Summary
The originalMad Maxmovie provides a poor depiction of biker gangs and violence, according to a former Hells Angel member. Released in 1979, the first film in George Miller’sMad Maxfranchiseintroduced Mel Gibson as the titular Mad Max Rockatansky, a police officer turned vigilante who sets out to stop a violent motorcycle gang. Other than Gibson in the lead role, the cast also includes Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne (who later played Immortan Joe inFury Road), Steve Bisley, Tim Burns, and Roger Ward.
In a video fromInsider,a former Hells Angels chapter president, Pat Matter, broke down the realism of biker gang scenes in movies and television, includingMad Max. Watch the portion of the video below, starting at the 16:15 minute mark:
Matter broke down the scene inMad Maxwhen the motorbike gang runs a riot in town, which is something he’s never personally seen. As a couple attempts to escape, the gang pursues them on bikes and attacks them, which Matter says doesn’t happen without a reason for it. Overall,he rated the scene a 2/10 for realism. Read his full comments below:
The reality of the club being involved in a riot in town, I haven’t seen it. In some cases, it has happened. For instance, in 1948 in Hollister, there was an event that turned into a riot, with a few motorcycle clubs being there. In a situation like this, where just local citizens are being attacked, if there’s no reason for it, it don’t happen. I’d only give it a very low score. Two.
It’s Set In A Dystopian Future
While Matter also reviewedscenes fromSons of Anarchy,The Bikeriders, andHells Angels on Wheels,Mad Maxis unique since it’s set in a dystopian future, which Matter didn’t even seem to consider. The 1979 film is set in a future dystopian version of Australia in which civil order is collapsing, driven mainly by a severe oil shortage, plunging parts of the world into war, famine, and financial chaos. In this context, it’s entirely realistic that a motorbike gang would behave in a way as depicted inMad Max.
While MatterreviewedMad Maxbased on what he’s personally seen as a former Hells Angels member, he would almost certainly rate it differently if he considered its setting in a dystopian future. Judging the film in this context,Mad Maxis a highly acclaimed movie, especially regarding its depiction of a violent, post-apocalyptic world, in addition to its improbable car stunts and crashes. It has a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics and a 70% audience score.
Mad Max’s Original Biker Gang Was Scarier In Real Life Than The 1979 Movie
Mad Max employed numerous cost-cutting measures to bring its story to life, including hiring a real motorcycle gang to appear in the film.
Like most movies,Mad Max’s depiction of the motorbike gang is highly stylized and exaggerated for cinematic effect, as they are depicted with almost cartoonish sadism. However, the very act of them wreaking havoc on the town, destroying property, stealing fuel, and terrorizing the residents is entirely realistic in a post-apocalyptic world in which society has broken down, and law and order have largely disappeared. WhileMad Maxmay not provide a perfect prediction of what a motorcycle gang would look like in a dystopian future, it certainly deserves better than what Matter rated it.
Mad Max
Cast
Mad Max is a 1979 sci-fi action film from director and writer George Miller. Mel Gibson stars as Max a police officer in the future who goes after a gang of vicious motorcycle thugs. The film led to a long-running franchise including The Road Warrior, Beyond Thunderdome, Fury Road, and Furiosa.
