Skinheads

While it may be a stretch to call Skinheads: The Second Coming of Hate the greatest American film of all time, it's much of one. This film tackles the troubling questions that Neonazism posed to our culture in the late 1980s in an unblinking fashion that throws fear completely aside. Unlike later films that dealt had skinhead-related subject matters such as American History X, Skinheads: The Second Coming of Hate does not try to preach to its audience. It simply portrays Skinheads as the ruthless Hitler-loving killers they are. Skinheads: The Second Coming of Hate also features what is probably Chuck Connors' finest performance. Connors was an American treasure and without a doubt the greatest film actor this nation has ever produced. To say that this film contains his finest performance is to say that this film contains what may very well be the greatest acting tour de force ever caught upon film. It is a modern tragedy that Skinheads: The Second Coming of Hate is rarely, if ever, mentioned as one of the great films of the 1980s let alone one of the great American films of all times.

Please forgive my summary note, as to be honest, ever since my teenage years, my time has been spent watching movies not necessarily of this genre, but in the way they were made. The director Greydon Clarke, whose catalogue of films have never been blockbusters, have always contained ideas far beyond the box office buck.

Movies that come to mind "Joysticks" (A Comedy) "The Warning" (A horror) Clarke was never one to shy away from the topics favoured by the audience of today or even yesterday, as Clarke learned his craft from the grand Master Himself "Al Adamson" (If you Haven't seen it, check out "Cinderella 2000")

Anyway, sidetracking aside, does Skinheads have anything to offer, to the undemanding film fan, there in lies the hook. Yes this film arrived here first long before "Romper Stomper" or even "Pariah" The Acting isn't isn't bad, the likes of Brian Brophy, Gene Mitchell and Frank Noon are no shots in the dark, however as is the case with film's of this nature, and please take into account, that no film with such subject matter would ever see the break of dawn if it were not for the participation of (Apologies) has been stars, or more politely put stars of yesterday, Chuck Connors or Barbara Bain.

Film Directors like Al Adamson or even Fred Olen Ray have always used this ploy to sell their movies, the storyline might be weak but as long as you have a headliner, or someone whom the budget could afford why not sell that movie for all it's worth.

Storyline wise, does a storyline exist, yes of course it does, but a film with a limited budget, cannot really propel true depth into character or story if the money is not there, yes i know this not an epic retelling of the Greatest Story Ever Told, but like i've always said, admiration must always go towards the man or woman who ever gets the chance to make that movie, no matter if that movie less depth than a bucket of S.H.I.T!

However lets be honest, admirers of bad movies everywhere should rejoice, as bad as it is, sit back with a six pack and enjoy, as i have when i tried to write this review. As a footnote may i recommend the movie "Flipping" directed by Gene Mitchell, whom i'm sure gleaned some inspiration for his movie making debut.

4 out of 10

In the first couple of minutes of this trash, I was in shocked marvel. How the hell can they let, such appalling and laughable acting go to film. Skinheads is so bad, it makes Pariah look like a good quality film. I was truly disbelief at how bad this was. Again we have our tribe of brainwashed skins causing mischief, mayhem, and of course, senseless murder by a gang, with no sense, who feel they make sense in their Neo Nazi world. They even pick on a little back kid, in the film's innings, punching him in the stomach, or more correctly implying it, the guy's moron/bad actor's punching fist never hitting skin, which I've seen in other amateur theatrics. The head honcho, of the gang is fun to watch and listen to spout his own proses, belief's, stays with me. One of his gang, is the dumbest skinhead ever captured on film, in a movie, so dumb, it defies belief, and it really doesn't get better, even when it progresses, with a guy and girl, the only survivors is a shootout and shocking display of violence, perpetrated by the skins, who don't really take to blacks, and begins a dumb cat and mouse, with the skins and their pray in the big American wilderness. Our duo hardly act upset, or show their loss, almost as if they never saw their friends slayed, and everythings normal, The only saving grace, acting wise too, is legendary tough guy, Connors, and it's Chuckie to their rescue, a stubborn, war veteran, in a role tailor made for him, as like other roles, made for him. I rolled my eyes, shook my head, and my mouth drop many times during this schlock. I've seen some of Greydon Clark's other stuff and really liked it, and that's why I can't believe he would make something like this. Like many characters, he should of been taken out too, or better yet skinned. 1.5/10

Chuck at his best. This is one of "The Rifleman's" last films. He plays a good guy who helps some kids being chased by skinheads. Chuck is by far the most believable character in this less than good film. It would be terrible if it didn't have Mr. Connors acting.

A must see for any Chuck Connors fan.

In this lame thriller, a group of half-wit skinheads kill four people at a diner then chase a deeply uncharismatic couple into a forest. It's all really quite amateurish. The skinheads could be OK villains if only they weren't so moronic and the plight of the heroes would be a lot better if only they were in the least bit interesting. But alas, no. What we end up with is an extended and somewhat tedious pursuit through a forest. There are a couple of cameos courtesy of an old grizzled woodsman and an extremely tame grizzly bear. It's not really all that entertaining but sadly I have seen much worse.

The soundtrack is provided by someone called Elvis Hitler and given the neo-nazi subject matter here, I sincerely hope that this is an ironic name. But in a film where the supposed most stupid member of the skinhead gang, 'Brains', is clearly only the second most stupid, anything is possible.