Motorpsycho

Motor Psycho is directed by the infamous bosomania director Russ Meyer. But this film is no sexploitation movie, this is straight beastploitation, whit no humour or campy stuff, as we know Meyer movies best.

Motor Psycho tells the story about a veterinarian Corey Maddox, his wife has been violent raped, by three violent motorcyclists who like raping other people's woman. Maddox decide to hunt down the motorcycle gang. On his way into the canyon he's teaming up with a Cajun woman, who's lost her husband, whose has been killed by the same gang. Maddox and Ruby (The Cajun woman) have now to face up whit the motorcycle gang and its leader who's happened to be a crazy Vietnam veteran.

Whit Motor Psycho Meyer shows us that he can make more than boob flicks. Motor Psycho is a frightening drama that should be taken seriously and as important work. The acting performances is mediocre, Alex Rocco (plays the character Corey Maddox) as the most famous one, he is best known for The Godfather. The lovely Ruby are being played by Haji, she played one of the three toughs in 'Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill' the following year.

I think this small and effective pictures works, and I it found interesting. Give it a try. 7 out of 10.

Motor Psycho wasn't exactly the Russ Meyer film I was hoping to see. Not that it's a bad movie – far from it – but it lacks the eccentric character of his other work. Motor Psycho is a raw drama about delicate topics such as rape, murder and revenge. The plot involves a battle between vets! A veterinarian's wife is raped by 3 relentless bikers (one of them being a Vietnam-veteran) and he goes after them, accompanied by a busty lady who has been widowed by the same gang. Normally, Meyer's films are a feast for all senses…there's always something extravagant to discover or admire. Compared to that, Motor Psycho is pretty lame and it merely depends on two ultra-strong sequences and a delightful breast-parade (even though all female flesh remains covered). The sequence in which protagonist Alex Rocco forces his female companion to suck a snake's poison out of his leg is brilliant and so is the grotesque finale in which the main villain (Stephen Olivier) revives his Vietnam trauma's. I'd recommend the film for those parts alone! If you're a fan of the director's personal style, I advise you to check this film out…It won't take much of your time anyway, since the film only last a good 70 minutes.

Motor Psycho is probably the closest Russ Meyer ever got to making a straight thriller. While earlier RM roughies like Lorna and Mudhoney featured disturbing rape scenes, Motor Psycho features two implied gang rapes. The second of which is a house invasion scene that wouldn't look out of place in a 70's exploitation movie. Censorship laws of the time meant that these scenes were never overly graphic; however, they are definitely pushing the boundaries for the time and are undoubtedly nasty. Similar to Lorna this film also has a distinct lack of humour, with the odd exception such as the moment where Haji sucks the poison out of Alex Rocco's leg in a clearly sexual way. But generally speaking the sexual side of proceedings are more alluded to and there's really next to no nudity on offer here, perhaps understandable given the often nihilistic tone.

Motor Psycho is perhaps most notable in Russ Meyer's canon for two things. Firstly for introducing Haji, who as ever puts in another feisty performance as a Cajun woman married to a slob played by Coleman Francis (director of the anti-classic Beast of Yucca Flats). Secondly, the movie is a clear precursor to the superior Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, RM conceived that latter movie as a version of Motor Psycho but with three female criminals. Ironically, given Pussycat's status nowadays as RM's most famous film, Motor Psycho was much more successful commercially on release. But the test of time has been kinder to Pussycat. Although a good film, what holds Motor Psycho back is that, with the exception of Haji, the ladies do not have significant roles. RM needs his women to take centre stage, and this is as male-dominated as an RM production gets. Acting is generally good, with Stephen Oliver convincing as an unhinged Vietnam vet, Meyer himself appearing as a hilariously un-PC law enforcement officer, Alex Rocco is decent as the hero and Haji is ace (just love that accent). So, in summary, not a classic Meyer but without doubt a superior 60's exploitation effort.

By the standards of Russ Meyer 'Motorpsycho' is pretty conventional B-movie thriller. With enough big boobs of course. The film explores same themes of sex and violence as Meyer's seminal 'Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!'. In this case, the terrorizing violent group is all male motorcycle gang led by disturbed Vietnam War veteran (Stephen Oliver). Alex Rocco makes his film debut as veterinarian whose wife falls victim of the gang's vicious atrocities. A badass animal doctor engages the pursuit to chase down the gang. Driving through desert he meets a wounded woman Ruby (Haji) whose husband has been murdered by the same thugs. Together they start the road to justice, or is it just blind vengeance.

'Motorpsycho' is probably me second favorite film of Russ Meyer (after 'Pussycat'). Although his first real narrative film was 'Lorna' (1964) followed by 'Mudhoney', it was 'Motorpsycho' with Russ Meyer proved he can direct more straightforward film with more serious in tone and without unnecessary nudity and stereotypes. The film is also important as it was one of the first that depicted Vietnam War veteran suffering PTSD.

Really. How could anyone ever come up with a better film title than "Motor Psycho?" No one ever will. Now that we've said that, let's get on with the story. Alex Rocco makes his film debut as veteranarian Corey Maddox, whose wife is violently raped by a gang of motorcycle hoods. Maddox tries to hunt down the gang to glean a little retribution, or perhaps bring the gang to justice. In the process, he meets Ruby Bonner, whose husband has been murdered by the same thugs. Ruby and Corey team up and get caught in a canyon where they are forced to violently confront the by-now-totally-nutso leader of the group, who happens to be a wacked-out Vietnam vet. This film is a little-known Meyer gem; you get the opportunity to see how good he really was at shot composition and editing. What's it got going for it? Awesome title, incredible sixties twangy guitar soundtrack, great period dialogue, a great tense snakebite scene, and perhaps the first example ever of a film character who's clearly spent too much time in the Vietnam jungle. Odd side note: everyone in this 1965 film drives a Toyota. Three out of four stars.