Hell Ride
Hell Ride is a 2008 American action/neo-outlaw biker film written and directed by Larry Bishop and starring Bishop, Michael Madsen, Dennis Hopper, Eric Balfour, Vinnie Jones, Leonor Varela and David Carradine. It was released under the "Quentin Tarantino Presents" banner. The film is an homage to the original outlaw biker films of the 1960s and 1970s.
| Hell Ride | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Larry Bishop |
| Produced by | Larry Bishop Shana Stein Michael Steinberg Quentin Tarantino |
| Written by | Larry Bishop |
| Starring | Larry Bishop Michael Madsen Vinnie Jones David Carradine Dennis Hopper |
| Music by | Daniele Luppi |
| Cinematography | Scott Kevan |
| Edited by | Blake West William Yeh |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Dimension Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 83 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $390,128 |
Plot
Biker Pistolero (Larry Bishop) is the leader, or "Prez," of the Victors, a Southern California motorcycle gang. He has two faithful lieutenants, The Gent (Michael Madsen) and the young Comanche (Eric Balfour).
In 1976, Cherokee Kisum (Julia Jones), the girlfriend of Pistolero (then known as Johnny) is viciously murdered by The Deuce (David Carradine) and Billy Wings (Vinnie Jones), leaders of the arch-rival gang the Six-Six-Six'ers, as a message to the Victors. The Deuce later moves into large scale business efforts, leaving the biker life behind and the Sixers dry up as a gang. Cherokee has also hidden away a small fortune from under-the-table drug deals she made behind the Deuce's back - another reason behind her murder. The stash of money is intended for her young son, who disappears after her death.
Years later, after The Deuce returns to the area to close up unfinished business and Billy Wings reforms the Sixers in Los Angeles, the rival gang infiltrates the Victors in an attempt to take over their territory. One member from 1976, St. Louie, is murdered in the same manner as Cherokee Kisum. Bob the Bum, the Victors' treasurer, is similarly killed. Pistolero then begins to make moves to eliminate the Sixers and finally gain his revenge. While loyal bikers are killed by the Sixers, the more treacherous and less faithful Victors try to influence The Gent, Comanche, and Goody Two-Shoes to switch sides - or kill them. Goody Two-Shoes is eventually killed after being located and chased down by Billy Wings.
With the aid of his beautiful & mysterious "medicine woman" Nada (Leonor Varela) and his old friend and ally Eddie Zero (Dennis Hopper), Pistolero and the remaining Victors try to locate and kill The Deuce, Billy Wings and the Sixers before they themselves are killed.
Cast
- Larry Bishop ... Johnny 'Pistolero' - The Victors M.C.
- Michael Madsen ... 'The Gent' - The Victors M.C.
- Dennis Hopper ... Eddie 'Scratch Zero' - The Victors M.C.
- Eric Balfour ... Sonny 'Comanche' Kisum / Bix - The Victors M.C.
- Austin Galuppo ... Young Sonny Kisum
- Vinnie Jones ... Billy 'Wings' - The 666ers M.C.
- Leonor Varela ... Nada
- Michael Beach ... 'Goody Two-Shoes' - The Victors M.C.
- Laura Cayouette ... Dani
- Julia Jones ... 'Cherokee' Kisum
- Francesco Quinn ... 'Machete'
- Cristos ... 'Speed'
- Allison McAtee ... 'The Swede'
- Cassandra Hepburn ... Maria
- David Carradine ... 'The Deuce' - The 666ers M.C.
- Pete Randall ... 'St. Louie' - The Victors M.C.
- Dean Delray ... 'Ape-Shit' - The Victors M.C.
- Lee Alfred ... 'Joint' - The Victors M.C.
- David Grieco ... 'Dr. Cement' - The Victors M.C.
- Kanin Howell ... 'Opium'
- Michael Macecsko ... 'Shyster'
- Terry Fradet ... 'Holy Smoke'
- Steve McCammon ... Bob 'The Bum'
- Theresa Alexandria ... Carmen
- Andrea Fellers ... 'Echo'
- Alyson Sullivan ... 'Gigi'
- Tracy Phillips ... Yvonne
- Maja Mandzuka ... Danka
- Amber Hay ... 'Flower' (uncredited)
- Claudia Salinas ... Angelina (uncredited)
- Natasha Yi ... Jucinda (uncredited)
- Diana Prince ... Topless Waitress (uncredited)
Production notes
Larry Bishop's character Pistolero is named after the original title for Robert Rodriguez’s Desperado. The dialogue spoken by the character Nada (Leonor Varela) is made up almost entirely of double entendres and clichés.
Bishop took extra duties on this film by not only starring in it, but also writing, directing and co-producing with producers Michael Steinberg and Shana Stein, and executive producer Quentin Tarantino. This film is Bishop's modern-day take on those 1960s motorcycle flicks he used to turn out for B-movie masters American International Pictures. It is the project Tarantino inspired Bishop to begin some five and a half years ago, when he told Bishop: "It is your destiny to write, direct and star in a movie". Tarantino also assured Bishop that he would help to produce his film.
Release
Hell Ride premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. It had a brief theatrical run via Third Rail Releasing before being released to DVD worldwide.