She-Devils on Wheels (1968)

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

A Major Disappointment

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The vicious all-female biker gang the Man-Eaters terrorize a small town, treat guys like tasty slabs of prime beef, and engage in a fierce turf war with a rival bunch of male hot-rodders. Boy, does this wonderfully wretched cinematic swill possess all the right wrong stuff to rate highly as a choice chunk of lovably low-rent celluloid refuse: the fumbling (mis)direction by legendary goremeister Herschell Gordon Lewis, gaudy psychedelic segue-ways, ragged editing, rough, unpolished cinematography, limply staged action scenes, badly recorded dialogue that's occasionally incomprehensible, coy euphemisms ("mother fuzz"), implied lesbianism, some truly dreadful impromptu poetry, lots of gut-busting cheesy lines ("Go fumigate yourself, craphead!"), a decent smattering of splatter (a grisly barbed wire decapitation is especially awesome and impressive), a couple of uproariously lame'n'tame orgies (everyone keeps their clothes on!), and hilariously horrendous acting all ensure that this film is frequently amusing and always enjoyable in its jaw-dropping shoddiness. The gals who portrayal the Man-Eaters all give endearingly awful performances, with stand-out stinky turns by Betty Connell as hard-as-nails leader queen, Pat Poston as the dumpy and brassy Whitey, the incredibly cute Nancy Lee Noble as eager and adorable newbie Honey Pot, and Christie Wagner as the sweet Karen. Larry Wellington's gnarly reverb surf guitar blastin' score and the insanely groovy theme song "Get Off the Road" both hit the right-on rockin' spot. A total cruddy hoot.

One of the most famous lines in the history of exploitation cinema is that line which is uttered by the hefty biker babe "Whitey" in Herschell Gordon Lewis' "She Devils on Wheels"..."Oh go fumigate yourself, crap-head!". This film is much different than most "biker chick" flicks of the time period. In fact, aside from "Blood Feast", this is the highest grossing film Mr. Lewis has ever made and it is the only one of his films to be picked up by a major motion picture studio (American International Pictures). Aside from 2 legitimate actresses, Mr. Lewis used actual biker gang members in this film. Unlike many of his other features, there are only 2 "gore" sequences in it and these are extremely tame in comparison to those in "Blood Feast" or "2000 Maniacs". Still, this film is a great deal of fun and is reportedly in the process of being re-made by the same team that is producing the re-make of another Herschell Gordon Lewis classic, "The Wizard of Gore".

Anyone who can't appreciate this CAMPY movie for what it is has no appreciation or knowledge of true 60's B-sleaze-movies. C'mon, folks - it was 1968.. the summer of Love was just barely over, and you still had massive restrictions on what you could, and couldn't show in a film of ANY genre. Enter Hershel G. Lewis. and the Man-Eaters. Part of what's so hilarious about this film is that the real-time, bikerChix of Southern FL (Filmed in a town called "Medley" around an abandoned airport) were bikers 1st, and actors second. Compared to latter-day hip-hop momma's of Brooklyn's PS103, these broads WOULD be a bunch of Daisy-pickin' mommas - but again, this was 1968. The styles, clothes, cars, HAIR!, and other peripherial shots are worth the watching, as is the clumsy acting. Those who lived through 1968 will catch some of the buzz-words of the day, ie: "Where's his PAD, Nick?" and "What's the Action?" And check out that theme song, repleat with the same twangin' guitar sound as (I) remembered being used on late-60's girl Scout commercials! It's hilarious! And the lounge-Music used for the orgies after the girls "Pick" - Not what I'd imagine Ruby Tuesday would have been into in 1968, with her LSD-inspired scraggly hair and shades - but hey, this is the mistique that is S.D.O.W. Even the "Sex" scenes are tame by today, when Janet Jackson can make a cereal commercial with her boob hangin' out - but remember, it was 1968 and the best that 200+ LB. "Whitey" could do sexually was ride some dork's back in a twitchin', twirlin' frenzy. Whoo! The swingin' female-sex kitten-dominatrix theme is nothing new, nor was it when HGL made this film. What WAS new was that he used real bikers, a real Florida town, and the REAL bad acting that made this cult film the classic it is. If you expect more than that - you're missing the point. I can't imagine what a current-day sequel could be. As for Karen - I think she should have left the gang with Rodney Beddell ( the Blond w/the Corvette ) - but that would have been my ulitmate ending: Kick Queenie's ass, send Whitey to jail, befriend HoneyPot before she gets herself knocked-up or raped again, and go back to being a good girl. Sigh* - I can dream.If ANY of the actors involved with this movie are still breathing, CONTACT ME!

Classic she-exploitation. What can I say about a film where girls lick blood off each other and kiss as initiation rites into a biker cult? Men are beaten, dragged behind bikes, f*#$ed, and decapitated. Good acting from a few of the leads. Terrible script with no story provides opportunities for humor and visceral violence. No nudity.Not as gory as other Lewis films, but more fun than most.