There’s nothing quite like a feature-length film that’s basically a prolonged chase sequence. Mad Max: Fury Road is one of the greatest action films of all time because of its frenetic pacing and unrivaled use of practical effects.
Though a far cry from the 2015 George Miller epic in scale and scope, 1979’s The Warriors carries the same energy but in a wildly different context. Focusing on rival gang members and guerrilla warfare set in New York City, The Warriors boasts a simple plot executed to perfection as our heroes hide from every form of danger while scrambling to get back to their base with minimal casualties.
A white-knuckle thrill ride that will have you saying, “They don’t make them like this anymore,” The Warriors is tense, dangerous, and edgy enough to keep you hooked as you root for the titular gang while they try to clear their names and get back to Coney Island.
The Warriors Come Out To Play
Based on the 1965 Sol Yurick novel of the same name, The Warriors introduces us to the crew. Cleon (Dorsey Wright), Swan (Michael Beck), Ajax (James Remar), Fox (Thomas G. Waites), Rembrandt (Marcelino Sanchez), Snow (Brian Tyler), Vermin (Terry Michos), Cowboy (Tom McKitterick), and Cochise (David Harris) are tasked with attending a midnight summit in Van Cortlandt Park to meet with Gramercy Riffs leader, Cyrus (Roger Hill).
Cyrus has a simple proposal for every rival gang: make a city-wide truce and overthrow the police. It’s clear that the gangs collectively have strength in numbers and could easily overpower the NYPD if they put their differences aside.
Unfortunately for our heroes, an unhinged member of the Rogues named Luther (David Patrick Kelly) shoots Cyrus dead and blames it on The Warriors. A bounty is put out for the gang, and from this point forward, it’s a free-for-all.
Every stop at the train station puts them in the crosshairs of the Riffs, the Turnbull ACs, the Orphans, the Lizzies, the Punks, and, my personal favorite, the face-painted, bat-wielding Baseball Furies. As The Warriors get broken up by in-fighting, rival ambushes, and undercover cops, they push forward in an effort to clear their name, restore peace, and get back to business once they make good with the Gramercy Riffs.
A Prolonged Chase With Just The Right Amount Of Tension
While The Warriors certainly has its peaks and valleys, its barebones plot immediately tells the viewer what’s at stake, who to root for, and where the story is going. The Warriors have been wrongfully accused of breaking a truce everyone was willing to stand behind, and now they have to pay for it. They use their knowledge of the train lines to subway-hop, throw Molotov cocktails in self-defense when necessary, and do whatever they can to survive with minimal collateral damage.
The film never glorifies gang violence but instead shows these characters’ reality. The titular gang isn’t heroic, but they’re not villains either. They’re products of their environment, doing what they must to get home. They may not be great guys but live by a strict moral code that dictates their decisions.
Streaming The Warriors
Just like Fury Road is a modern classic, The Warriors is timeless. You don’t need to overthink it. The premise is simple: our heroes need to get from point A to point B, and there are obstacles at every stop. It’s a 92-minute chase sequence with a clear destination; in this case, it’s worth the journey.
If you’re ready to twirl your switchblade and don your fists with brass knuckles (responsibly, of course) from the safety of your living room, you can stream The Warriors right now on Paramount+.
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