Knightriders
DVD Anchor Bay Entertainment
1981, 145 minutes
Rated R 

review by Lee Peterson

After altering the world of horror cinema forever with his groundbreaking, ultra-gory zombie hit Dawn of the Dead , writer/director George A. Romero switched gears (and confused many of his fans) with an epic, 2-and-a-half hour twist on the King Arthur legend. Knightriders did next-to zero box office, but slowly gained a cult following through early cable TV airings and infrequent video incarnations. 

King William (Ed Harris, in his first major role) leads a carnival troupe of motorcyclists who travel from town to town staging authentic medieval jousting competitions (authentic, that is, except for the motorcycles). The combatants wear full suits of armor, wield lances, battle-axes and maces. Imagine the Hell's Angels opened a "Medieval Times" theme restaurant, and you're in the ballpark. 

Cracks are beginning to form in the knightriders' idyllic, Camelot-like exterior. King William is recovering from injuries received while fighting second-in-command Morgan (special effects god Tom Savini). A rematch will determine who will be king. National attention in the competitions has brought Corporate America sniffing around, threatening to corrupt the troupe's fairy tale existence. 

Romero followers will find plenty of familiar faces in Knightriders . In addition to frequent collaborator Savini (who turns in a great performance, in his meatiest role ever), Martin 's John Amplas and Christine (Mrs. George) Romero, Dawn of the Dead 's Ken Foree and Scott Reiniger, and Patricia Tallman (Barbara in Savini's Night of the Living Dead remake) all make appearances. Stephen King and his wife Tabitha cameo as beer-guzzling trailer-park trash (King and Romero would later collaborate on Creepshow , which co-starred Ed Harris). 

Anchor Bay Entertainment presents Knightriders in a gorgeous widescreen (1.85:1, 16X9 enhanced) transfer with a clean, sharp image and accurate, if slightly dull, hues (the colors have always been a bit washed out, so it must have been intentional).  The Dolby Digital Mono sound is perfectly fine, but a 5.1 remix would've been cool, too. 

An audio commentary track with George Romero, actor/stunt coordinator Tom Savini, actress Christine Romero, actor/casting director John, and film historian Chris Stavrakis. Like the commentary on Anchor Bay's Martin disc, it's an informative and entertaining trip through every aspect of the film's production. Savini is loaded with anecdotes, and Romero has an uncanny memory for the tiniest of details. 

Approximately 15 minutes of silent, behind-the-scenes home movies and the original trailer (also letterboxed at 1.85:1) comprise the bonus features. 

Ambitious and passionate (if a bit overlong at 145 minutes), George A. Romero's Knightriders has finally found its home on video. Toss out your well-worn VHS copies--this is the definitive video version, and it's about damn time. 

Official Website:

http://www.anchorbayentertainment.com