Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders captures the forgotten time of riding clubs, and it’s enough to make a biker cry.
Loosely based on the book of the same name, written by Danny Lyon. The film focuses on the rise and fall of a local riding club, The Vandals.
It’s a story you’ve seen a million times before, but The Bikeriders brings a stylish look to the genre whilst never romanticising the life of the bikers.
Austin Butler, Tom Hardy and especially Jodie Comer each deliver an incredible performance that helps raise the film above its faults.
“Fists, or knives?”
Image credit: Universal Pictures
The story of The Bikeriders is told through interviews. Most of these interviews are done with Jodie Comer’s character Kathy, as she reflects on her time with the Bikers and her relationship with Austin Butler’s character, Benny.
Kathy and Benny’s relationship is at the heart of the film. Her outsider perspective lets the audience experience the gang alongside her.
However, Benny’s relationship with Tom Hardy’s character Johnny, is the most important of the film.
Throughout the film, you see snippets of what inspired Johnny to start the club, and what lead to his failing grasp on it by the end.
The story jumps between years, spanning across a decade in the lives of the central characters.
This makes it hard to understand what point of the story things takes place.
The Bikeriders jumpiness does help it feel like flicking through a photo book, learning bits of information about who these people were.
The interview sections help to add to this feeling.
You aren’t in for something revolutionary, but the film innovates in other areas that help to elevate it.
Cinematography is one area The Bikeriders excels in.
From stunning wide shots of the open road being torn apart by motorbikes, to the intimate close ups that define the second act.
It can’t be stressed enough how gorgeous parts of this film is. It’s a very pretty film to look at.
“You’d have to kill me to get this jacket off“
Imsge credit: Universal Pictures
Austin Butler puts on a performance that’s unlike what he’s best known for, that being Elvis.
Benny is quiet and lacks the bravado you’d expect from a biker like him. He’s just as charming as the rest but unlike Johnny, he doesn’t care about legacy.
Whereas every other character dreams of a legacy in some way, including Kathy.
This theme is what helps to drive the later portions of the film, leading to a preditable yet engaging conclusion.
You can see the ending coming from a mile away, but there’s still some surprises to be had in the “Where are they now” closing section.
It’s not all doom and gloom though. Most of the film keeps a light tone without leaning too far into the darker parts of the last twenty minutes.
There’s one scene that’s hard to watch, that being a scene of sexual assault.
The scene is handled better than most other films that attempt to tackle it, however it’s still very hard to watch.
The performances make the film but one that stands out the most is Sonny played by Norman Reedus.
Coming to embody the comradary of biker clubs at the time, Sonny brings comic relief and helps to expand the world of the film.
One of the most interesting parts of the film is the documentary angle it takes, through using a fictional version of the original books photographer and writer, Danny Lyon played by Mike Faist.
Danny is present in many scenes, taking pictures of the gang or asking questions that further the story.
It’s a nice inclusion that pays respects to the man who documented the original Chicago Outlaws.
“Some people would rather crash than slow down
Image credit: Universal Pictures
The Bikeriders is one of this years prettiest films. It’s got a lot of heart but it does lean into tropes.
Jodie Comer puts on an unforgettable performance even amongst her huge costars. It would be shocking if she isn’t nominated for awards next year.
If you can look past the films predictable and tropey elements, it’s a great watch that brings back the sexiness of Biker culture.
Featured image credit: Universal Pictures
Fourth year Film and Journalism student
Deputy editor
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“The Bikeriders” thrives on its ‘old school cool’ aesthetic, portraying the 1960s Chicago motorcycle club with a focus on style and sound. Led by Tom Hardy’s Johnny, the group is depicted as family-oriented, albeit misunderstood by society due to the younger generation’s misperceptions. Mike Faist’s character, Danny, captures the group’s evolution through his photography, with Jodie Comer narrating as Kathy, the wife of Benny (Austin Butler). Her perspective offers an external view, though at times, her character feels defined more by her accent than by depth. While the film’s attention to visual and auditory detail is impressive, the narrative sometimes lags, relying heavily on its style. This immersion in biker culture, though, had me admiring the jackets the characters wore, inspiring me to look for similar styles at safyd.com/product/mens-chicago-vandals-johnny-jacket/. Luckily, it’s having a 20% OFF. Despite its fragmented storytelling, “The Bikeriders” manages to evoke the nostalgic charm of the motorcycle golden age, even if it doesn’t fully sustain attention over its run-time.