Episode 73 - Rad Bandits from the Cave

It's time to strap on your helmets and grease up the chains, we're going offroad on our BMX bikes! We look at two movies from the 80's that focus on the BMX craze that was sweeping the world then. We start with 1986's Rad, directed by Hal Needham. It is an achingly-sincere and earnest film. Set in small-town America, with a plot that borrows heavily from dozens of sources, it is stupidly charming. We follow that up with 1983's BMX Bandits, from director Brian Trenchard-Smith.  Shot in Sydney, Australia, it is similarly wide-eyed and innocent. It does have an undercurrent of threat though, from a gang of miscreants who are constantly after the titular bandits, which includes the very young Nicole Kidman in one of her first film roles! These were both wonderfully nostalgic and we think you'll enjoy them, especially if you are in your 40s like we are.Send us your thoughts on the show and recommendations for future episodes to [email protected] or [email protected]. You can also reach us on Facebook, Instagram, Letterboxd. YouTube.