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Action Cult Classic

Bikers, hippies, and chaos collide in a ghost town showdown.

ANGELS HARD AS THEY COME

An eye for an eye... a piece for a piece.

1971 · 01:25:00 · R · Action / Drama / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

A group of crazy bikers meet up with a group of drug-addicted hippies in a small town, but the two roving factions are soon at odds with one another and chaos ensues.

Quick Answer
What is Angels Hard as They Come about?

Angels Hard as They Come is a 1971 American action, drama, and thriller film directed by Joe Viola about a violent confrontation between biker gangs and hippies in a deserted ghost town.

Key Facts
Director
Joe Viola
Writers
Joe Viola, Jonathan Demme
Release
1971
Runtime
1h 25m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Also Known As
Rolling Thunder, Angel Warriors, Angels, Hell on Harleys

The SassyFlix Take

If you like your exploitation with a double shot of outlaw biker and a chaser of commune drama, Joe Viola's Angels Hard as They Come delivers. With Scott Glenn and Gary Busey tangling in a ghost town, this is pure bikersploitation—complete with drug deals, dune buggies, and more mayhem than you'd find at a Coors-fueled bonfire.
From the Vault

Proof that when bikers and hippies cross paths, ghost towns get a lot less quiet.

Why Cult

Bikersploitation Carnage

Classic exploitation featuring outlaw biker gangs, drug deals gone wrong, and violent gang rivalries.

Ghost Town Showdown

The action unfolds in the deserted ghost town of Lost Cause, where the lawless landscape matches the film’s reckless energy.

Early Gary Busey Role

See Gary Busey before the Hollywood wildness, playing commune leader Henry among a cast of cult favorites.

Counterculture Mayhem

Hippies, bikers, and a haze of drugs—this is a snapshot of early-70s American rebellion and exploitation cinema.

About This Film

Long John (Scott Glenn), Juicer (Don Carrara), and Monk (James Iglehart) are members of the Angels motorcycle gang. When one of their drug deals is called off, two members of the Dragons motorcycle gang invite them to the ghost town of Lost Cause, where some hippies have started a commune. General (Charles Dierkop), leader of the Dragons, challenges Long John to a race and loses. Long John then meets the hippie Astrid (Gilda Texter), to whom he is attracted. She says their leaders, Vicki (Janet Wood) and Henry (Gary Busey), are not happy with the Dragons.

That night, several drunk Dragons attempt to gang-rape Astrid. The Angels intervene, and one of the Dragons stabs Astrid to death. The Dragons blame Long John, accusing him of trying to kill General. The next day, the Dragons tie up the Angels and attempt to kill them by riding around them on their motorcycles, swinging chains at them. Long John frees Monk, who escapes. Monk runs out of gas in the desert. Monk is chased by a racist on dune buggy, and eventually steals a camper.

The hippies put drugs into the Dragons' food, and help Long John and Juicer escape. Monk finally reaches the home of Cloud (Lance Hefner), the drug dealer whom the Angels were to have met at the start of the film. The remainder of the Angels are at Cloud's, and they follow Monk back to Lost Cause. In the morning, General ties Vicki to a pole and threatens to burn her alive if the hippies don't turn over Long John and Juicer. Henry attempts to kill General with a knife. General takes it from him, and realizes the knife belongs to a fellow Dragon, Axe (Gary Littlejohn). General now realizes Axe tried to kill him during the rape of Astrid, and kills Axe.

The Angels finally arrive in town, kill all the Dragons, and rescue Long John and Juicer. Everyone leaves town, the bikers going their way and the hippies going another.

Film Details

Director Joe Viola

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Angels Hard as They Come about? +

It's about biker gangs and hippies clashing violently in a deserted ghost town after a drug deal falls apart.

When was Angels Hard as They Come released? +

Angels Hard as They Come was released in 1971.

Who directed Angels Hard as They Come? +

Joe Viola directed Angels Hard as They Come.

How long is Angels Hard as They Come? +

The film has a runtime of 85 minutes.

What genre is Angels Hard as They Come? +

It is an action, drama, and thriller film.

Where can I watch Angels Hard as They Come? +

You can watch Angels Hard as They Come on SassyFlix.

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