Cyclone (1987)

Thanks for the memories!

One of my all time favorites.

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

If you think StreetHawk look elsewhere, the Cyclone bike is severally underused, they kind of blew a good opportunity with this one.Lots of plot holes of why a Government scientist would hide a 5 million dollar bike with a new energy source and no one knows where it is, the other plot is also stupid when some government crooked people try to sell the bike to lucrative buyers. Heather Thomas was a knockout during those years sad she did not make a lot of movies, but its only eye candy because even with some good supporting cast this movie fails on every level.

After her inventor boyfriend Rick Davenport (a likable turn by Jeffrey Combs of "Re-Animator" fame) gets killed, Rick's feisty and resourceful girlfriend Teri Marshall (a winningly spunky performance by the foxy Heather Thomas) must prevent his high-tech futuristic motorcycle from falling into the wrong hands. Director Fred Olen Ray, working from a compact script by Paul Garson, not only relates the entertaining story at a brisk pace, stages the rousing action set pieces with real flair (a fierce catfight towards the end rates as a definite exciting highlight), and further spices things up with an engaging campy tone, but also tosses in a funky music montage sequence and a smidgen of gratuitous female nudity for good measure. Thomas makes for a sexy and appealing heroine. The excellent cast of familiar B-movie faces helps a whole lot: Martin Landau as evil main villain Bosarian, Dar Robinson as vicious albino Rolf, Robert Quarry as the smooth and urbane Knowles, Dawn Wildsmith as the sarcastic Henna, Martine Beswicke as the hard-nosed Waters, Ashley Ferrare as Teri's deceitful friend Carla Hastings, and Troy Donahue as ill-fated government agent Bob Jenkins. Huntz Hall has a funny bit as lecherous motorcycle shop owner Long John. The punk band Haunted Garage make a neat appearance at a nightclub. Paul Elliott's slick cinematography gives the picture a pleasing polished look. David A. Jackson's spirited rock score hits the stirring spot. A hugely fun flick.

Cyclone is the tale of a radically awesome motorcycle and the people that want to get their hands on its secret energy source. Jeffrey Combs plays Rick Davenport, a nerdy, scientific type who has developed the multi-million dollar "Cyclone", and even its helmet, which shoots lasers. For some reason, this dork's girlfriend is Heather Thomas, who's the hottest thing on two legs. When evildoers kill Rick (not a spoiler because it happens so early on in the film), it's up to Teri Marshall (Thomas) - presumably no relation to Joe "Samurai" Marshall of Samurai Cop infamy - to protect the "clean energy" source. Everyone wants this thing, and there's a conspiracy that goes all the way to the top - the big boss causing all the conflict is one Bosarian (Landau), the man sending out all the goons. Will Teri ride off into the sunset on the Cyclone? Director Fred Olen Ray assembled a major cast for this one - besides the aforementioned Thomas, Combs and Landau, we also have Martine Beswicke as a police chief, Troy Donahue as Rick's old contact, and they even dug up the legendary Huntz Hall, whose extensive career goes back to the thirties. Tim Conway, Jr. and Michael Reagan are teamed up as two of the dumbest cops in movie history. I wonder what their fathers would have thought. Bruce Fairbairn is on hand as Lt. Cutter, while Dawn Wildsmith plays one of the female baddies.A standout scene occurs when Rick and Teri pay a visit to the Lava Club to see a band called Haunted Garage. A lot of funny dancing is seen, as well as Teri's memorable outfit. The band doesn't seem that talented musically, but they are able to crank out their signature tune, "Devil Metal" with aplomb and it will be stuck in your head for days. Speaking of the music, Joe Pizzolo provides the moody anthem "Are You Too Tough" as well as the memorable "Riding on the Edge of Night", which provides the soundtrack for Teri riding the Cyclone down the streets of L.A. This guy could easily be the next Robert Tepper.Because some of the themes in the movie revolve around clean energy and leaked information, Cyclone seems pretty ahead of its time. But really, it's just comic-booky good fun and not meant to be taken all that seriously. It appears fairly tongue-in-cheek in the classic Fred Olen Ray way. Thomas carries the movie on her looks alone, but she is amply supported by an army of B-movie names in this somewhat fluffy outing.It ends with some impressive stunts and explosions, after the prerequisite chase scenes. I think there's even a "NOoooooo!" somewhere in the mix, but the beeps and lasers coming from the soundtrack/Cyclone are pretty distracting.Lastly, the film is dedicated to Dar Robinson, the legendary stuntman and actor. His final acting role was as Rolf in this film.For the cast and to see Heather Thomas, Cyclone is worth it. Also helmet lasers.For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

I'm a huge fan of Dawn Wildsmith and Jeffrey Combs, although I originally rented this movie because Michelle Bauer suppossedly appears here but I didn't see her...Some of the action sequences were good, there's lots of action, three sexy and tough chicks (Ashley Ferrare, Heather Thomas, Danw Wildsmith)... Fred had done it again, I give it three stars out of four.