This early Jack Nicholson film sees him playing Johnny Varron; a would-be motor racer who, when he isn't on the track, likes nothing better than playing chicken on the public highways. If others get hurt he isn't concerned. In the opening scene he causes a police motorcyclist to crash; he is fairly casual about it as the police can't prove he was involved. He hangs out with friends who share his attitudes however tensions in their group is rising because they think Johnny's friend Dave is dating the wrong girl. Inevitably their actions will have consequences.
This isn't a great film; it was never meant to be. It is an exploitation film centred on some fairly unsympathetic characters and the plot is far from deep. That isn't to say it is bad though; there are some exciting scenes, most notably the race sequence. The interaction between Johnny and his friends feels a little forced; perhaps because the sixties language feels dated or perhaps because it is what the writers thought young people spoke like. Jack Nicholson does a solid job as Johnny; it isn't his best work by a long way but he has the right attitude for the character; there is a sense of danger about him which fitted the role. The rest of the cast are more mixed; some good some rather less so. Overall this is a decent film that I'd recommend to those who are interesting in older films that aren't classics.
These comments are based on watching the original black and white, sixty minute version of the film not the longer, colourised 'Velocity'.
