4K Ultra HD Review – Motorpsycho! by Russ Meyer (1965)

      Motorpsycho!, 1965.

      Directed by Russ Meyer.

      Featuring Haji, Alex Rocco, Steve Oliver, Lane Carroll, Russ Meyer, Sharon Lee, Coleman Francis, Holle K. Winters, Arshalouis Aivazian.

      SYNOPSIS:

      A veteran and an alluring widow join forces to confront a brutal biker gang that assaulted their partners.

      Following their outstanding 4K UHD remastering of his Vixen Trilogy, Severin revisits Russ Meyer’s filmography, offering the same treatment to his gritty 1965 exploitation film, Motorpsycho!. Serving as a precursor to his acclaimed Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, which was filmed back-to-back with this production, Motorpsycho! features Alex Rocco as Cory Maddox, a veterinarian whose wife, Gail (Holle K. Winters), is attacked by a savage trio of bikers. In his quest for vengeance, Cory encounters a Cajun woman named Ruby Bonner (Canadian model Haji), whose husband falls victim to the same bikers. Together, they resolve to confront the gang in the desolate desert, away from prying eyes.

      A raw and sleazy revenge narrative, Motorpsycho! surprisingly holds back on the typical Russ Meyer elements of voluptuous women gracing the screen. Rest assured, though, there is ample titillation with breasts that defy gravity and take center stage whenever a woman appears, though they remain adequately covered by clothing… for the most part.

      In contrast to his later works, Meyer adopts a darker and less lighthearted tone here, as he leads Cory and Ruby through an intense journey that quickly alters their personas, requiring them to face off with the vicious Brahmin (Steve Oliver) and his gang. The director's fast-paced editing contributes greatly to the film, infusing it with a youthful vigor that the lead actors, particularly Alex Rocco, embody throughout.

      Given that this is a Russ Meyer film, sex is a pivotal selling point. Although Haji never fully disrobes or misbehaves like the typical Meyer female archetypes, she radiates a confident sexuality. This portrayal of defiant female characters is further developed in Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, featuring a lineup of formidable women, but here it feels more genuine and grounded rather than theatrical.

      With sharp black-and-white cinematography, an audio commentary featuring film historian Elizabeth Purchell and filmmaker Zach Clark, along with vibrant artwork (the standard Blu-ray edition also presents an interview with Haji and Alex Rocco), this release of Motorpsycho! is a fantastic addition to the 4K collection curated by Severin in collaboration with The Russ Meyer Trust. However, if you approach it expecting the extravagant Russ Meyer-isms showcased in the Vixen trilogy or his later films, you might find it somewhat lacking.

      Meyer would refine the concepts introduced here in Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! later that same year. But for those seeking a grittier, less comedic embodiment of his exploitation style, this film will certainly satisfy that particular desire.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Chris Ward

      About Gary Collinson: Gary Collinson is a producer and writer specializing in film, television, and digital content. He founded the pop culture website Flickering Myth and produced the gothic horror film 'The Baby in the Basket' as well as the upcoming suspense thriller 'Death Among the Pines.'