The movie is about a biker chick who wants revenge for the murder of her brother. She goes on a quest with two guys, which is good, because they're somewhat more interesting than she is. Not that they're "angels", or even "mature", but they're "kids", so it is understandable that they're immature.
The movie seems to be full of "slices" of little parts of the journey. It's supposed to show character, and it does to some extent.
In 1972, there were some characters that you see here, but there are some stereotypes, especially at the school where adults cower to the bikers.
It's obvious that the film maker wanted to have a mix of "stereotypes scenes" like the bar room brawl and the pool hustling, but those are the weaknesses of the movie. However, the powerful punch of the film makes this weakness fit in a bit.
Using a "witch", although a very modern witch, to show the "wisdom" also makes this weak, and smacks of propaganda. The "witch" is the "mouthpiece" of the work.
However, the "witch" is the sane character in this mix.
Though it is obvious the lead woman is a maniac, the movie does a good job of leading the more naive viewer into the final outcome, where that becomes blatant.
There are many saving graces to the movie. The ending reveals much that some more sophisticated viewers will suspect much earlier, but it probably isn't obvious to the more naive. The ending will be sure to disappoint the kids who think vengeance is "cool". And the ending will even be a pleasant surprise, though a sad one, for the sophisticated viewer.
The two sidekicks are more interesting than the lead, as are some of the people she meets along the way. In a way, these two are the film, as they represent what "somewhat saner" people do when their friend is a psychopath.
This could have been a memorable film. In fact, the climactic scene does make it worthwhile. A good turnabout. Look for this film to some day be one of the classics of this era, for the very reasons it is unpopular with IMDb today. It dares. It is the ultimate in the iconoclastic.
