She-Devils on Wheels (1968)

Waste of time

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Master exploitation filmmaker Herschell Gordon Lewis tries his hand at the biker genre that really took off the following year with "Easy Rider". Here he gets fair results, with a screenplay credited to his then-wife, Allison Louise Downe. It functions more as a series of bits than a real story, and overall it's kind of mild. Those people expecting the fireworks produced by his renowned gore films will be disappointed.The Man-Eaters, the all-female motorcycle gang depicted in this non-epic, are never terribly threatening or much of a danger to society. Mostly they love to recite poetry, help themselves to an assortment of studs, and race. One of their number is Karen (Christie Wagner), who joined a while back despite the objections of her boyfriend Ted (Rodney Bedell). Their "mascot" is a sweet faced, upbeat gal named Honey Pot (Nancy Lee Noble). And the official leader of the gang is the swaggering Queen (Betty Connell). They cause trouble for themselves when they rumble with a male gang led by Joe-Boy (John Weymer).We do see the aftermath of some rather nasty violence, but the only hilarious bit of gruesomeness comes from a decapitation near the end. The movie offers some fun, but it never reaches the lunatic heights of HGLs' best known work. This viewer can see why some trash lovers - even those who are fans of HGL - might consider it boring.The acting is pretty rough and amateurish, but the performers are entertaining enough to watch anyway. Connell does have some charisma, and corpulent Pat Poston some screen presence.This is lesser HGL, but even lesser HGL is not completely without entertainment value.Six out of 10.

"Sex, guts, blood & men are all mothers!"If you are looking for finesse and polish, then you might wish to look elsewhere for your entertainment because Herschell Gordon Lewis' SHE-DEVILS ON WHEELS is lacking in regards to overall quality in style, acting, and proper pacing. I think this kind of movie might appeal to biker movie aficionados rather than the typical genre fan for the premise concerns an all women gang on motorcycles(..called The Man-Eaters) who love to stir up trouble and control men(..treating them as little more than studs or slabs of meat to chew up and spit out once they are done with them). Indeed this was against the grain in regards to the typical male-dominated biker movie where the women were merely a babe on their arm, obedient to their command. The movie concerns the Man-Eaters who find themselves in a war with a group of male thugs after one of their girls is kidnapped and beaten. These girls are not to be messed with and the guys find this out the hard way. Pretty violent at times, but tame in other areas(..the women chose what man they want to sleep with as the result who finishes their race, but the sexuality and erupting orgy remain clean, without nudity).A sub-plot features suburbanite Man-Eater Karen(Christie Wagner)having difficulties with her fellow gang, getting too cozy with a selected stud. Soon an ex-boyfriend(..wishing to be her savior)attempts to talk her into splitting from the gang. In a startling scene(..to prove her loyalty to the Man-Eaters)she must drag a stud(..one she was emotionally involved with, which is a no-no) attached by rope to the end of her bike. The cutie-pie Honey Pot(Nancy Lee Noble)serves as the group's mascot, eventually allowed into the biker sisterhood(..we witness her initiation through a blood pact with the gang, who follow by a smooch on the lips, and a "syrup-bath"). Honey Pot is the one the male goons kidnap as the result of a violent altercation between them and the Man-Eaters(..a show stopping highlight as we watch the girls beat the crap out of them, displaying just how tough these broads are), leaving her practically dead. In revenge, the girls use a wire to behead one of the boys which HGL's gore fans should appreciate.I can't say I'm a fan of this one. I didn't particularly like how a great deal of dialogue is barely recognizable. Many of the jokes often spoken by the girls(..they seem to be enjoying each other's company despite the fact that I found them mostly repellent)aren't exactly giggle-inducing. The orgies lack authenticity(..I can understand HGL's desire to appeal to a wider, more general audience, but it's hard not to roll your eyes at such an unrealistic scene of bodies rolling around, clothes on for the most part)and characters are pretty bland for the exception of a few who get most of the dialogue. Betty Connell fares best as the leader of the gang, Queen, who doesn't take crap from anybody(..she uses this belt chain to assault a bartender for the whereabouts of the male leader of the gang she's pursuing). Noble and Wagner service the film as eye candy(..Wagner is pretty enticing in her tight green short-shorts) Most of the film takes place on an airfield or in this cramped room, so the limited locations become a bit stale. The camera(..even worse than past HGL movies)is all over the place and the editing is at times maddening. Still, I'm guessing the movie might just appeal to the drive-in crowd for which this was targeted towards. I think it lacks punch, though.

Herschell Gordon Lewis earned the title 'The Godfather of Gore' for his gory horror films, and as something of a fan of the schlock director; I like to see Herschell doing what he does best. She-Devils on Wheels generally doesn't get a good word said about it even among Lewis' own fans, and that's hardly surprising as this isn't Herschell at his best or doing what he does best. In fact, it seems more like Herschell was trying to rip off the great Russ Meyer - the only difference being that Meyer did this sort of thing well and HG doesn't! The plot revolves around a gang of man-hating female bikers that ride around and terrorise a town. This isn't bad as a premise, but Herschell fails to implement much action, gore or interest into the film. Meyer would have added some breasts which would have at least spiced it up a little; but sadly the film is lacking even that most basic element. It's really hard to believe that this effort is from the same director who bestowed on us legendary trash classics such as Two Thousand Maniacs and The Gore Gore Girls. She-Devils on Wheels is a completely disappointing experience and doesn't come recommended!

I'm sorry, but trying to apply standard critiques to this awesome movie just shows that you ain't a biker. Yeah, it's campy: yeah, it dosen't have enough sex or gore to please fans of the director. And yeah, the acting and dialogue is crap. But otherwise it's bordering on hilarious. This is a hoot, and anybody who's lived on two wheels accepts it for what it is: a bunch of hot chicks in wigs riding classic bikes. Hell, I'll watch it over several times just for the footage of that FLA. Next to "Hells Angels on Wheels and "The Wild Ones", you can't do much better. Want sex, gore and rock & roll? Don't waste yer time...but for classic bad girls on classic bikes, it's a must see.