Review of The Warriors (1979) by Peter N — 13 Aug 2012

The Warriors has a very interesting premise, and that's what gave me the desire to see it. What could be cooler than a stylish thriller depicting New York City as a rotting metropolis overrun by gangs? The film starts off strong, switching between all the flashy and formidable gangs as they converge for a meeting held by Cyrus, the most notorious gangster in town.

There are some really intense moments in the film as the Warriors try to get back to the safety of Coney Island, avoiding all the murderous gangs out to get them. Unfortunately, these scenes are few and far between, and too much focus is put on them wandering around empty streets.

You'd think there would be a lot more activity if hundreds of gangs composed of thousands of members are looking for them. The climactic showdown with the Rogues is extremely lackluster, despite having the potential for a bloody battle.

Due to its brooding style and cartoonish violence, I can see why the film has become a cult classic, and I respect its merits, I was just expecting a very different film than what I saw.