I watched this film recently and managed to stick with it all the way to the end. This is a positive sign for me cause i usually jump ship if a film is really horrible. I would say this movie would be most interesting for Dean Stockwell fans. He looks great and is certainly the best thing about this outing. Plotwise, THE LONERS is a cross between EASY RIDER and BONNIE and CLYDE. This should have been a good idea considering the era the film was made and the tremendous success of those flicks. However, the editing is pretty bad, and the writing is just plain non creative and at times absurd (especially the scene where the dimwit goes postal and murders no less than six people in a restaurant, that was way over the top). For the most part the cast is pretty bad. Hollywood legend Gloria Grahamme does a fine job as a flaky, oppressive mom. She plays her part tongue in cheek which works fine. Another veteran actor, Scott Brady, is mostly wasted in a badly written role as the revenge seeking cop. The actor that tried to run over Dean's character in the opening scenes was very good but we didn't get to see much of him. Overall, I was mildly entertained, it was fun to see Stockwell in his prime and it was cool to get another taste of the "rebellion exploitation" film making that made such an impact during the sixties and early seventies. Definitely worth checking out for Dean Stockwell fans. One more thing, the leading lady didn't really impress me much, I'm betting she got the part because of her nice bosom which was displayed quite a bit throughout the movie. I would say that for that reason alone she contributed a couple of the THE LONER'S "highpoints".
5 Reviews
A Basic Biker Film
Uriah434 July 2020
Blamed for an altercation he did not initiate, a motorcyclist named "Stein" (Dean Stockwell) watches in horror as the police car chasing him becomes involved in an accident which kills one of the officers. Frightened at what has happened, Stein decides to make a run for it with his good friend "Alan" (Todd Susman) and a young woman he meets along the way named "Julio" (Patricia Stich) joining him in this endeavor. What they don't plan on, however, is that in their desperation to outrun the police they find themselves having to commit one crime after the other which only makes their situation even worse. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an okay "Biker film" with Dean Stockwell putting in a fine performance in the lead role. Likewise, having an attractive actress like Patricia Stich certainly didn't hurt matters either. Unfortunately, the plot was rather predictable and the other characters lacked the necessary development to really benefit this picture and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.
Rugged biker fare
Leofwine_draca1 February 2022
Offbeat biker movie that feels like a spin on BADLANDS or perhaps a modern day BONNIE & CLYDE. Dean Stockwell somewhat unbelievably plays a half-Indian biker who falls foul of the police and finds himself on the run. He romances a pretty blonde and engages in a few hold-ups along the way. Quite rugged in terms of execution and scenery but nothing we've not seen before.
Don't expect much....and you won't be disappointed
Jill-6812 March 2001
Don't expect a biker flick. Don't expect the genius of Easy Rider. Okay, now that you're not expecting anything....sit back and enjoy Dean Stockwell as a tense, neurotic, lonely and misunderstood youth on his way to self-destruction. This is years before Al of Quantum Leap fame. He's the best part of the film. The girl, Pat Stich, is annoying. The sidekick, Todd Sussman, reminds me of Screech on Saved By The Bell....this is not a compliment (are they related?). The writing and editing of this film leave much to be desired. The movie screams Low-Budget.
I like Dean. I would ride a motorcycle across the desert with him anytime. As long as we ride out of this movie.
I like Dean. I would ride a motorcycle across the desert with him anytime. As long as we ride out of this movie.
Casting Ruins it and Almost Saves It
nafps7 December 2021
Stockwell, as anyone whose seen either Quantum Leap or Battlestar Galactica or many other roles, can be quite a great actor. But casting him as a "half Indian?"
It's not like that actually plays any role in the film. Except for the Hollywood version of a Native necklace, there's nothing else that's supposed to show him being Indian.
It's a pretty dull biker film. Only see if you want a look at Stockwell in his younger days, because he almost, but not quite, saves the film.
It's not like that actually plays any role in the film. Except for the Hollywood version of a Native necklace, there's nothing else that's supposed to show him being Indian.
It's a pretty dull biker film. Only see if you want a look at Stockwell in his younger days, because he almost, but not quite, saves the film.
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