Plot: What’s it about?
The Man-Eaters is a gang of female bikers who love to get rowdy, but also love to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh. The rules are simple, remain loyal to the gang and never become more than lovers with a man. In other worse, while a simple roll in the hay is all right, relationships are a no-no. The girls even have certain rituals to determine who gets first pick of that night’s men, which is of course a bike race most of the time. The girls are led by Queen (Betty Connell) and they are always looking for a good fight, which is good news since they’re about to find one. A rival male biker gang has begun to impede on their turf and this makes the ladies none too happy, which means heads will be cracked and chains will be wielded. In the war between the gangs, the males kidnap one of the smallest and newest members, Honeypot and this really pisses The Man-Eaters off. Not content to just rescue Honeypot, the girls decide to take revenge on the males by taking the head of their leader, literally.
When it comes to low budget horror and exploitation flicks, Herschell Gordon Lewis is one of the power players. His resume is loaded with classics of the genres and must haves for fans of blood and breasts. As influential and fun as his movies are, fans have had to settle for below average home video versions, if they could find them at all. But now, thanks to Something Weird Video and Image Entertainment, fans can view these classics in full splendor, as well as enjoy some terrific bonus features. I think this film, She-Devils On Wheels is a must own title for exploitation fans and I know my personal collection wouldn’t be complete without it. Maybe I am a sucker for a dominant female, but there’s just something about this flick that connects with my tastes. I don’t think is my favorite Lewis film, but it is among the top two or three and that’s quite a statement, since I enjoy so many of his movies. You’ve got a terrific feature and a very nice disc, what more can you ask for? I highly recommend this disc and whether you rent or purchase, your money will be well spent.
This film was directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis, who is counted among the masters of gore and exploitation cinema. Despite low budgets and other obstacles, Lewis and his crews always delivered the goods and pushed out movies his fans devour, even to this day. Lewis’ films might not be for everyone, but if you like blood, breasts, and all the other exploitation staples, Lewis always comes through. This film uses a nice blend of blood and flesh, though not to the levels of Lewis’ films dedicated to the subjects. This one focuses more on the characters than anything and while the fights can be bloody, the gore is absent for the most part. This is no hindrance in the least though, as the movie proves to be a blast to watch, especially with a group of fellow exploitation fans. If you want to see more of Lewis’ films I recommend Something Weird, The Wizard Of Gore, Alley Tramp, Moonshine Mountain, and Scum Of The Earth. The ensemble cast used in this film is very realistic, though perhaps not the level of acting that would garner many awards. The most memorable performer is Betty Connell, who plays Queen with such charisma and energy. The rest of the cast is also good though and includes Nancy Lee Noble (Just For The Hell Of It), Christie Wagner (Cataclysm), Pat Posten, and Ruby Tuesday (Leather Jacket Love Story, Loose Ends).
Video: How does it look?
She-Devils On Wheels is presented in a full frame transfer, which retains the original aspect ratio of this film. While this transfer doesn’t measure up to modern films, it still looks very good and is an improvement over previous editions of the movie. There is some grain and debris at times, but this is the best the film has looked on home video, so no severe complaints can be made. The colors look bright with few bleeds, while flesh tones look normal and consistent. Contrast showed no errors either, as shadow were complex and detail is never obscured. I didn’t see any edge enhancement or other compression problems either, and I just don’t think this film will ever look better than this.
Audio: How does it sound?
This flick doesn’t really need a dynamic audio track, but the included mono version manages to provide a solid and enjoyable mix. The music is very cool and emerges in fine form in this mix, with no distortion in the least. The music also never overpowers the other elements, which means the sound effects come through with clarity and separation. I didn’t find much in terms of harshness with this track either, and the usual mono hiss is minimal. The dialogue is clean and crisp at all times, with no problems at all to hinder the vocals.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc has some cool supplements, including an excellent audio commentary with director Herschell Gordon Lewis and some folks from Something Weird Video. I did notice some static on this track for some reason, but it wasn’t distracting so I won’t complain much. As usual, Lewis is more than willing to share his thoughts on the film and what it took to make it happen, which is a real treat indeed. Lewis discusses everything from the casting process to distribution of the film, all of which is interesting to hear about if you like his work. A nice selection of artwork from other exploitation films has also been included, as well as the film’s original theatrical trailer. Rounding out the disc is a bonus short film titled “Biker Beach Party,” which contains some biker footage and narration by some of them. All in all, a very solid selection of extras for this fantastic film.
