User Reviews

Wings Hauser and Linda Blair met on the set of Bedroom Eyes II in 1989 and were a couple until 1994. Along the way, they made this film, which is also known as Gang Boys. Hauser co-wrote and directed this movie, which depicts the battles between a married couple, their gay son and an army of skinheads out to take over Los Angeles.

Joe and Maggie Joiner (Hauser and Blair) separated after he started drinking to deal with his life as a police officer. He's since moved to Mexico so he can drink himself to death while she becomes a singer in bars. However, when they're gay son is beaten by Nazi skinheads, she has to get him off the alcohol, get his ass into shape and get some revenge.

This movie is absolutely insane, like American History X as made by stars who have only been in exploitation movies for the last decade - which is exactly what it is. Stranger still, the main skinhead Bentz is played by Wings' son Cole, which you should remember when the scene comes where the skins beat the night train out of a drunken Joe and then urinate all over him.

Somehow, this movie has more montages than all of the 1980's put together, which range from drunken nightmares of bloody Nazi symbols and Wings' daughter Cali Lili as an angel to a Rocky get back in shape and run up the mountain moment to nu metal screaming flashes of light as the Nazi kids hang out in their headquarters - which is surprisingly rad - and then, of course, Wings and Linda play a game of hide the Nazi. You know what I mean - loading the clown into the cannon. Taking grandma to Applebee's. I could go on.

Somehow, a movie this sleazy also features musical numbers from both of its leads, as well as the son being berated by his father for his lifestyle in language that was common in 1994 and woefully insane in 2019. That kid's name in the movie? Marjoe Joiner, which is a fabulous name I'll be using in restaurants for years to come (I often check in as George Eastman or Bruno Mattei).

Beano also shows up. Yes, the guy who played Luigi Pappalardo from Deathrow Gameshow. When I saw his name come up in the credits, I knew instantly who he was, yet can tell you nothing about my extended family.

At the end of all this, Wings and Linda gather everyone on Hollywood Boulevard that the skins screwed with, unite the Crips and Bloods, then attack them in their lair in a scene that feels trapped on a soundstage, kind of like Streets of Fire, but it's Linda Blair, Wings Hauser, their gay son and street gangs beating up Wings Hauser's real-life son and a room full of fake Nazis.

Basically, this is why I watch movies. The ending even teases me with a sequel that I know I'm never going to get. 9 billion stars out of 5. Alert the Academy.

Anyone here like cheese? Look no further than Gang Boys. You won't be disappointed.

Washed out alcoholic ex-cop Joe Joiner,(Wings Hauser, who also writes and directs) is contacted by his ex wife Maggie(Linda Blair) after their 15 year old gay son is beaten and sexually abused by a gang of evil Neo Nazi skinheads, led with relish by Wings' son Cole. It's up to Wings to remember his responsibilities as a father, and kick skinhead ass, which he does with gusto.

Critically, Gang Boys is atrocious, but in the sheer cheesy entertainment stakes it's awesome. It has wild overacting by Cole Hauser, and illogical scenarios such as a bunch of street skins having a rather spiffy lair, complete with sinister strategic mood lighting, and an honest to god swastika for a floor. It also has about 57 montage sequences, the funniest being Wings getting back in shape.(think of a flabby, sweaty alcoholic Rocky and you're halfway there)

It's also surprisingly sleazy, with rape scenes and Hauser getting peed on. Basically it's a hoot, and a great beer-or-whatever-your-vice-flick. Besides, Wings Hauser + Linda Blair + montages vs skinheads = entertainment.

Joe Joiner (Wings) was an L. A. cop, but after a certain unfortunate incident, he left the force, fled to Mexico, and now lives on a boat. As a full-time alcoholic, he's constantly drowning his sorrows. When his fifteen-year-old son Marjoe (Buzzotta) is assaulted by a gang of skinheads, his mother Maggie (Blair) reaches out to Joe. After seeing with his own eyes the menace that this gang of skinheads is causing in the Hollywood area, Joe begs Maggie and Marjoe to help him kick the booze once and for all. On his road to recovery, not only does he attempt to repair the fractured relationships in his life, he also has a simple yet ingenious plan to deal with the local skinhead population - permanently. But will leader of the GANG BOYS, Bentz (Cole Hauser) prove to be the ultimate demon - out of the many that he has - for Joe Joiner?

Sandwiched in between Romper Stomper (1992) and American History X (1998), Gang Boys proves to be an undiscovered gem in the Wings canon. At least it features way more actual skinheads than Skinheads: The Second Coming of Hate (1989), which had surprisingly few. This must have been a passion project for Wings, as he directed, co-wrote, and co-produced the film, and even sang a song on the soundtrack. His wife Cali, his son Cole, and his daughter Bright also act in the film, so it really was a family affair. It's interesting subject matter for them to cover.

You'd think, after watching the opening credits and the first few minutes of the film, that this is pretty low-rent stuff, especially with all the "S's" in the credits made to look like Nazi SS S's, with those sharp edges. When such credits as "Associate Producer" are meant to look menacing, it seems a little odd. But if you stick with the movie, you'll see that it's filled with genuinely good acting and drama. The whole cast really brings their A game - you'd expect that from Wings, Cole, and Linda Blair, but even side characters such as Bruce the Vendor (Hara) really stand out.

Gang Boys isn't, strictly speaking, an action movie. It's more of a family drama, and when Wings goes into his "recover and revenge" mode, you'll be right there with him, cheering him on. The role reversal with his son, who now is caring for his father, is both touching and funny by turns.

A movie like this, with not a lot of money behind it but with a lot of heart, rises and falls on its actors, and Wings must have known this, because they elevate Gang Boys to a level it wouldn't be otherwise.

While both Wings and Linda Blair sing songs on the soundtrack ("Walkin' On the Right Side of the Devil" and "Since You've Been Gone", respectively), unfortunately, a lot of the music and dialogue is hampered by some bad audio on the VHS transfer. It was released on a small label, so it didn't reach many video stores in America. They were obviously a low-budget operation, and that goes for the quality of their tapes, as well as their quantity. That's a shame, because Gang Boys deserves better.

I know it seems like a long shot at this moment, but hopefully someday there will be a Blu-ray release of Gang Boys. That way, the public will see a cleaned-up version of a movie that should be more well-known and more often talked about. We recommend it.