The essence of Rambo meeting the good-hearted ‘save the community’ nature of Billy Jack set within the arena of B movie western style silliness can be found in 1985’s Savage Dawn, a little seen wild experience from director Simon Nuchtern.
As the hot desert sun roasts the sandy arid landscape of back roads Texas, one motorcycle driving man, aptly named Stryker (Lance Henriksen, never looking more threatening – if that’s possible), a speak softly and carry a big stick Vietnam vet drifter with no home, makes his way to the closest thing to it. . . the dying town of Aqua Dulce (an ironic name, as there is no water left in the community). Water once helped the gold mine locale thrive, but now it, and its people, are struggling to survive. It is here that he finds his only true friend, wheelchair bound Tick Rand (George Kennedy) – another former vet with a MacGyver-like ability to fashion deadly weapons out of anything at hand. He also gets reacquainted with Tick’s two children, Danny (Michael Sharrett) and Katie (Claudia Udy) – who clearly has a thing for the strong silent type.
It does not take Stryker long to come face to face with the local shit disturbers. . . The Savages, a large motorcycle gang, who are lead by wily and ruthless Pigiron (William Forsythe) – burdened with a bad limp, and aided by his rough around the edges right hand (is there any other kind of bad boy biker?), Zero (Mickey Jones). Cruising the dirt roads, their favourite pastime is hassling stranded travelers (by the way, ‘hassling’ is a very kind word for it).
With little to do in this dying desert world, even the civilized townsfolk have some rather unscrupulous fun. The only place to gather is the local bar, run by head waitress Rachel (Karen Black) – a wildcard woman with an edge. Just outside is a fenced-in fighting zone, where people challenge the current reigning champ – who just happens to be the town’s second highest ranking officer, Deputy Joe Bob (Lewis Van Bergen) – a name that seems fitting for this eager for fisticuffs southerner. Even Aqua Dulce’s mayor, who just happens to be the local priest as well, Rev. Romano (Richard Lynch), likes to frequent these events. . . and let’s just say that this guy gives a bad name to both politicians and priests everywhere (which is saying something).
Of course, as these things do, The Savages decide to crash a fun night in the city, cheating to beat the Deputy to a pulp. . . the Sheriff (Leo Gordon) forced to step in to keep peace. Ending in a rather bad place, the Mayor banishes them from the town, arrests their loyal second in command Zero, therefore offending the easily offended biker gang. It is here that Rachel decides to turn her back on her little town. . . joining the ‘savage’ ways of the motorcycle outlaws. Swearing revenge on the town, they not only decide to attack it the very next night, but with a fully armed tank no less (don’t ask, it’s a long, seductive story). Placing Stryker and Tick in a rather challenging position, the former doesn’t want to see anyone else he cares about die (he’s seen enough of that), while the latter desperately wants to save the town (for goodness knows, he’s done the opposite with the military for most of his life).
Leading to a raucous, over the top nighttime battle (lit by the striking neon signage of the few establishments still in business) that will continue until dawn (there’s that word mentioned in the title), Stryker heads out on his own (unwilling to work with his best friend), while Tick, stubborn in his own way, rallies his teenaged children, and a few feisty allies from the town, to fight back. Though entertaining doesn’t seem like it would be the right word (after all, rape, murder, and destruction of property would normally be a very serious matter), Nuchtern and his film making team never take things too seriously, finding Stryker doing a campy version of what Bond, Rambo, Bourne and other recognizable by one name heroes have been doing for decades, while Tick flies around in an almost rickshaw-style motorized wheelchair (a militarized Q on wheels) using his makeshift rocket launcher and other surprises to vanquish these lively and numerous foes.
And really, Nuchtern has set everything up quite nicely. He’s forged the bond between Stryker and Tick (this union itself making them, in a weird way, beholden to Aqua Dulce itself), built a rather unusual romance between Stryker and Katie, drawn the line in the sand between the two sides (with the foes in this film more engaged, believable, and rounded than in other similar B movie fare), and brought it all to a head in the most exciting and visually engaging way possible (living in that grimy world of revenge, vengeance, and a desperate fight for your life). It even ends with an almost Bond-like location. . . an abandoned desert grainery – a multi level, multi vehicle, indoor and out fight that concludes the piece. Now saying all this, it still is a bit one dimensional, could be a bit more gracefully done, and could use a bit more polishing.
A low budget B movie with one of the best casts around, it is somewhat surprising to see so many talented names attached to this project. . . making Savage Dawn a most unexpectedly amusing anomaly (after all, you can’t go wrong with dialogue like, “I can suck start a Harley!”). Another added surprise is a solid, synth score from frequent Brian De Palma composer Pino Donaggio. Living its B movie premise, it oozes campy grit, has some killer thrills (and by that, I mean some inventive death scenes – picking up a rattlesnake and thrusting its fangs into a baddie’s jugular is the stuff I’m talking about), and even tosses out a few unexpected surprises (here’s one to keep a look out for – loud mouthed comedian Sam Kinison playing a born again barber who tries to share a loving God with his patrons). So, don’t be savage, it’s time to give this hidden gem a new dawn.