Release Date: 10 Apr 1981
Run Time: 145 minutes
Origin: USA
Mimi's Rating: 4 1/2 Merry Men out of 5
A medieval reenactment troop struggles to maintain its lifestyle amid pressure from the outside world.
At first glance, the premise of this movie may seem ridiculous, yet Romero manages to give it all a sense of Shakespearean tragedy and grandeur. It truly feels like an Arthurian myth in the modern day. It's heartfelt but never overly sentimental.
Knightriders follows 'King' Billy and his travelling troupe of motorcycle jousters. Billy wants to lead the group according to his Arthurian ideals of knighthood. These ideals clash with the reality of the modern day, and tension within the group is exacerbated by the arrival of a promoter named Bontempi (played by Martin Ferrero, the scummy lawyer in Jurassic Park) and Billy's stubborn choice to perform despite his injuries.
I loved the opening scene of the film. We see Billy and his 'Queen' Linet starting their day somewhere in the forest. But, it is filmed in a way that you have no idea what century it is. This scene says so much about Billy, and not a single word is spoken.
The plot of this movie is accentuated by some amazing motorbike stunts. There was one stunt that had me covering my mouth in shock. Let's give a hand to our stunt performers out there.
There are many great performances from some familiar Romero faces. Tom Savini plays the Black Knight, Morgan, Billy's main foil. Ken Foree (of Dawn of the Dead fame) plays Little John. Yes, we have a Little John. There's also a Friar Tuck (John Hostetter) adding a touch of Sherwood to our band of misfits. And let's not forget Ed Harris, who is magnetic as the 'King.' There are many scenes with Harris where he will say nothing, but his eyes and face say it all for him.
As for Morgan, his relationship with Billy is complex and nuanced. Much like the entire movie. I went into this movie expecting some silly action farce. Instead, I got a from-the-heart tale of utopian ideals, community, friendship, and finding your path in life. Top it off with a tragic ending straight from the legends; Knightriders is a movie to remember.
Bonus: Merlin is played by Brother Blue who led quite an interesting life:
Why you should watch:
You like stories about English myths.
You like awesome stunts.
You like a movie that has something deeper to say.
Why you shouldn't watch:
You don't want to dedicate 145 minutes to a movie.
You want just a straight action movie.