Bonnie's Kids

I do love a good sleazy seventies crime flick, and Bonnie's Kids is certainly a very good sleazy seventies crime flick! The main reason this film works so well is because everything about it is absolutely spot on - writer-director Arthur Marks creates a real gritty and sleazy atmosphere that fits his plot brilliantly, while lead actresses Tiffany Bolling and Robin Mattson both manage to pull off performances that are sexy and tantalising as well as being deceptive and as far away from 'innocent' as you can get! The film makes best use of its elements and what we end up with is pure drive in gold! The plot focuses on two girls, Ellie and Myra, the daughters of deceased town tramp "Bonnie". After their no good stepfather tries to rape the younger daughter, the older one blows him away with a shotgun and the two daughters decide to go and stay with their only relative, Uncle Ben, in his lavish mansion in El Paso. The two get involved with their new lives, and soon enough the older daughter is asked to run an errand for her uncle, but when a chance to steal a load of money presents itself; she takes it...

The plot of this film is great in that we get a basic premise and from there it's never clear where it's going to go. Arthur Marks' script has plenty going on in it; the main story always revolves around the girls, but there's enough going elsewhere and with other characters to ensure that it's always interesting and the 105 minute runtime is certainly not packed with filler! The film is also good in that it's clearly a product of the time in which it's made - everything about the film clearly sets it in the seventies; the fashions, the music, the cars, houses etc are all exactly what you'd expect from a film like this. There's a real lot of themes that are common in seventies exploitation that made it in too, from sex and shooting to lesbianism and teenage angst. The fact that the film is not predictable is carried on all the way to the end, and the climax really does come as a big surprise and was not what I was expecting! Overall, this might not appeal to all tastes, but for my money, Bonnie's Kids is an out and out drive in classic and should not be missed by anyone who considers themselves a fan of films like this one!

Family bonds were meant to last a lifetime. But in the movie "Bonnie's Kids", it's a whole new story. Two sisters Ellie(Tiffany Bolling) and Myra(Robin Mattson) are stuck in a town where nothing exciting goes. They lost their mother, Bonnie. They have a stepfather who's a total jerk. He crossed the line with Myra when she was on the phone, and tried to rape her. Kellie comes home in time, and blitzes him with a shotgun. They would later travel to Texas, find their uncle who works for a fashion company, and takes the two under his wing. Unbeknownst to them, he's involved in shady business. If you think that's bad, the uncle's wife Diana(Lenore Stevens) goes through enough abuse from him, she takes a liking towards Myra, while Ellie is away on business. Ellie meets the private detective, and falls for him. Then the sister bonding begins to break slowly between them. When Diana began to comfort Myra, she takes it to a whole new level. And in that case, Myra wasn't cool with it. She berates and exploits her hard and fast. It was funny when she said, "You're Disgusting!" after Diana shot herself. Ellie wanted to have a better life, but her greed just got the better of her. A very classic movie, with a lot of humor to go along with. A little exploitive to say the least. 2 out of 5 stars

Drive-in exploitation movie that is teeming with unlikable characters. I would say that Alex Rocco is the most sympathetic person I could find, and he is a hit-man just trying to do his job. Rocco also provides far and away the best acting in "Bonnie's Kids". The story of manipulating sisters, Tiffany Bolling, and Robin Matson, often bogs down with meaningless small talk and titillating sexual teasing. 105 minutes running time seems excessive, but the story is way above average, and several catchy tunes are memorable. There are also some moments of dark humor thrown into the mix. Not exactly the "classic" others may think it is, but still quite entertaining. - MERK

Some B-Movies are so bad they're good, some are so cheesy they're good, while others push the boundaries of reality to give an over-the-top experience that is enjoyable. This fits in the category of just being a well told story that delivers in every aspect. From the acting to the pace to the set piece all brilliance and would be the pride and joy of any director.

Tiffany Bolling puts in an absolute stellar performance as one of the best characters of all time in Ellie-sexy, seductive, cruel, tough as nails and devious. Along with her sister Myra (Robin Mattson) who are the focus of the local peeping tom community in their small town. After suffering years of abuse from their step-father, Charley played by Leo Gordon in such a small role he instantly becomes one of the most iconic villains of all time. They finally have had enough of the abuse and take the law into their own hands. On the run they find solitude in their uncle's mansion, Ben (Scott Brady) who runs a top shelf magazine and isn't as clean cut as first perceived. With the set-up of a package collection and drop off, the film spirals into a pulpy-crime classic and we are left guessing at every corner. Involving two ruthless smooth gangsters Digger (Timothy Brown) and Eddy (Alex Rocco), a charming private detective Larry (Steve Sandor), an unhappy wife Diana (Lenore Stevens), an annoying salesman Frank (Max Showalter), a handsome buck Harry (Nicholas Cortland) and other characters who all put in a top notch performance. It all culminates to a finale you do not see coming.

With classic cars, exploitation, pure 70's style, great thrilling and suspenseful action this film packs a punch. The acting is spot-on (If there is a weak spot and I'm being harsh, it could be Robin Mattson or Lenore Stevens at times), the music is pure quality and fits every scene to a T, the whole film is perfectly paced and flows smoothly. If you are into grindhouse, B-Movies, gritty-crime, exploitation, Tarantino or the Coen Brothers you should give this entertaining film a watch. It is as cool as ice, as fluid as funk and just one all out joyride.

This could easily be a 10, but I'll have to re-watch this a few times to make sure.

For the fans of Cheese, I think this is one of those rare films that got everything spot on. If there is cheese, I missed it.

Note: Not for the bad movie lovers.

In the world of B cinema, they don't come much better than BONNIE'S KIDS...the few unavoidable shortcomings of its low budget are equalized by a seamy pulp narrative which is briskly paced and sexy as hell. Ambitiously played by a cast of highly capable lower-tier performers, all of whom should have been better utilized in Hollywood, this unassuming little offering stands as one of the crown jewels of 70s drive-in fodder.

Noir-ish story involves two young sisters who ice their lecherous stepfather and beeline to the Los Angeles home of their wealthy mob-boss uncle. Indurated by their difficult upbringing, but fiercely determined to get ahead, the girls are quick to realize the prepotency of their supple young bodies. One of them seduces their closet-lesbian aunt, while the other ropes-in a hard-luck private dick who's been hired by some shady suits to intercede the transit of a "special package". What ensues is a gritty, violent crime story with more flurried excitation, concupiscent titillation, and shifty maneuvers than a Crisco coated Naked Twister marathon.

On a scale of 1-10, BONNIE'S KIDS gets a solid 8.5...right up there with its theatrical release co-feature THE CANDY SNATCHERS. Both films are B classics which approach dispiriting subject matter with an edgy, sardonic tongue-in-cheek. Recommended.