TaryBiggBall
It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.
Monkeywess
This is an astonishing documentary that will wring your heart while it bends your mind
Guillelmina
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
morrison-dylan-fan
Taking a look at a "Cult Movie" Shout Factory box set that a family friend has recently picked up,I was surprised to find that one of the movies was co-writer's John Milius feature film debut,which led to me getting ready to find out how devilish the 8 could be.The plot:Grabbing 6 convicts just before they are sent for a life behind bars,FBI agent Ray Faulkner takes the gang to a remote countryside location.Finding each of them to be confrontational,Faulkner tells the gang that they each have a choice:they can either spend their lives in jail,or get freedom by helping him to take down ruthless Moonshine maker Burl.Tempted by Faulkner's offer,the gang start going after some Moonshine.View on the film:Despite being the first movie and working on it as a co-writer (along with Larry Gordon/Willard Huyck & James Gordon White) the screenplay is covered in the paw marks of John Milius.Milius uses the outback location to give an outline to some of his later themes,as the gang find themselves in gritty shootouts whilst trying to get a connection with their wild life surroundings for an advantage on Burl. Whilst John Milius builds the foundations for his later work,director Burt Topper guzzles Moonshine down and offers a terrific mix of tough men on a mission crime movie with a thigh- tapping Drive-In slide.Helped by Shout Factory giving the title a very good transfer, Topper covers the film in a golden brown which allows for the fights to spark across the screen,and the mistrust that the rest of the gang have for Faulkner (played by a wonderful Christopher George) to be given a rough, rustic atmosphere,as the gang reveal how devilishly hateful the eight can be.
Scott LeBrun
Aptly described by the other reviews here as "Thunder Road" meets "The Dirty Dozen", "The Devil's 8" is just pure fun. The filmmakers have a good time with the premise and deliver an acceptable amount of thrills, spills, and titillation in 99 straightforward minutes. Capably produced and directed by Burt Topper ("The Strangler", "The Hard Ride"), it features some enjoyable location work - it was filmed partly in the Big Bear Lake area - and a peppy music score by Mike Curb and Michael Lloyd. (Trust me, you'll be humming that theme song long after the movie is finished.) The cast is stocked with familiar faces and the story leads to a pretty good action-packed finish.Christopher George delivers a very engaging performance as Ray Faulkner, a federal agent who busts several prisoners - part of the "Devil's 8" of the title - out of a work camp so that they can be made to work for the government. Their mission will be to make life miserable for various moonshiners led by Burl (Ralph Meeker), and ultimately, to take Burl alive so he can be pumped for information. Along the way the scrappy young bunch take time out to pursue members of the fairer sex and indulge in what is a good old fashioned barroom brawl.Other members of the cast include singer Fabian as Sonny, Tom Nardini ("Cat Ballou") as Billy Joe, Cliff Osmond ("Invasion of the Bee Girls") as Bubba, biker flick veteran Larry Bishop ("The Savage Seven") as Chandler, Robert DoQui (Sgt. Reed in the "RoboCop" series) as Henry, Kubrick regular Joe Turkel ("The Shining") as Sam, and Ron Rifkin ("L.A. Confidential") as timid federal agent Stewart Martin. Ross Hagen ("The Hellcats") is particularly good as Frank, whose involvement in the mission is personal, and sexy Leslie Parrish ("The Giant Spider Invasion") is delightful eye candy as Franks' lady friend Cissy. Look for Georges' wife Lynda Day George in an uncredited bit as Faulkners' girlfriend.Overall, this is routine but it still delivers the goods for lovers of this sort of thing.Screenplay by James Gordon White and future directors John Milius ("Red Dawn") and Willard Huyck ("Messiah of Evil"), based on a story by Larry Gordon.Seven out of 10.
Rwwood48
a guy in a blue Dodge,and guy out side the car training the guys with a hand grenade. He tells the guy in the car to go to the end,and drop it into the barrel. The guy complains,and the trainer guy "Pulls the pin",and says "Shut-up...you've got 10 seconds"! I remember them raiding the still. Was made in 1969 I thought the movie was older than that.There was a lot of good "Moonshine" movies that are now classics of the film noir "Thunder Road","The Roaring Twenties" with James Cagney,and Hunphry Bogart. I consider this movie a classic.Christopher George went on to do TV shows.Was a good actor. does anyone know if this is on DVD?
revtg1-3
A low budget pot boiler made really enjoyable by a highly talented cast. First of all, Ray Faulkner (Christopher George) drafts, not recruits, six lifer convicts to help him destroy a moonshine gang and capture the leader (Ralph Meeker). He (Faulkner) is the seventh and he is joined by another federal agent later to make the eight. Meeker and George are underemployed in these roles and therefore it is easy for them to stand out. The plot is Faulkner will train these men in high speed "demolition derby" driving, hand to hand combat, use of explosives and firearms and then take them to Meeker's territory to disrupt his moonshine operation. Be forewarned, the special effects are really bad. Film editing is sub-standard. But all the character actors turn in solid, convincing roles, including Fabian Forte, who acts better than he ever sang, which is not a high compliment. A lot of well known actors tried to make moonshine movies, among them Richard Widmak and Gergory Peck. The difference is this movie never tries to be serious. Get a six pack, sit back and be entertained. It's lightweight but it never slows down. I watch it at least once a year and I still enjoy it.
