THE BIKERIDERS

If you missed Jeff Nichols’ new film The Bikeriders in theaters, it’s now streaming on Peacock and available to own on 4K, Blu-Ray, and DVD. Indie filmmaker Jeff Nichols has been one to watch after strong films like Take Shelter, Mud, Midnight Special and Loving. His latest film The Bikeriders is inspired by the true story of the Chicago chapter of the biker gang, The Vandals as detailed through the photography book of the same name by Danny Lyon. Danny is played in the film by Mike Faist who we see interviewing various people associated with The Vandals. Jeff Nichols uses Danny as more of the framing aspect while we see the story through the lens of Kathy whose played by Jodie Comer. Kathy recounts how she first met her husband, Benny (Butler), at a biker bar that was full of your usual suspects and bad behavior. Benny took an instant liking to Kathy going so far as to waiting outside her house for her. Kathy’s live-in boyfriend fled, and Kathy and Benny were wed five weeks later. Kathy’s a real spitfire, not afraid of these guys and not afraid to tell her side of the story. Tom Hardy stars as Johnny, the head of this biker gang who was inspired by Marlon Brando’s character in The Wild One to form the Vandals. Soon other biker gangs got wind of their reputation and wanted in. The life that followed for Benny and Kathy led to violence, crime, and ultimatums for what it meant for their marriage and family.

SPECIAL FEATURES

1. Johnny, Benny, & Kathy: A breakdown of these three characters and how Tom Hardy, Austin Butler, and Jodie Comer brought them to life
2. The Era of The Bikeriders: How Jeff Nichols’ Production team authentically recreated the 60s-70s from the propers to costume designs
3. The Filmmaker’s Eye: Jeff Nichols
4. Feature Commentary with Writer/Director Jeff Nichols

Here’s my review