''Northville Cemetery Massacre'' is a 1976

outlaw biker film The outlaw biker film is a film genre that portrays its characters as motorcycle riding rebels. The characters are usually members of an outlaw motorcycle club. History Outlaw biker clubs formed in the late 1940s on the West Coast after the en ...

written and directed by

William Dear William Dear (born November 30, 1943) is a Canadian actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He is known for directing the films ''Harry and the Hendersons'', '' If Looks Could Kill'', '' Angels in the Outfield'', '' Wild America'', and ''San ...

and Thomas L. Dyke.

Nick Nolte Nicholas King Nolte (born February 8, 1941) is an American actor. He won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for the 1991 film ''The Prince of Tides''. He received ...

did an uncredited

voice over Voice-over (also known as off-camera or off-stage commentary) is a production technique where a voice—that is not part of the narrative (non- diegetic)—is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations. ...

for the film's lead actor, David Hyry.

Plot

outlaw motorcycle club An outlaw motorcycle club is a motorcycle subculture generally centered on the use of cruiser motorcycles, particularly Harley-Davidsons and choppers, and a set of ideals that purport to celebrate freedom, nonconformity to mainstream culture, ...

commits illegal acts, but only to make a point against police corruption. They are normally law-abiding, even going so far as to help an elderly couple whose car stops running. When a police officer rapes a woman, he frames the crime on the bikers. The town's citizens attack the gang in revenge, leading to a battle.

Production

William Dear asked

Michael Nesmith Robert Michael Nesmith or Mike Nesmith, (December 30, 1942 – December 10, 2021) was an American musician, songwriter, and actor. He was best known as a member of the pop rock band the Monkees and co-star of the TV series ''The Monkees'' (1966� ...

to compose the film's music and Nesmith agreed. The film's crew was unable to pay him, but he composed the music for free. The author Steven Puchalski referred to the film as the "perfect funeral wreath to the biker movie phenomenon". It was filmed using 16 mm film.

Reception

Bill Gibron, writing for ''DVD Verdict'', said, "amid all its gory, blood-soaked brazenness, there's a message about personal and public perspective that is awfully hard to miss". Scott Weinberg, of ''DVD Talk'', said, "Highly recommended to anyone who's old enough to remember and appreciate this type of low-budget, down & dirty, occasionally terrible but entirely watchable genre fare." A ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corpora ...

'' review said, "Unimaginatively directed and too bloody for words".

Home media

The film was released on VHS under ''Northville Cemetery Massacre'', as well as ''Freedom R.I.P.'' and ''Harley's Angels''. It was released on DVD in 2006 with three commentaries, behind the scenes pictures, previous film posters, three film trailers, and biographies. The DVD is the 30th Anniversary Director's Cut.

References

External links

* * * * {{William Dear 1976 films Motorcycling films 1970s crime films Films directed by William Dear Outlaw biker films Golan-Globus films Films with screenplays by William Dear 1970s English-language films