I came across Werewolves on Wheels while doing some imdb research for Count Yorga, Vampire. Actress Donna Anders was in it as one of Yorga's victims, and I was curious to see what else she was in. For obvious reasons Werewolves on Wheels was a title that jumped out at me immediately. How could you not be into a biker/werewolf mash-up? Although having seen it now, it is a bit of a misleading title... yes, there are technically werewolves and there are certainly wheels, but it's less a werewolf-biker movie and more a biker-gang-runs-afoul-of-satanic-monk movie, with werewolves. But that would be harder to get into a succinct title, I suppose.
Anyways, it's about a biker gang called "The Devil's Advocates" that does the usual biker-gang stuff - they ride around the countryside, drinking and doing drugs, and generally causing havoc at whatever restaurant or store they happen to come across. I haven't seen a lot of movies from the biker boom of the 60s and 70s, but I found it hard to get behind these guys. They don't really have a destination or even a goal; they're are just sort of nomadic and go around being assholes to random people. Which wouldn't be as much of a problem if there was something unique or interesting about them. Luckily for us, after a few scenes of biker shenanigans they run across a group of satanic monks, which keeps things exciting.
You see, The Devil's Advocates are cruising around and decide to crash near an old church. Fortunately for them, the church is filled with monks who bring them food and drink. Unfortunately for them, they are satanic monks and some of the gang is drugged and taken to be a part of some crazy ceremony. It's an extended ritual scene, the kind you'll really only see in these grindhousey cult movies - trippy music, crazy camera work, hazy visual effects, a woman dancing nude with a snake - all while some guy (known only as "The One") goes on about how awesome Satan is. I dug it - and if you're into that sort of thing, it bodes well for your chances of enjoying the rest of Werewolves on Wheels.
The next morning, the bikers wake up - unaware of what happened the night before. The rest of the film focuses on the gang continuing their aimless travels, and the conflict which has developed between gang leader Adam and the spiritual member of the group named Tarot. (He reads tarot cards, you see.) Tarot is convinced that there is an evil presence following them around - or as he says "someone is controlling the vibes." The rest of the Advocates are freaked out by his prophecies, and Adam is angry with him for ruining group morale. (Apparently morale is very important for his grand plans for the gang, which seem to consist stealing gas, drinking old beer, and setting piles of garbage on fire.) To add to the drama, Adam's girlfriend Helen (Anders) is having flashbacks of her participation in the satanic monk ritual. When members of the gang turn up murdered, Adam and Tarot must fight for control of the gang. Who will win? What type of creature will we (eventually) see on a motorcycle? Tune in to find out!
So, Werewolves on Wheels isn't a very good movie. There aren't really any likable characters (there isn't a one I would want to have a beer with), and even the unlikable ones aren't interesting or enjoyable. Any conflict just sort of happens - like "we're in a movie, and this is what happens in a movie" is reason enough. There isn't much to the story - there's the general outline I described above, and that's pretty much it. Plus, there is scant werewolf action for a movie with "werewolves" in the title.
That being said, there is a certain je ne sais quoi that won me over. If you've read any of my other blog entries, you know I'm easy when it comes to 70s movies. And there's just this free-spiritedness and willingness to experiment here that I appreciate. Not that any of it is great, but I just dug the overall vibe. It's got good use of a desolate landscape, a little bit of artsiness, some 70s satan-sploitation goodness, some trippy drugged out sequences, and a little bit of motorcycle action. Also, the music is *really* solid. Just loose, groovy, road-tripping stuff. I think I'll be buying the soundtrack soon. And, as promised by the title, there is in fact a werewolf on a motorcycle at one point. So, despite it's flaws, it's a winning enough formula for me.
I would recommend this film.
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