THE BIKERIDERS (2024) – How a biker club became a biker gang

The Bikeriders is not based on a true story, but it is inspired by a photobook of the same name by a Danny Lyon who captured the images of the lives of a biker club in the 1960’s. Austin Butler and Tom Hardy headline the impressive cast as key members of a so-called Vandals Motorcycle Club. The story is told mainly from the point of view of the girlfriend and eventually wife of the Austin Butler’s character as she narrates her story to the photographer Danny (played by Mike Faist) who is writing a book on this.

For a movie that has a mainly male cast portraying a bunch of tough looking guys this film is surprisingly tame. Apart from the customary use of foul language, it does not have any nudity, and only mild hints of sexuality and drug abuse. Perhaps this was deliberate as the time this takes place was before the influence of the Vietnam war and disillusionment of society took place which eventually led to the corruption of the system. By the time the story ends, we are into the early 1970’s and the nature and objectives of the club began to take on an uglier side and the club began to be more associated with crimes, drugs use and violence. Hence the more common use of the term gang rather than club when we refer to biker clubs today. The time captured in this story is a time where the club’s ideals are far less dishonorable and more straight forward.

Writer and Director Jeff Nichols has beautifully captured the essence and theme with the sounds, sets, photography, costumes and script. The three leads, Austin, Tom and Jodie were great, and I would not be surprised if this film earns some acting nominations for the Academy Awards next year. Austin Butler in particular is a standout and he literally lights up the screen every time he appears! The role of the cool looking, silent type of a biker suits him well and he reminds me of a modern version of James Dean. Tom Hardy has a less glamourous role, but he still manages to give an impact from a performance that is subtle and portraying a troubled character that has multilayers. Jodie Comer is the only female lead and comes across as vulnerable yet strong, in a world that is male dominated. Mike Faist who was so good as a tennis pro in the recent Challengers is largely under utilised here in a low-key role as the photographer cum author of the book. Finally, there is Norman Reedus whom we all know so well as Daryl Dixon in TV’s long running Walking Dead series. He has a minor role which almost feels like a cameo. He remains in his comfort zone with a bike by his side although almost unrecognizable under all those facial hairs.

I do not profess to be an expert on biker club or gang culture, but I do know that Jeff Nichols succeed in transporting me to a version of what it feels like to be inside the circles of a 1960’s leather jacket wearing motorcycle club which eventually became a gang.