Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.0

Angel Unchained Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 10, 2019

In the grand scheme of biker cinema, 1970’s “Angel Unchained” is one of the few to present the conflicted nature of a motorcycle-riding menace who finally, after years of troublemaking and violence, just wants to experience life as a hippie. It should be a complex characterization, following one man’s desire to leave his past and embrace something of a future, and Jeffrey Alan Fiskin’s screenplay almost gets there, helped along by an invested lead performance from Don Stroud. “Angel Unchained” doesn’t stay within the boundaries of intense introspection for long enough, often distracted by the needs of the subgenre, which demands lots of roaring motorcycles, dangerous dudes in leather, and, for some reason, a healthy dose of destructive mischief. The picture could use stronger concentration on primary dramatic elements, but as steel westerns go, the effort has a fiery temper and a sense of tragedy, slipping in small offerings of horror between broad action and reactions.

As a member of the Exiles MC motorcycle club, Angel (Don Stroud) is ready to move on from a life of violence, barely surviving a battle inside an amusement park. Making a deal with fellow gang member Pilot (Larry Bishop), Angel is permitted to leave the union without a fight, sent off across the southwest on more rural adventures, making a stop to protect a community of hippies from local stooges who don’t want any of their kind in town. Offered a place to stay by Jonathan (Luke Askew) and Merilee (Tyne Daly), Angel decides to remain with the strangers, eventually becoming part of their commune, taking to a life of farming and flirtation with Marilee. However, local brutes Tom (Jordan Rhodes) and Dave (Peter Lawrence) aren’t interested in peace, planning to destroy the commune and chase off the hippies. Angel, with no way to fight them, turns to the Exiles MCs for help, allowing them to stampede over the innocent people in exchange for protection.

Director Lee Madden isn’t interested in playing nice with “Angel Unchained.” There’s a substantial amount of aggression in the picture, which opens with a gang fight inside an amusement park. And not just a throw down around the property, but actual violence on the rides, with rival clubs thrashing one another on a tilt-a-whirl and even a roller coaster, offering first-act surprise and a promise from the helmer that future events will be just as unique and intense. “Angel Unchained” doesn’t return the rush of watching gnarly men pummel one another on working carnival attractions, but it does have something with Angel’s dilemma, finding the old soul sick of being bloodied, asking Pilot politely for a way out of the Exiles MCs, giving him a chance to spend time in solitude.

Such peace is eventually interrupted, with Angel’s noble ways connecting him to a hippie commune, turning him into a man of the earth and lover to Merilee, sparking to her spirit. In keeping with the cowboy atmosphere, such soulful cleanse doesn’t last for long, with the townies looking for a fight and the hippies hoping for help. Soon enough, the Exile MCs return, but their beer-guzzling, pill-popping ways are a double-edge sword, putting Angel in a troubling position of alliance. “Angel Unchained” gets lost when dealing with Pilot and the boys, with their misconduct tedious, including a lengthy foray into theft once the bikers get a taste of Native American “whammo” cookies, demanding more of the better, stronger high. The subplot is the worst kind of filler, stopping a movie that does just fine with basic confrontations, moral quandaries, and straightforward fisticuffs.

Angel Unchained Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

A fresh scan hasn't been ordered up for "Angel Unchained," with the MGM catalog title looking a little tired for its Blu-ray debut. There's a lot of wear and tear on display, with plenty of speckling, scratches, jumpy frames, and rougher reel changes. Admittedly, this contributes to the drive-in feel of the movie, but it's not a clean viewing experience. Detail is periodically acceptable, working through age-related softness and cinematographic limitations. Some close-ups do adequately, examining sunburnt, hard-driving facial surfaces. Costuming is passable, contrasting the toughness of leather with the billowy ways of hippie wear. Colors are a bit muted, but the brightness of Arizona remains with blue skies and desertscapes. Clothing keeps primary appeal. Delineation is acceptable, handling commune interiors.

Angel Unchained Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix also runs with some degree of difficulty, offering a steady presence of hiss throughout the listening experience, with occasional pops. Volume fluctuates at times, including a few brief dropouts. Dialogue exchanges aren't lost, but they aren't always defined to satisfaction, battling age. However, exposition isn't muddy, and argumentative behavior doesn't encourage distortion. Scoring is simple but supportive, with a milder sense of instrumentation. Soundtrack selections are more pronounced. Sound effects are broad, with roaring engines and explosions.

Angel Unchained Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (14:02, HD) with Jordan Rhodes explores the actor's quest for steady employment, moving from Baltimore to New York City to work in television, ultimately making it out to Los Angeles to try his luck with movies. Rhodes is candid about his selection process back in the day, accepting whatever job was offered, but he has fond memories of "Angel Unchained," describing director Lee Madden's attitude on-set and his classic helming outfit, complete with a riding crop. Co-stars are recalled, with Rhodes mentioning tensions with Larry Bishop, with both men pursuing a female member of the cast during production. He also mentions Don Stroud's serious accident that occurred during the shoot. Arizona locations are recalled, including the intense heat, and real bikers were employed as extras, adding authenticity. Rhodes is an affable fellow, and he shares his feelings about the longevity of his work and his current tour of autograph conventions.

• Interview (15:40, HD) with Larry Bishop examines his remarkable start in the film industry, signed to a six-picture deal with American International Pictures due to the intensity of his eyes. With ample motorcycle experience, Bishop was an easy add to the subgenre, and he recounts bike culture of the 1960s, often riding around L.A. to impress women. Bishop is a method actor, trying to keep away from the townies in the cast, but he does recall his friendship with Stroud, who helped him out by introducing him to Universal casting agents, and he opens up about cast camaraderie, bonding with his fellow bikers and the real club brought in to fill backgrounds. Bishop talks up his concentration on shaping a persona for AIP, becoming one of their stars, eventually sent on tour to promote "Angel Unchained" as it crawled across the country during its initial release. The actor also details the physical risk of riding and fandom from Quentin Tarantino, who helped Bishop put together 2008's biker homage, "Hell Ride."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:08, SD) is included.

Angel Unchained Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Angel Unchained" dips here and there with needless distractions, but Madden is ready for war, serving up major vehicle chases, with the townies piling into dune buggies to raise hell, and stunts are impressively dangerous, watching the performers slam around the frame. It's an entertaining feature, and while it doesn't represent the deepest cut of biker cinema, there's attention on the ways of the restless heart and the price paid for violent action.