Rating summary
| Movie |  | 3.0 |
| Video |  | 3.5 |
| Audio | | 3.5 |
| Extras |  | 1.0 |
| Overall | | 3.0 |
The Spikes Gang Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 17, 2015
1974’s “The Spikes Gang” is a bit of a roller coaster ride when it comes to tone. It’s a western that charts the corruption of innocence, following three young men (Ron Howard, Charlie Martin Smith, and Gary Grimes) as they leave home to experience the world on their own terms, only to find bitter realities of poverty and desperation greeting them at every turn. Lee Marvin stars as the titular bandit out to gift the boys a bad education on bank robbing, but his presence isn’t welcomed as salvation, but more of a warning, with the screenplay creating an interesting collision of youthful exuberance and seasoned menace.
“The Spikes Gang” introduces itself with a level of lightness, but the film’s undercurrent remains bleak, never far from a scene of suffering, doubt, or death as the young trio gets used to the demands of travel, ending up in Mexico, which carries a new wave of threats. It’s a clouded atmosphere that leads to dramatic stagnancy at times. The screenplay doesn’t always know where to go with the story, leaving “The Spikes Gang” episodic, though pleasingly performed by all involved, with the younger cast members projecting a credible naiveté that Marvin squashes with his veteran attitude. The actors make the movie, delivering valuable pathos and timing as they wait around for something to do.
The Spikes Gang Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers a stable look at the limited vistas of "The Spikes Gang," which sticks closely to western hues, favoring browns and grays. Greenery adds some life, along with costuming, while skintones register as intended, with some pinkish extremes. The viewing experience is filmic, and detail is generally successful, working with leathery faces and period decoration. Close-ups tend to emerge most profoundly. Delineation is comfortable, without trouble spots. Source displays some debris and mild scratching, but no overt damage was detected.
The Spikes Gang Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix doesn't supply a sophisticated listening experience, but the basics come through with clarity. Dialogue exchanges are secure, with clean voices and pronounced dramatics. Scoring is presented a little more bluntly, but it keeps a comfortable balance with the performances. Western touches such as shoot-outs and chases carry intended chaos without slipping into troubling shrillness. Pronounced hiss isn't detected.
The Spikes Gang Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- A Theatrical Trailer (2:39, SD) is included.
The Spikes Gang Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
"The Spikes Gang" perks up midway through, finding a focal point in the planning of a bank robbery, while Marvin graduates from cameo to co-lead, creating some tension between generations and temperaments. It's not enough to energize "The Spikes Gang" to full attention, but the increase in activity is welcome, leading to a surprisingly grim third act, securing the picture's vague "crime doesn't pay" theme.
