A biker gang kidnapps an ex-soldier’s rock star girlfriend, and he gets revenge through the power of Jim Steinman power ballads and giant hammers in a very silly “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fable” from the guy who gave us The Warriors.

Starring Michael Pare, Diane Lane, Willem Dafoe, Rick Moranis, and Amy Madigan. Written by Walter Hill and Larry Gross. Directed by Walter Hill. Music by Jim Steinman, Ry Cooder, and others.

From the newsletter: A biker gang kidnaps an ex-soldier’s rock star girlfriend, and he gets revenge through the power of Jim Steinman power ballads and giant hammers in a very silly “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fable” from the guy who gave us The Warriors.

Like Heavy Metal, I don’t know that this is a good film exactly, though there’s a lot to like about it. Most of the problems can be laid at the feet of its star, Michael Paré, who is utterly lacking in charisma, especially when up against the weird alchemy of Willem Dafoe’s slithery biker, who plays his role as though Marlon Brando’s Wild Ones character was a homoerotic demon.