24. The Warriors

Can you dig it? No, I'm not trying to strike up a conversation with a graveyard worker or even trying my hand at a Booker T impression. No, it's the four words that usually get spoken when bringing up today's film, "The Warriors". This usually comes with a side helping of an impression of Cyrus from the film delivered in his deep tone which no one usually is able to pull off.

So it's the film that spawned so many imitators despite its simple plot, cemented Walter Hill's status as an exciting director and for better or worse gave us James Remar. It also gives people an easy costume idea for when Halloween is around the corner. So let's re-watch:

THE WARRIORS (1979. dir Walter Hill)

Geez, more like The Borrowers based on this sucky DVD cover. Sadly the infamous poster with all the gang members wasn't used until later releases...

Why I bought it/Why I liked it:

"The Warriors" was actually recommended to me by my Dad when it was getting a TV showing maybe about 15 years ago. To be honest, despite garnering a cult following that would eventually spawn a video game spinoff from Rockstar, it was a film that tended not to get a lot of air time on the networks. Possibly because they didn't want impressionable youngsters to form their own gangs and run rampant in say Norwich for example.

So I watched it and thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked the dark feel of the film. I enjoyed the survival element and the simple plot of the Warriors simply trying to make it from one area to another and staying alive. I liked that the little bitch Thomas Waites got shoved onto a railway track and smooshed by a subway train. The colourful cast of characters and gangs also helped it stand out too. So when the opportunity to purchase it in, you guessed it, CEX, came about, it was purchased and sat in the collection ready for a moment such as today to be re-watched and re-evaluated.

Oh, the soundtrack's really good too. Damn, I don't remember too much about this film, do I?

If I think it'll stay in the collection:

Unless time has been rather unkind or my memory's as bad as recapping the previous section, I think all will be well for "The Warriors". There's a possibility I may upgrade it to one of the many director's cut editions that are floating about in the ether but I think it's still a classic of its time and way ahead of the pack for films made in 1979.

The review:

So a few things:

At the beginning of the film, we see that Cyrus has called a big meet of the gangs, only 9 members from each gang permitted, no weapons. As exposition unwinds and we also get our introduction to 'The Warriors', we also get glimpses of other gangs. There are some pretty snazzily dressed chaps in purple, then there's a gang of mimes...

MIMES!

Who the fuck thinks:

 'Hey, we need a motif for our gang.'
'I know what'll stop people from messing with us, we should dress up as mimes...'

I wanted to kick these guys asses and I'm not even a violent person. Hell, I could probably beat them too, what're they gonna do, hit me with invisible weapons?

Also when Cyrus inevitably gets shot to get the plot moving (Ohh Spoilers: The movie came out in 1979 for crying out loud) and good old rat-faced Luther yells out:

'It wuz The Warriors! They did it!'
at no point does anyone go:
'Can anyone confirm that? Your gang member in The Rogues backs this up but I don't feel he's a reliable witness somehow...'

Fun quibbling aside, for the most part, it is a breakneck 89 minutes in which the titular Warriors have to stay alive through any means necessary. This isn't easy because the majority of them are REALLY STUPID but it's also manageable because, despite a number of threatening-looking gangs, they can't actually fight for shit.

Here's a Baseball Fury, possibly doing an early audition for Domino in "Deadpool". Memorable for their look and not much else, apparently no one taught them how to use those bats as they get their asses handed to them by The Warriors...

As stated before I do enjoy the feel of the film, almost set entirely at nighttime. You can tell it's a hot muggy night in New York as the streets steam under the glow of electric lights. Walter Hill's casting is impressive too. Michael Beck takes lead as Swan, James Remar grunts and uses 'faggot' an awful lot as lunkheaded Ajax but the rest of the Warriors play their roles well. Special mention goes to Luther played by David Patrick Kelly who usually gets the best lines and is wonderfully annoying making you hope he gets his comeuppance.

There are a few minutes that linger just a touch, the growing relationship between Swan and Mercy, a girl who follows them from Orphan territory drags a bit but for the most part, there's always another fight around the corner.

Should it stay or should it go?

It's a perfectly inoffensive way to burn through 90 minutes and can easily be slapped on in the background while doing other things or if you just need a go-to movie. I'm giving this one a 7.5 out of 10, there's lots of cool stuff and ideas that happen throughout but it doesn't hit that upper echelon of an action movie.

Next stop, back to Martial Arts town.

Until next time, I remain,

Matt Major.