Warriors…come out and pllayyyy… The Warriors is a gritty movie from the late 70’s which has a unique style that has never been replicated. The movie is about is a gang from Cooney Island who are wrongly accused of killing the leader of the biggest gang in New York. So, stuck deep in hostile territory and just wanting to make it home, they are hunted by every street gang across the city.
My favorite actor in the movie.
The opening sequence sets the scene for the entire movie. It has night time shots of Cooney Island and the subway that are intercut with the various Warriors reacting to the big meeting that Cyrus is holding. It also has the other colorful gangs walking through the various subway stations to have a meeting with Cyrus. The sound track is also unique as it has disco sensibilities but has a strong synth backing. So it definitely gives the feeling of 70’s ending and making way for the 80’s.
The weakest aspect of the movie is probably the acting, as most of the cast is young unknowns. This is very clear in the opening montage, as the dialogue the principal Warriors use is very stilted and awkward.
Despite the sub par acting, the action is very thrilling and throughout Warriors’ journey through the subways and side streets. When they are chased by a gang, the action is thrilling and well paced; and, when a character is killed, it is played very tragically as their numbers slowly dwindle. Also, each of the other gangs bring their own charms to the movie, which makes anytime they come across a new gang a fun experience. A special shout out to the gang that is dressed in baseball jerseys and face paint.
Look at these weirdos.
Over all this movie is the perfect example of a cult classic. It is not a film that holds up when compared to the all time classics because of its goofy nature, however, that is what makes it so enjoyable for me. It is a fun watch if you like movies with a certain level of machismo.
Our embattled protagonists.
