Written and Directed by Jeff Nichols
Starring Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Mike Faist, Michael Shannon, Boyd Holbrook, Norman Reedus, Damon Herriman, Beau Knapp, Emory Cohen, Happy Anderson, and Toby Wallace.

Unless you have an especially keen interest in a Days of our Lives-like saga, albeit with some violence, inspired by a 1967 photo-book which chronicles the formation, story, and legacy of the Vandals Motorcycle Club and its members, there is not a hell of a lot I can recommend about this passable but ultimately rather pointless picture.

Perhaps its casting also offers some appeal, as does the fact this is easily Tom Hardy’s best work for the best part of a decade.

The Bikeriders is predominantly viewed via the perspective of Kathy (played by Jodie Comer). She is being interviewed by Danny Lyon (Challengers Mike Faist), a student photographer who represents the real-life bike writer behind The Bikeriders 1967 aforementioned photobook. Through their interactions, we learn of the origin of the club, become acquainted with its founder and President, Johnny (Tom Hardy), and witness when Kathy first meets the Vandals club member she falls in love with very quickly. That member, Benny (played by Elvis’ Austin Butler), is as wild and impetuous as he is good looking, whose first love is riding and may always be. His sporadic callous acts land the club in positions that are more precarious than the initial road offences club members are guilty of committing. At the same time, Benny’s fearlessness and hot-headedness is exactly what revs Johnny’s engine (not in any way sexual as I may make it sound!). Loyalties to the club and bonds of its members are put to the test when the club’s activities breach serious law enforcements, as rival clubs circle in, and Kathy wants out.

Even reading my own synopsis of the film, I feel like greater tension belonged here than actually resides throughout. That is not to say The Bikeriders is running on empty in that department though. Any moment that Johnny exercises the control he possesses over all things Vandals HQ and purposely instils fear in others certainly ups the ante and presents Tom Hardy at his most menacing. As such, it is his character I found most interesting, especially throughout the second half as Johnny begins to realise he may no longer wield the same level of control he once did. Outside of that, The Bikeriders is certainly capable of holding your attention and gaining interest throughout. But just how much, if at all, the film makes you care for its earlier mentioned lead characters, a whole bunch of supporting characters who are an important enough (to Johnny) part of the motorcycle club, and whether Kathy & Benny will somehow remain together, is bound to be varied in reaction. Without a defining moment or definitive point emphasised strongly enough, The Bikeriders did not succeed at making me care for these characters by the end to the extent it clearly would like us to. What I do care for is Tom Hardy in this sort of form. Now that, I’d like to see a lot more of. 

The Bikeriders is showing in cinemas across Australia from July 4th.

Moviedoc thanks Universal Pictures for the invitation to the screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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