One of Russ Meyer’s gritty black and white pictures, Motorpsycho! delivers a mix of sex and violence that’s more of the latter than the former.
A trio of hoodlums, led by Vietnam veteran Brahmin (Steve Oliver), are causing havoc, threatening and assaulting women and their men. When they brutalise and murder the wife of local veterinarian Cory (Alex Rocco, who would later go on to The Godfather), he sets off to bring them to justice. Along the way, he meets Ruby (Haji), whose husband – who she didn’t particularly like – has been killed by the gang. She joins him as they face the gang once more.
Rather restrained in the case of nudity (although still full of Meyer’s trademark buxom women), Motorpsycho! goes full-on with other troublesome elements. The sexual assault sequences are tough and disturbing, but this only makes the perpetrators’ comeuppance more satisfying. Another thing Meyer is known for is his eye for a striking image. His camera captures the desert beautifully, and his editing is as dazzling as ever. While it’s been overshadowed by the masterclass that is Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, it’s just as cool and edgy as anything in the auteur’s catalogue.
Like many of the director’s films, it looks fantastic. Even more so in this new scan provided by the Museum of Modern Art. Like the other Meyer films Severin has released, there is a great commentary track (this time featuring film historian Elizabeth Purchell and filmmaker Zach Clark, who wax lyrical about the movie). The only other extra (unless you count the trailer) is a welcome addition – a highly entertaining and informative interview with lead actors Haji and Alex Rocco.
MOTORPSYCHO! is out now on 4K UHD and Blu-ray.
