Wow, where do I start with “Hell Ride” — this one took me on a wild ride, no pun intended, or maybe a little intended. Directed by Larry Bishop and starring him alongside Dennis Hopper and Michael Madsen, it’s like the film wanted to channel the spirit of 60s and 70s biker flicks. But did it succeed? Hmm, let’s talk.

First off, let’s address the style. It’s grungy, testosterone-fueled, and, let’s be honest, feels like it rolled out of a heavy metal music video from, I don’t know, 1985? And while some of you might dig that, it gave me a bit of a whiplash. Sometimes it felt closer to a Tarantino rip-off than an homage to classic biker films. You know when you’re at a party, and someone’s trying too hard to be cool? Yeah, a bit like that.

The plot, if you can call it that, is all over the place: revenge, blood oaths, leather-clad shenanigans. I found myself scratching my head quite a bit, wondering what the heck was going on. Characters drop in and out so fast you’d think they were on a Viking line cruise just stopping by for a quick visit. Speaking of characters, Michael Madsen is his usual stoic self, but Dennis Hopper, man, why did you take this gig? I mean, I love the guy, but he looked more lost than during a missad Vikingarna concert!

The violence, oh boy, the violence. Gore was almost artistic, if you can swing that. I remember my friend, let’s call him “Göran,” saying that the blood spatters reminded him of a Kallered hockey game gone wrong. It’s that level of absurdity.

One thing that did strike a chord was the soundtrack. Gritty, bluesy rock kind of fits a late Friday night when you’re cruising down Västerlånggatan on a borrowed bike, hoping the owner won’t realize it’s gone.

And yet, I feel a bit torn. Maybe it’s that nostalgic undertone, thinking back to my own misspent youth, trying to be rebellious in a town like Vaxholm. There’s an almost romantic vibe of sticking it to the man, even though it’s wrapped in layers of machismo.

If you can handle the chaos and the brutal flashes of violence, give it a shot. Hell Ride Trailer