This is a movie you cannot watch without smiling due to its many kitschy, laughable elements. The only son of a wealthy old English family of frog-worshippers heads a bike gang called the Living Dead that discovers how to come back from the Great Beyond by wishing really, really hard. Hijinks ensue as the bikers kill themselves one by one and come back, ready to commit better mayhem than they ever could when alive because now they are indestructible. The story features unbelievably short skirts on all the girls; a hippy folk song about the glory of living and dying as a biker; young moms being terrorized by the Living Dead as they push prams in their go-go boots and hot pants; interior decor that inspired the makers of 'Austin Powers;' and arcane frog-worship ceremonies that ultimately lead to the undoing of the gang. Never a dull moment.
94 Reviews
Middle-class, frog-worshipping zombie bikers? Yikes!
RomanJamesHoffman10 October 2012
This is the stuff late night B-movies are made of! In more ways than you can count this simply should not work: a group of well-spoken, middle-class motorcycle *cough* rebels called (in an act of Shakespearean foreshadowing) "the Living Dead", whose whole raison d'etre seems to be raising terror in local supermarkets and such, decide to become zombie bikers for a hoot. They are able to achieve this with the aid of hidden knowledge from their leader, Tom, (who has a butler for God's sake!) who has made an occult alliance with a hoodoo frog
or something, and who get eventually get thwarted, in (it must be said) quite a chilling way, before they presumably wreck havoc by knocking over another bin. And yet
despite the ludicrous plot, executed with some ludicrous suicide scenes, and the ludicrous funeral scene for Tom (which will genuinely have you mouthing "what the
?")
not to mention Tom's ludicrous Lazarus moment, the film does have a certain eerie feel to it which, although not particularly scary, nonetheless raises it above the slight 70s campiness of it all and makes it a watchable flick. A lot of this vibe is certainly owed to the music which, in addition to the wah-wah pedal getting an inevitable seventies workout, has a memorable recurring motif and certainly adds a tinge of mystery to proceedings
especially in the morgue scene. Certainly the movie, along with the likes of 'Dracula AD 1972' and 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula', signalled the death knell of British horror which had ruled the sixties, but if you happen to come across it nestled among the late night schedules and you don't have work the next day, then with your tongue set firmly in your cheek settle down and enjoy...you could certainly do a lot worse.
Interesting biker cult film
drystyx2 October 2010
The British are one of the few cultures with enough savvy to pull off a good cult cycle science fiction scenario.
This one involves a family of a Satanic nature, the mother of whom is prim and proper, and whose other member, her son, is the leader of a Hellish motorcycle gang.
Goerge Sanders is the wild card as the butler figure.
The son learns that he can have an immortal and immoral life of evil just by dying, under the right conditions. The catch is a series of rituals along with an unfailing Faith in your resurrection into Evil.
He paves the way and convinces the rest of his biker gang to join him. It is a small grass roots gang of 2 women and 5 other men. Most are willing, but a couple of them relent.
Ann Michelle excels with a great presence as an evil biker girl. Too bad she wasn't a heroine more often, but the seventies were not a decade of risk taking, despite what people claim. Stereotyping was a seventies staple.
Still, this film has a great atmosphere to it, a bit of humor, and some creativity, never detracting from the story line.
This one involves a family of a Satanic nature, the mother of whom is prim and proper, and whose other member, her son, is the leader of a Hellish motorcycle gang.
Goerge Sanders is the wild card as the butler figure.
The son learns that he can have an immortal and immoral life of evil just by dying, under the right conditions. The catch is a series of rituals along with an unfailing Faith in your resurrection into Evil.
He paves the way and convinces the rest of his biker gang to join him. It is a small grass roots gang of 2 women and 5 other men. Most are willing, but a couple of them relent.
Ann Michelle excels with a great presence as an evil biker girl. Too bad she wasn't a heroine more often, but the seventies were not a decade of risk taking, despite what people claim. Stereotyping was a seventies staple.
Still, this film has a great atmosphere to it, a bit of humor, and some creativity, never detracting from the story line.
"They Tried To Clip His Wings, Just Like A Flyyyy!"...
azathothpwiggins23 July 2018
PSYCHOMANIA (aka: THE DEATH WHEELERS) is the uplifting tale of a gang of bratty bikers and their hopelessly infantile leader, Tom Latham (Nicky Henson). Growing dreadfully bored with the hum-drum world of anti-social thuggery, Tom decides to dabble in the realm of the occult in order to gain immortality for himself and his terrorizing, turd brigade.
Luckily, his mum (Beryl Reid) is a medium, and their butler, Shadwell (George Sanders), just might be more than he appears to be- Hope you guessed his name! So, Tom attains a toad talisman, and gets a crash course in his diabolical family history. Then, after a fun day of mindless murder and mayhem, including a game of baby-pram-pinball, Tom does the unthinkable! He initiates his infernal plan for his gang's eternal, psychotic playtime!
The rest is about his mates' following his lead, and the unfortunate results. A grand time is had by all!
EXTRA POINTS: For the notorious "biker funeral" and "motorcycle resurrection" scene. It truly must be witnessed to be fully appreciated! Who knew that bikers wove flower wreathes or wore crocheted vests?
EXTRA EXTRA POINTS: For the gang members' names, like,"Hinky", "Hatchet", "Gash", "Chopped Meat", and, of course, "Bertrem"!
EXTRA SPECIAL POINTS: For the novel suicides, including, tossing oneself into a lake, wrapped in battleship chains! Amazing!
These motorbikes run on pure cheeeze! Soooo, squeeze into those leather trousers my friends, for this is why cinema was created! Is that another pram?!...
Luckily, his mum (Beryl Reid) is a medium, and their butler, Shadwell (George Sanders), just might be more than he appears to be- Hope you guessed his name! So, Tom attains a toad talisman, and gets a crash course in his diabolical family history. Then, after a fun day of mindless murder and mayhem, including a game of baby-pram-pinball, Tom does the unthinkable! He initiates his infernal plan for his gang's eternal, psychotic playtime!
The rest is about his mates' following his lead, and the unfortunate results. A grand time is had by all!
EXTRA POINTS: For the notorious "biker funeral" and "motorcycle resurrection" scene. It truly must be witnessed to be fully appreciated! Who knew that bikers wove flower wreathes or wore crocheted vests?
EXTRA EXTRA POINTS: For the gang members' names, like,"Hinky", "Hatchet", "Gash", "Chopped Meat", and, of course, "Bertrem"!
EXTRA SPECIAL POINTS: For the novel suicides, including, tossing oneself into a lake, wrapped in battleship chains! Amazing!
These motorbikes run on pure cheeeze! Soooo, squeeze into those leather trousers my friends, for this is why cinema was created! Is that another pram?!...
Bikers and Devil Worship
Bronson198527 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Psychomania,
I remember this VHS box at the local Avondale stores that popped up in the county. I rented it a couple of times, but never really experienced what the plot line on the back of the box had to offer... Recently TCM aired it and I have to say it should have been declared the "Spinal Tap" of UK horror schlock of the times! I love it. The leader of the gang (who resembles Don Stroud) leads his followers into a rebellious rampage filled with frogs, Satan and Druid overtones. A must for fans of the evolution of Zombie films. Notice the extremely early looking CGI at then end of the film. It looks as though they actually burned the negative. A Shepperton Studio Classic.
I remember this VHS box at the local Avondale stores that popped up in the county. I rented it a couple of times, but never really experienced what the plot line on the back of the box had to offer... Recently TCM aired it and I have to say it should have been declared the "Spinal Tap" of UK horror schlock of the times! I love it. The leader of the gang (who resembles Don Stroud) leads his followers into a rebellious rampage filled with frogs, Satan and Druid overtones. A must for fans of the evolution of Zombie films. Notice the extremely early looking CGI at then end of the film. It looks as though they actually burned the negative. A Shepperton Studio Classic.
Don Sharp's zombie biker horror is in a class of its own.
mwilson197621 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Nicky Henon plays the leader of a biker gang called the Living Dead, who makes a pact with the Devil and uses it to win himself eternal life. His gang follow suit and join him on a rampage across the country. Would-be immortals have first to kill themselves, and if their faith wavers at the last moment they do not come back. Beryl Reid plays Hensons spiritualist mother, who holds seances in her living room and transforms into a frog. A lot of the action takes place at an imaginary stone circle near to Shepperton Studios, which many fans of the film still believe to be the Rollright Stones near Oxford. Despite awful reviews at the time of its release, Psychomania is a collision of mythology and modernism, in which the spirit of rebellious anarchy is both celebrated and ultimately, eerily punished, and remains a solid cult favourite.
"Psychomania,Qu'est-ce que c'est,Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-far better Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away oh, oh, oh."
morrison-dylan-fan1 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Curious about the film since reading an article about it in The Dark Side magazine a few months ago,I was pleased to recently get hold of the flick on DVD,which led to me experiencing psychomania.
View on the film:
Visibly looking frail, George Sanders still gives the title his unique touch of class as seance-loving Shadwell, whilst June Brown, Robert Hardy, Bill Pertwee and Beryl Reid fill the streets as the nervous locals surrounded by the wheelie-performing psycho bikers.
Powered up by John Cameron's tasty Prog Rock Funk fusion score, director Don Sharp & fellow Hammer Horror regular/ Dr No (1962-also reviewed) cinematographer Ted Moore pedal a wonderfully odd kitsch atmosphere of sawed-off panning shots and crashing-zooms smashing the snarling bikers into supermarkets painting the quiet village blood red with practical special effects bringing lead biker Tom back to life and driving through groovy Art Deco designed walls like a psychomania.
View on the film:
Visibly looking frail, George Sanders still gives the title his unique touch of class as seance-loving Shadwell, whilst June Brown, Robert Hardy, Bill Pertwee and Beryl Reid fill the streets as the nervous locals surrounded by the wheelie-performing psycho bikers.
Powered up by John Cameron's tasty Prog Rock Funk fusion score, director Don Sharp & fellow Hammer Horror regular/ Dr No (1962-also reviewed) cinematographer Ted Moore pedal a wonderfully odd kitsch atmosphere of sawed-off panning shots and crashing-zooms smashing the snarling bikers into supermarkets painting the quiet village blood red with practical special effects bringing lead biker Tom back to life and driving through groovy Art Deco designed walls like a psychomania.
Return of the motorcycle dead.
HumanoidOfFlesh10 August 2012
A gang of young hippie motorcyclists calls themselves The Living Dead.They terrorize various drivers on the roadways and citizens of British small town.The secret of eternal life is fairly simple:you must kill yourself without hesitation.So our bullying motorcyclists commit suicide one by one and they return literally as the living dead...Extremely cheesy and superbly funny horror/bikersploitation flick made by Don Sharp.There is plenty of violence but no blood and a Black Sabbath-esque proto-doom soundtrack is nicely groovy.The scene of Tom's burial in the ground of the Seven Witches has to be seen to be believed.The stunts are great and the plot is gleefully weird and silly.7 undead bikers out of 10.
Fun 1970s horror
AngusMayonnaise30 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This movie was probably too much fun to watch. Sure the pacing was a little slow. Sure the graphics are a level of dated that I never thought possible. Sure its frog-worshiping, death-defying antics are laughable. But it's laughable. A biker gang systematically committing mass suicide to return as invincible superhuman zombies so that they can terrorize marketplaces and local bars is, to say the least, a ton of fun to watch. I would recommend this to anyone regardless of its timely technical difficulties.
Forgotten British Horror
gavin694216 February 2017
A gang of young people calling themselves the Living Dead terrorize the population of their small town. After an agreement with the devil, if they kill themselves firmly believing in it, they will return and gain eternal life. Following their leader, they commit suicide one after the other, but things do not necessarily turn out as expected...
The film started out as a production from Benmar Productions, which predominately made Spaghetti Westerns in Spain (such as "Captain Apache") but also produced "Horror Express" the year prior. Then along came this script, which was either titled "Psychomania" or "Death Wheelers" (sources seem to disagree equally on the "correct" title). Interestingly, today "Horror Express" is a minor classic, but "Death Wheelers" is forgotten. Why?
All the right ingredients are here for the perfect blend of cult classic and respectful film. On the respectable side, you have DP Ted Moore, who had shot several James Bond films and had already won an Oscar for "A Man for All Seasons" (1966). Would an Oscar winner make a bad film? And composer John Cameron is well known for his many film, TV and stage credits, and for his contributions to "pop" recordings, notably those by Donovan, Cilla Black and the group Hot Chocolate. So say what you will, but the camera and sound are as good as any big budget film.
On the cult side, you have a great cast of B-movie veterans: Denis Gilmore (Village of the Damned), Nicky Henson (Witchfinder General), Beryl Reid (Dr. Phibes Rises Again) and more. While none of them are big names, that role is filled by George Sanders, a giant in the world of cinema (who, quite frankly, was slumming it here in his final role). Some key moments -- such as the baby in the supermarket -- make this a timeless exploitation gem, and you have to give them credit for beating Roger Corman's "Death Race 2000" (1975) in some respects.
When you talk about low budget films, it is dun to note where the (little) money goes. Interestingly, the film's single biggest expense was the mechanics, because (according to Nicky Henson) eight full-time mechanics were needed to keep the motorcycles running. The studio could not afford top-end bikes (especially if they were going to be wrecked), but probably spent almost as much getting these lesser bikes to stay operational. The only expensive cast member was legendary actor George Sanders, so shooting was scheduled around him to get him off the set in five days.
The biggest unforeseen expense may have been for stunt man Cliff Deakins, who might have ended up in the hospital three times during filming if the on-set stories are correct. He found himself hitting walls (and water) harder than intended. According to IMDb, this film is his only credit, which really leaves me wondering where he came from and where he went.
Apparently, this movie was almost universally hated in the 1970s, both by critics and the cast. Respect has grown for it ever since, and rightfully so. While not outright scary in any way, and without the deepest plot or dialogue, it really is a fun, twisted film and a great concept. The subgenre of "supernatural motorcycle riders" is small, but "Psychomania" is definitely better than either of the "Ghost Rider" films.
As always, Arrow Video brings us the best possible version of the movie in terms of picture and sound, and pack in the extras. We get a brand-new interview with star Nicky Henson and "Hell for Leather", a brand-new featurette on the company who supplied the film's costumes (which is more interesting than you might think). Brought over fro ma previous Severin release, we have "Return of the Living Dead", an archive featurette containing interviews actors Henson, Mary Larkin, Denis Gilmore, Roy Holder and Rocky Taylor and "Sound of Psychomania", an archive interview with composer John Cameron. Heck, we even get "Riding Free", an archive interview with 'Riding Free' singer Harvey Andrews proving he can still play (and sing) the tune decades later.
A very brief feature (roughly 2 minutes) us "Remastering Psychomania", a look at the film's restoration from the original 35mm black and white separation masters. If you're like me and are still learning the difference between 2K, 4K, interpositive, and other terms of the Blu-ray era, this is a great crash course on what is done to make an old film pop like new.
The film started out as a production from Benmar Productions, which predominately made Spaghetti Westerns in Spain (such as "Captain Apache") but also produced "Horror Express" the year prior. Then along came this script, which was either titled "Psychomania" or "Death Wheelers" (sources seem to disagree equally on the "correct" title). Interestingly, today "Horror Express" is a minor classic, but "Death Wheelers" is forgotten. Why?
All the right ingredients are here for the perfect blend of cult classic and respectful film. On the respectable side, you have DP Ted Moore, who had shot several James Bond films and had already won an Oscar for "A Man for All Seasons" (1966). Would an Oscar winner make a bad film? And composer John Cameron is well known for his many film, TV and stage credits, and for his contributions to "pop" recordings, notably those by Donovan, Cilla Black and the group Hot Chocolate. So say what you will, but the camera and sound are as good as any big budget film.
On the cult side, you have a great cast of B-movie veterans: Denis Gilmore (Village of the Damned), Nicky Henson (Witchfinder General), Beryl Reid (Dr. Phibes Rises Again) and more. While none of them are big names, that role is filled by George Sanders, a giant in the world of cinema (who, quite frankly, was slumming it here in his final role). Some key moments -- such as the baby in the supermarket -- make this a timeless exploitation gem, and you have to give them credit for beating Roger Corman's "Death Race 2000" (1975) in some respects.
When you talk about low budget films, it is dun to note where the (little) money goes. Interestingly, the film's single biggest expense was the mechanics, because (according to Nicky Henson) eight full-time mechanics were needed to keep the motorcycles running. The studio could not afford top-end bikes (especially if they were going to be wrecked), but probably spent almost as much getting these lesser bikes to stay operational. The only expensive cast member was legendary actor George Sanders, so shooting was scheduled around him to get him off the set in five days.
The biggest unforeseen expense may have been for stunt man Cliff Deakins, who might have ended up in the hospital three times during filming if the on-set stories are correct. He found himself hitting walls (and water) harder than intended. According to IMDb, this film is his only credit, which really leaves me wondering where he came from and where he went.
Apparently, this movie was almost universally hated in the 1970s, both by critics and the cast. Respect has grown for it ever since, and rightfully so. While not outright scary in any way, and without the deepest plot or dialogue, it really is a fun, twisted film and a great concept. The subgenre of "supernatural motorcycle riders" is small, but "Psychomania" is definitely better than either of the "Ghost Rider" films.
As always, Arrow Video brings us the best possible version of the movie in terms of picture and sound, and pack in the extras. We get a brand-new interview with star Nicky Henson and "Hell for Leather", a brand-new featurette on the company who supplied the film's costumes (which is more interesting than you might think). Brought over fro ma previous Severin release, we have "Return of the Living Dead", an archive featurette containing interviews actors Henson, Mary Larkin, Denis Gilmore, Roy Holder and Rocky Taylor and "Sound of Psychomania", an archive interview with composer John Cameron. Heck, we even get "Riding Free", an archive interview with 'Riding Free' singer Harvey Andrews proving he can still play (and sing) the tune decades later.
A very brief feature (roughly 2 minutes) us "Remastering Psychomania", a look at the film's restoration from the original 35mm black and white separation masters. If you're like me and are still learning the difference between 2K, 4K, interpositive, and other terms of the Blu-ray era, this is a great crash course on what is done to make an old film pop like new.
Undeveloped ideas
Igenlode Wordsmith24 April 2007
Warning: Spoilers
"Psychomania" was billed as a horror-comedy; it is odd how often those two genres seem to run together, and with what success. Laughter provides release from the unbearable, and an acknowledgement of frankly ludicrous gore, while of course many comic set-ups revolve around situations that are objectively very frightening. Unfortunately, I found this particular film far more confusing than amusing, let alone scary; the acting is frequently very flat, the pacing is alternately self-indulgently slow and far too disconnected for menace, and for me the only moments of actual terror came from watching the stuntmen do the falls and waiting and waiting for the camera to cut away before they hit the ground for real...
I've often seen films that feature unnecessary exposition in case the audience might not get the point -- this is the first one I can remember in a long time that seemed to need extra exposition to explain what on earth was going on. I don't think the toads are ever made clear, and nor is the role of the forbidden room: or the spectacles found there. Tom's mother seems happy for her husband and son to attempt to become undead (there is an implication early on that Shadwell 'never gets any older' either, although this is again mixed up with the apparently-unrelated toads), and yet she panics when Jane returns as well, issuing a warning that the girl has become "evil". We are shown a flashback scene in which Mrs Latham appears to be making some kind of sacrifice at the stones involving the infant Tom, but this is never explained and doesn't seem to be related to the whole 'undead bikers' plot, since all the others become undead just as easily.
In fact, the whole Satanist element of the plot (and I wouldn't have recognised it as such if it hadn't been so categorised in the programme notes) seems to have very little connection with the rest of the film, save for providing a /deus ex machina/ -- also unexplained -- by which to dispose of the bikers at the end of the picture. When Abby decides to kill herself, she dreams that her happy afterlife with Tom is interrupted by a toad-related autopsy: again, I just don't understand how this fits in, especially as Mrs Latham and Shadwell seem to be generally well-disposed towards her.
I'm afraid there are moments of distinctly bad acting on display, in particular among the young cast. As the smirking Tom, Nicky Henson looks the part but doesn't always sound it, and most of his gang are for all purposes indistinguishable until an especially flat line reading shows up. It was the presence of George Sanders in the cast list that initially drew my attention to this film, but while he manages to invest his role with enigma the script doesn't provide it with any actual meaning.
All in all, I found this film simply a disappointing mess, succeeding neither as horror, satire, or comedy deliberate or inadvertent. It doesn't even fit the "so bad it's good" category and shows no sign of intelligence or character development, although it does manage a few genuine laughs around the theme of suicide. I'm not averse to a decent chiller or a good black comedy, but this doesn't deliver along those lines -- it's more of an "eh-what?", a poorly-digested mishmash.
I've often seen films that feature unnecessary exposition in case the audience might not get the point -- this is the first one I can remember in a long time that seemed to need extra exposition to explain what on earth was going on. I don't think the toads are ever made clear, and nor is the role of the forbidden room: or the spectacles found there. Tom's mother seems happy for her husband and son to attempt to become undead (there is an implication early on that Shadwell 'never gets any older' either, although this is again mixed up with the apparently-unrelated toads), and yet she panics when Jane returns as well, issuing a warning that the girl has become "evil". We are shown a flashback scene in which Mrs Latham appears to be making some kind of sacrifice at the stones involving the infant Tom, but this is never explained and doesn't seem to be related to the whole 'undead bikers' plot, since all the others become undead just as easily.
In fact, the whole Satanist element of the plot (and I wouldn't have recognised it as such if it hadn't been so categorised in the programme notes) seems to have very little connection with the rest of the film, save for providing a /deus ex machina/ -- also unexplained -- by which to dispose of the bikers at the end of the picture. When Abby decides to kill herself, she dreams that her happy afterlife with Tom is interrupted by a toad-related autopsy: again, I just don't understand how this fits in, especially as Mrs Latham and Shadwell seem to be generally well-disposed towards her.
I'm afraid there are moments of distinctly bad acting on display, in particular among the young cast. As the smirking Tom, Nicky Henson looks the part but doesn't always sound it, and most of his gang are for all purposes indistinguishable until an especially flat line reading shows up. It was the presence of George Sanders in the cast list that initially drew my attention to this film, but while he manages to invest his role with enigma the script doesn't provide it with any actual meaning.
All in all, I found this film simply a disappointing mess, succeeding neither as horror, satire, or comedy deliberate or inadvertent. It doesn't even fit the "so bad it's good" category and shows no sign of intelligence or character development, although it does manage a few genuine laughs around the theme of suicide. I'm not averse to a decent chiller or a good black comedy, but this doesn't deliver along those lines -- it's more of an "eh-what?", a poorly-digested mishmash.
What does the title have to do with the film? Who knows!
trouserpress20 August 2004
I've just watched this great film, and I just can't believe I haven't watched it sooner. What a movie! It's got everything a great seventies horror should have - groovy music (very reminiscent of Air's soundtrack for The Virgin Suicides), a well-spoken biker gang, hilarious suicide attempts, the living dead, as well as a bizarre occult fascination with frogs. Or were they toads? Who cares. It's a great film anyway, and I was pleasantly suprised at it's total lack of sex and gore. It just goes to show that you can have an entertaining horror film without resorting to exploitation.
And as for suprise endings, well, you'll never see this one coming, I promise you!
And as for suprise endings, well, you'll never see this one coming, I promise you!
Rubbish But Entertaining Rubbish
Theo Robertson19 March 2004
I remember seeing PSYCHOMANIA as a child when it was broadcast one Friday night many years ago and I also remember liking it very much . Having just seen it again minutes ago I`ve come to the conclusion that it`s a ridiculous movie but it still remains a very likable movie
Yes it`s total and absolute rubbish with a plot that doesn`t bare scrutiny , some totally unconvincing performances by actors who`d be at home on some provincial stage , lines that will have you laughing out loud complete with some cheesy folk and rock muzak but that`s the whole point of why I found this movie an entertaining experience . I could remember much of the dialouge and scenes from my childhood and after seeing them again they`re just as I remember them , scenes like the policeman asking the guitar playing tearaway to " Come down here " and the bit where the cops hide in the mortuary with the camera turning 360 degrees to show ... ah but that would be telling . If I have a problem with the movie it`s down to the fact that the script is a little thread bare and very uncomplicated which means it`s not a movie you can watch over and over again , and it should be pointed out the ending is a bit of a cop out but if I had the choice of watching this to a prize winning art house flick I`d watch PSYCHOMANIA everytime
Oh and in case anyone is wondering where they`ve seen the desk constable at the police station he`s the legendary John Levene who used to play Sgt Benton in DOCTOR WHO
Yes it`s total and absolute rubbish with a plot that doesn`t bare scrutiny , some totally unconvincing performances by actors who`d be at home on some provincial stage , lines that will have you laughing out loud complete with some cheesy folk and rock muzak but that`s the whole point of why I found this movie an entertaining experience . I could remember much of the dialouge and scenes from my childhood and after seeing them again they`re just as I remember them , scenes like the policeman asking the guitar playing tearaway to " Come down here " and the bit where the cops hide in the mortuary with the camera turning 360 degrees to show ... ah but that would be telling . If I have a problem with the movie it`s down to the fact that the script is a little thread bare and very uncomplicated which means it`s not a movie you can watch over and over again , and it should be pointed out the ending is a bit of a cop out but if I had the choice of watching this to a prize winning art house flick I`d watch PSYCHOMANIA everytime
Oh and in case anyone is wondering where they`ve seen the desk constable at the police station he`s the legendary John Levene who used to play Sgt Benton in DOCTOR WHO
It's Hip To Be A Motorbike Riding Zombie
andrew-traynor129 March 2005
Nicky Henson leads a bike gang called The Living Dead. Cool! His mum Beryl Reid (yes, Beryl Reid) dabbles in the black arts. Groovy! Henson uses her powers to resurrect himself and his gang from the grave. Happening! But his girlfriend doesn't want to follow him into the afterlife. Square! Supposedly a horror film but as my oh-so-subtle comments imply it's far too eager to appeal to a hip and swinging early 70's audience to be at all frightening. Some bits are fun; all the bike chases, Henson revving his machine out of a grave, the series of suicides set to funky music. I'm also immensely glad that people make this kind of picture. But I think I prefer writing 'zombie biker film' more than I do actually watching the things. So: zombie biker film. I'm done.
maturing like an old wine
grunsel5 November 2000
For years after its release, this movie was considered as juvenile, sensationalist trash. It was also 'allegedly' one of the reasons the veteran actor George Sanders made the ultimate career move - after his involvement with the film. However with today's young directors pre-occupied with concrete, drugs and misery, this old film now looks quite stylish and appears to be maturing like a cheerful old wine.
Somebody Bring Out A "Special Edition" For This One, Please!
ferbs5412 November 2007
In the 1971 British film "Psychomania," we are asked to believe that it is possible for a person who commits suicide to return from the dead, if only he/she really wants to enough, AND if he/she has made a pact with a certain frog-worshipping devil cult beforehand. Anyway, Tom, leader of the biker gang The Living Dead, decides to give it a go, and after crashing his hog off a bridge, does indeed come back to life, full throttle, as it were. He convinces the rest of his co-ed gang to follow suit, and pretty soon, The Living Dead is living up to its name, immortally causing mischief and homicide around the countryside... A one-of-a-kind film that must surely have an adoring cult somewhere, "Psychomania" is one fun experience indeed. The film is well shot, and features lots of nifty motorcycle stunt riding; while perhaps not in the same league as the amazing stunts in "The Road Warrior" (1982), they are still pretty exhilarating. Some sections of the movie are downright trippy, and almost make me wish I'd viewed this film "doobied out" in a theatre back in my college days. A freaky fuzz guitar score adds to the mood greatly. And fans of the urbane and impeccably enunciating George Sanders will be interested to see this great actor in his last role, before his suicide a short time later. (As "The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film" drolly reports, he "did not return on a motorcycle.") Though never especially scary, "Psychomania" never fails to amuse and amaze, and certainly deserves all the positive word of mouth that it has accrued over the years. As for the DVD that I just watched itself, it looks just fine, but is absolutely without frills; not even chapter stops. If ever a horror film warranted a "special edition," this is the one!
Goofy, but hard to resist
InjunNose18 January 2010
I mean, come on...George Sanders, biker thugs who return from the dead, and a creepy, wah wah-drenched soundtrack. What's not to like? "Psychomania" isn't the kind of film you overanalyze; it's the kind of film you sit back and enjoy for the simple pleasure it offers. Nicky Henson (Ian Ogilvy's buddy in "The Conqueror Worm") might have been embarrassed about starring in this low-budget scare flick, but he does a very respectable job as Tom, the smirking rebel without a cause who wants to live forever. Beryl Reid plays his enigmatic, oddly passive mother, a medium who wants Tom to stay away from the mysterious room in which his father died. The terrific George Sanders is their butler, Shadwell. He seems fairly harmless at first, but his sinister significance becomes apparent soon enough. Lots of eerie moments and a nice, gloomy, '60s-gone-sour atmosphere. Watch "Psychomania" late at night, all by yourself, with the lights out :)
A Motorcyclist Obsessed with Death
Uriah4320 February 2019
"Tom Latham" (Nicky Henson) is a young man who is obsessed with death. To be more specific, he is obsessed with dying and then returning back to life. He is also a cruel and vicious young man who is the leader of a motorcycle gang known as "the Living Dead" and for sport they enjoy terrorizing the people around them. Not coincidentally, his mother dabbles in the occult and one day tells him the secret of returning from the dead. Armed with this knowledge he commits suicide and after he is buried does indeed return. Only this time he is even more cruel and to that end seeks to convince his old gang to kill themselves so that they can become just like him and inflict as much pain and suffering to all of the innocent people they can find. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an interesting biker-zombie combination which started out pretty good and maintained my interest pretty much from start to finish. Unfortunately, I didn't especially care for the ending which I thought could have used significant improvement and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.
Late Night Memories
Richard_Dominguez20 May 2017
Imagine If You Will Me At 13 Years Old And My First TV In My Own Bedroom ... Imagine Working Hard All Week So I Can Stay Up Late Saturday Night And Watch Late Night TV And "Psychomania" Is The Movie I Watch ... My First (Undead, Zombie) Back From The Dead Movie ... Of Course Not The Movie I Remember In The Dark Of A Late Night Saturday But Still Interesting And A Good Watch ... Yes Campy And Outdated This Movie Never Offers A Dull Moment ...
Another Dog!
sanzar26 October 1999
Warning: Spoilers
Screen this one along with "Werewolves on Wheels" for a truly ludicrous double bill of mind numbing proportions.
A motorcycle gang, led by rich snot Nicky Henson, commit suicide and return as "The Living Dead" (which, "wittily", is also the name of their gang), thanks to the magical powers invoked by Sanders "Frog cult". The gang then spends the better part of the film's running time playing chicken with various and sundry motorists and pedestrians, a pastime that they plan on pursuing for all eternity (which proves that they were Brain-Dead before becoming Un-Dead).
The gang gets there comeuppance at the end when a frog cult ritual turns them to stone, a condition already afflicting unlucky viewers.
The film makes no sense. I thought, perhaps, I should look at it again to see if I missed something, but common sense prevailed.
A motorcycle gang, led by rich snot Nicky Henson, commit suicide and return as "The Living Dead" (which, "wittily", is also the name of their gang), thanks to the magical powers invoked by Sanders "Frog cult". The gang then spends the better part of the film's running time playing chicken with various and sundry motorists and pedestrians, a pastime that they plan on pursuing for all eternity (which proves that they were Brain-Dead before becoming Un-Dead).
The gang gets there comeuppance at the end when a frog cult ritual turns them to stone, a condition already afflicting unlucky viewers.
The film makes no sense. I thought, perhaps, I should look at it again to see if I missed something, but common sense prevailed.
Bad, yes, but eerily affecting
time_waster19 June 2020
Psychomania/The Death Wheelers is not a good movie by any objective measure, but it has its own brand of eerie charm that makes it worthwhile, if you set your expectations properly.
Headed up by the charismatic Nicky Henson and the ethereally beautiful Mary Larkin, Psychomania (the title under which I first encountered it as a young boy in 1977) tells the tale of a biker gang whose devil-worsipping leader learns how to return from the dead. He convinces most of the gang to off themselves in order to return as indesctructible hooligans, but Abby (played by Ms. Larkin) is still a holdout.
The ending (which I will not spoil here) sees the bad guys suffer one of the worst fates imaginable. Truly creepy, and absolutely sold by Larkin's performance. A great and overlooked British b-movie classic, Psychomania is well worth a view.
Headed up by the charismatic Nicky Henson and the ethereally beautiful Mary Larkin, Psychomania (the title under which I first encountered it as a young boy in 1977) tells the tale of a biker gang whose devil-worsipping leader learns how to return from the dead. He convinces most of the gang to off themselves in order to return as indesctructible hooligans, but Abby (played by Ms. Larkin) is still a holdout.
The ending (which I will not spoil here) sees the bad guys suffer one of the worst fates imaginable. Truly creepy, and absolutely sold by Larkin's performance. A great and overlooked British b-movie classic, Psychomania is well worth a view.
I don't want to see anyone tonight. Not even your dead son?
mark.waltz13 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
A vile piece of British horror trash about a truly hideous gang of bikers who terrorize England as back from the dead demons thanks to the pendant placed into the grave of Nicky Henson, the son of a devil worshiper (Beryl Reid), aided by her butler, George Sanders in his last film. Watching this gang of thugs at work is truly unpleasant, their actions barbaric and without reason other than to destroy people that don't even know as they go on their merry path of destruction.
Why Sanders and Reid would see fit to participate in such a horrendous motion picture is one of the greatest movie making mysteries of all time as there's nothing artistic or memorable in this film, and even their involvement in law plot isn't all that interesting. In fact, it's one of the most ridiculously stupid horror movies I've ever seen, and I have seen hundreds of them that defy any sense of sensibility into being made. This also seems like something that would have been made in the mid-60s so it was horribly dated from the moment of its release.
Why Sanders and Reid would see fit to participate in such a horrendous motion picture is one of the greatest movie making mysteries of all time as there's nothing artistic or memorable in this film, and even their involvement in law plot isn't all that interesting. In fact, it's one of the most ridiculously stupid horror movies I've ever seen, and I have seen hundreds of them that defy any sense of sensibility into being made. This also seems like something that would have been made in the mid-60s so it was horribly dated from the moment of its release.
Yay!
jagaleigh23 May 2003
Ok, kiddies. My whole life I have been a horror film junky. My parents, being the lovely and supportive folks that they are, always bought or rented me these bloody movies when I was a kid. As a gift on my 11th Christmas, I got Psychomania.
I will always thank my parents for giving me this movie. It's great and cheesey in all the right ways and scary in all the ways a movie can be. It's creepy good fun! RENT IT NOW. Please. :)
I will always thank my parents for giving me this movie. It's great and cheesey in all the right ways and scary in all the ways a movie can be. It's creepy good fun! RENT IT NOW. Please. :)
Use your own imagination
ccoutroulos2 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
One of the other posters thinks there is insufficient exposition of some aspects of the plot. On the contrary, I think one of the strong points of the film is that you have to use your imagination to "connect the dots" as best you can. Is the seance genuine, faked, or is a demon impersonating the dead child? What happened to Tom's father? What is Shadwell? The devil? (He recoils at the sight of the cross.) What is the significance of the frogs? (Some of the other posters thought they were objects of worship. The conclusion I came to is that they are the souls of people who had broken their pacts with the devil. This is certainly the case with Tom's mother.) How does the gang kill the policemen in the gruesomely funny morgue scene? Does Abby really escape or is Shadwell coming to claim her at the end? (She did, after all, take part in at least one murder.)
Not a masterpiece, but good bad fun.
Not a masterpiece, but good bad fun.
I'm so bored
yv_es9 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
After reading many of the other reviews, I feel those reviewers must have watched a different film than I did. Other reviewers speak of a film with "dreamy visuals", some good action and dark comedy, plus a nice helping of campy occult motorcycle madness. And indeed, that does sound like a great film! Even the name "Psychomania" conjures up LSD tinged trips through the wastelands of the video nasties.
By the Psychomania I watched was not that film. Instead I wasted an hour and half watching a rather boring, rather tame film whose was not even nearly trashy enough to be entertaining. Whatever cult this film belongs to, I don't any part of it.
The highlight of Psychomania are probably the motorcycle stunts. The long boring stretches are livened up a bit by some genuinely impressive stuntwork and some really nice action shots. I do also like when the motorcycle gang goes "rampaging" through polite society, although the delinquency on display here practically feels tame, especially compared to that found in earlier work such as "A Clockwork Orange" or in other films from the early 70s.
Oh and the occult/horror bits? Well they are there. This is a frog. There is magic. People rise from the dead and kill other people. Except these zombies look exactly the same as when they were alive, and you never actually see how anyone is killed. Everyone just seems to drop dead from freight. Or maybe they just all just feel asleep watching this film.
There's really not much else to say. And that's the problem. Maybe this film once had it place, but there are so many better films from this era. Psychomania's problem is that, while it is definitely not a good film, it's also just not over the top enough, or campy enough, or unique enough to leave much of an impression, even when compared to other films from the period.
I came expecting some trashy motorcycle mayhem and rode off sorely disappointed.
By the Psychomania I watched was not that film. Instead I wasted an hour and half watching a rather boring, rather tame film whose was not even nearly trashy enough to be entertaining. Whatever cult this film belongs to, I don't any part of it.
The highlight of Psychomania are probably the motorcycle stunts. The long boring stretches are livened up a bit by some genuinely impressive stuntwork and some really nice action shots. I do also like when the motorcycle gang goes "rampaging" through polite society, although the delinquency on display here practically feels tame, especially compared to that found in earlier work such as "A Clockwork Orange" or in other films from the early 70s.
Oh and the occult/horror bits? Well they are there. This is a frog. There is magic. People rise from the dead and kill other people. Except these zombies look exactly the same as when they were alive, and you never actually see how anyone is killed. Everyone just seems to drop dead from freight. Or maybe they just all just feel asleep watching this film.
There's really not much else to say. And that's the problem. Maybe this film once had it place, but there are so many better films from this era. Psychomania's problem is that, while it is definitely not a good film, it's also just not over the top enough, or campy enough, or unique enough to leave much of an impression, even when compared to other films from the period.
I came expecting some trashy motorcycle mayhem and rode off sorely disappointed.
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