The Black Six Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

The Black Six Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 23, 2025

1974’s “The Black Six” certainly appears to be a movie set up for great success. It has a heck of a casting hook, bringing in six NFL players to populate a Blaxploitation picture, giving the endeavor interesting marquee value, just not thespian might. It’s a biker movie concerning the exploits of black Vietnam vets trying to distance themselves from their pasts, running into trouble in rural California, or “cracker country,” when a death goes without investigation, putting the gang on the hunt for the killer. It’s a low-budget endeavor, but one with great potential, using the football stars to offer an unusual level of screen intimidation and camaraderie, and for about 15 minutes, it works. It’s the rest of “The Black Six” that carries tremendous disappointment, watching director Matt Cimber and screenwriter George Theakos fumble (heh) the basics of investigation and revenge, going as slow as humanly possible with material that’s bizarrely uneventful.

On a quiet summer night, Eddie (Robert Howard) is murdered by a biker gang led by Moose King (John Isenbarger), who’s enraged that his sister, Jenny (Cynthia Daly), would dare to date a black man in his presence. The murder is covered by the locals, including Detective Octavias (Paul Stevens), but word of the horrible loss soon reaches Bubba (Gene Washington), the leader of the bike gang, The Black Six. A collection of Vietnam vets traveling across California, The Black Six brings together Williams (Carl Eller), Frenchy (Lem Barney), Bookie (Mercury Morris), Tommy (Willie Lanier), and Kevin (“Mean” Joe Green), with Bubba their unofficial leader. Deciding to return to his hometown and deal with the loss of Eddie, Bubba finds support from his gang, who ride into dangerous territory, hunting for answers. For Bubba, time in the racist community inspires a hunt for his ex-girlfriend, Celia (Rosalind Miles), who’s become a prostitute, all too aware of the dangers posed by Moose King and his fellow riders, warning Bubba to keep his distance from the villains. Unwilling to back down, Bubba and The Black Six stir up trouble in town, capturing Moose King’s attention, inspiring him to expand his army and take care of the invaders.

All Eddie wants is a night on a football field with Jenny, where the pair have a good time playing field goal games and enjoying each other’s company. The evening is interrupted by Moose King, who’s joined by his gang, and they’re armed with chains, eager to kill the black man. While clumsily staged, there’s some horror to the opening of “The Black Six,” but this severity is quickly undone by a main title sequence that gives Bubba and his pals a funky theme song to ride along to, generating a happier sense of play for the production. The picture also depicts the gang members as helpful types, stopping at a farm to assist an old woman with chores, rewarded with dinner and praise as the writing begins to understand their Army bond, reflecting on their time in Vietnam. Missing from “The Black Six” is defined characterization, as Frenchy and Bubba are the only members of the team actually named in the feature, with the latter becoming the offering’s leading man, and Washington actually contributes a solid performance to help Cimber achieve a few of his dramatic goals.

“The Black Six” provides a few challenges to the health of the gang as they return to Bubba’s hometown. They take a break for a beer and meal at a truck stop, quickly confronted by the white owners of the establishment, who don’t want to serve Bubba and his crew. Instead of accepting racial rejection, the bikers choose to destroy the business. And I mean physically pull it apart, which represents the best scene in “The Black Six,” hitting a note of rage and authority that promises a good B-movie ride to come.

Cimber and Theakos don’t really have a dramatic plan for “The Black Six” once the gang makes their way into town, soon following Bubba as he investigates the crime, meeting with various locals who don’t want to answer any questions. There’s some sensitivity with Bubba’s mother, who’s mourning the loss of her son, and he receives an angry reception from his little sister. There are dramatic paths to follow, but “The Black Six” doesn’t seem to care about creating a more intense understanding of motivation. What’s actually presented are dull scenes of gang intimidation as Bubba confronts Moose King, with Cimber under orders to save any sort of confrontation for the very end of the picture.

The Black Six Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The image presentation (1.85:1 aspect ratio) for "The Black Six" is listed as "preserved from a 35mm print." Wear and tear is consistent throughout the viewing experience, maintaining a steady display of scratches, reel changes, and missing frames. Color is aged, dealing with intense fade for the most part, keeping hues mostly flat and reddish. Some skin tones approach normality, along with greenery and signage. Detail isn't strong, but a general sense of skin particulars is available, along with biker gang costuming selections. Rural distances are passable. Blacks are milky, lacking depth.

The Black Six Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix wrestles with age, but dialogue exchanges are acceptable. Performances are basically understood, fighting some elements of damage and technical limitations. Scoring isn't crisp but remains appreciable, adding some milder funk to the picture. Sound effects are blunt.

The Black Six Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this release.

The Black Six Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Black Six" doesn't build to a stunning conclusion. It drags to one, creating a lifeless gang rumble that's tedious to watch, and there's no ending to help send viewers off on a high, preferring to offer confusing mayhem and an iffy display of finality. Cimber offers a clumsy take on a promising project, and it's hard to watch "The Black Six" squander such B-movie opportunity, showing little interest in using this appealing casting to its fullest potential.