties, and a hero trapped in an enviable love triangle with a bad girl and the good girl of his dreams. It’s The Fast and the Furious on bikes, with the greaser fashion sense and juvenile gang delusions of Grease, all filtered through a wild ‘70s grindhouse lens.
Buy Detonation! Violent Riders Blu-rayIwaki (Koichi Iwaki) is a hotshot motorcycle mechanic with hopes of professional racing. When the main squeeze of the local biker-gang’s chief takes a shine to him and he reciprocates, he’s thrust into the midst of their illegal street racing, nonstop partying, and general counterculture demeanor. However, his principal attraction is to a shy young beauty outside of the scene, Michiko (Tomoko Ai). Forced to balance his growing gang ties, his job, and his courtship of Michiko, he’s stuck in a seemingly unwinnable scenario as he struggles to keep everyone happy.
That’s the core plot, and Ishii covers it well, but he’s mostly here for the vibes, stuffing the film with cool kids doing outlandish things in a totally unrestrained subculture. That includes one biker with his hair shaved into the shape of a swastika, although he disappears fairly quickly. It may not always make sense, but it’s consistently entertaining, as Ishii takes us on a lurid adventure with energetic, breakneck pacing that never lets up. Just be prepared for an abrupt bleak ending that feels like a bit of a betrayal of the rest of the film’s bacchanal.
The film is propelled by a funky, funky score by Keitaro Miho that is so good I want it as an isolated soundtrack CD. The stunts and camera work are also fantastic, keeping us in the heart of the action through all of the electrifying races and fights. The acting is more posturing than craft, but all key players are effective in their roles, with the impossibly cute Tomoko Ai (Terror of Mechagodzilla) making the most lasting impression as good girl Michiko. The legendary Sonny Chiba also pops up in a minor role as Michiko’s overprotective brother, offering the film an added layer of legitimacy.
The 4000-copy limited edition Blu-ray includes a numbered obi strip, a booklet with an essay and racy stills, as well as disc features including a hefty new 20-minute video essay, trailer, stills, and a commentary track by two horror podcasters. The film is presented in 2.35:1 aspect ratio and original mono 2.0 audio with new English subtitles. It’s a fairly clean print with some fine specks still visible, but this is the kind of grindhouse fare that actually looks better with a little grit.
Riders is the first of a trilogy of biker films by Ishii, so please consider purchasing this super fun initial entry so we have a better shot of getting the other two released as well.
