Here's a movie that lives cool, and may'be that was never the intention. As just having watched it again, it brings me back to 82, and it's scene and culture back then. What I refer to as the good old days. Most of the film seems to be in Sydney if I'm not mistaken. Simply the stories about a young good looking guy, Mike, who needs to do something for himself, and be good at something. His want happens to be outrunning the local racing junkie thug, Fox (Moir) kind of a little old for the part, but great in the role, where cool rebel and defiant Mike played by (Serio) is only average, even if a little under par, where they're are moments when his acting grabs you, by not many. His expressions and that are limited, almost void. Standout performances are of course, a blind old rocker/racing nut, Reggie, played by veteran (Cullen) who steals the film like he does with many others. He's a character full of wisdom and inspiration, who helps Mike revamp and old car with the works. No sooner does this car become totaled. The love interest, Jules, (Deborah Convoy) is quite good, where we see her bare in a couple of scenes. The shiner she took from being run into the fridge, was a bit exaggerated. One visually tense scene, when first viewing it back in 84, I couldn't believe, was Mike's car set aflames, in an ambush, where him, Jules and his Greek mate, escape, frantically driving the burning and speeding wreck, into a lake. Graham Bond, the real movie stealer, sadly only has a couple of scenes, as a bad guy cop, a real cowboy, reveling in his part. He wants Fox's action, Fox wincing, like a real wuzz, under his control. The charismatic Gerry Sont, as Mike's younger neighbour, Victor creates a spirited and enthused, take note performance, his inspirational role model, just happening to be Mike. Awesome haunting soundtrack. With some real funny moments, this enthusiastic Ozzie popcorn pic, is an oldie, with cult status, car freaks will like or the young crowd. But time passes quick in this pic. Be warned.

If Monte Hellman's legendary early 70's road movie masterpiece "Two-Lane Blacktop" had been done more like a stark, stripped-down, fiercely taut and straightforward brooding mood piece embellished upon by that distinctly mean'n'lean, rough'n'tough, very raw and ragged macho Australian mentality and topped off with a generous sprinkling of dour, despairing, no-hope-whatsoever end-of-the-road punk nihilism, it would undoubtedly be much similar to this jarringly bleak and atmospheric knockout.Nice guy factory worker Mike (an appealingly scruffy Terry Serio) runs afoul of sneering, shades-wearing fascist car race champ Fox (a perfectly hateful Richard Moir) when he steals Fox's fetching model girlfriend Julie (the lovely Deborah Conway) away from him. Mike and Fox begin competing in increasingly lethal races in which the stakes become higher and higher with each successive bout, finally culminating in an especially pulse-pounding all-or-nothing race with only one true winner allowed. Mike, assisted by his worried, but loyal Italian mechanic pal Tony (a splendidly smooth turn by Vangelis Mourikis) and tutored by blind, supremely hip 50's-style greaser rebel (marvelously essayed with maximum coolness by Max Cullen), willingly puts his life on the line for the sake of his reputation, the affection of his old lady, the money, and, most importantly, for the chance to topple the haughty Fox from his gloating, glowering thrown. Directed with utmost gravity and intensity by John Clark, written to laconically right-on perfection by Barry Tomblim, with a shivery, flesh-crawling synthesizer score by Peter Crosbie and spare, unadorned cinematography by David Gribble, this authentically gnarly early 80's item presents the concept of racing cars as not only a funky alternate lifestyle, but also an all-consuming obsession and reason for living (it's the sole thing most of the film's characters are really passionate about) with a remarkably astute and unblinking eye. Complete with a harrowing downbeat ending and unsparingly grim central message about the bitter price one pays for being top dog, this riveting depiction of a dead-end existence rates as an extraordinary cinematic achievement.

I remember watching this movie many years ago on VHS at a friends place. At first I thought it would be a boring car movie. But much to my surprise it ended up being one of the best movies I can remember watching for its time.It has a good story line and best of all it has some awesome Aussie cars and street racing. I really loved Fox's car the most which was a worked Dodge Charger. The paint work which was done on this car was truly outstanding in my opinion :)!There's also a black two door blown 57 Chev which comes into the movie later on. I actually managed to get a copy of this movie on VHS last year at K-Mart over here in Australia. I did have plans of converting this movie to DVD myself as I believe it is a movie worth the conversion. But much to my surprise this weekend while I was browsing the DVD movie bin I came across it on DVD. So of course I grabbed it while I could as it was the only copy there.Anyway if you really want to see some classic street racing with real muscle cars, including a great story line without a rice burner in sight. Then this movie is for you!!!!Here is some additional info taken from the back of the DVD.He'll Win At Any Cost Fox is a young man that lives in the fast lane. He believes he is the fastest man on the road - but street racing is illegal. If he doesn't accept his latest challenge he could loose his girl... if he does accept, he could lose his life. Living dangerously, living fast and winning at any cost is their obsession. They don't turn back, the don't give in.. and the don't ask for help.

This film has a cult following among the modified car community here in Oz. It may not be the best acting or story line but that is all part of the appeal. Even Rocky Horror Picture Show was a HUGE flop when first released, even MADMAX had to use a different name in the states, The Road Warrior. Sure it's got tacky lines in funny voices from Max Cullen, "green, green is nice" i'm sure would be said once somewhere in Australia every Saturday night by a "pervert car freak deviate"Once you've seen it you will never forget:"Whats ya name?""Piss off!""Piss off? What type of a name is that?""Its polish. Pissov's a Polish name!""OK sheryl, getcha gear off""not now Ram, ya so slow""a polak and a spag! what are ya trying to do? lower housing prices!"mike - "she still snatches in second"tony - "yeah, i know"mike - "she winds up ok, but,,, i'm just loosing too much on the changes"tony - "yeah , you would do"mike - "yeah,,, so waddaya reckon?"tony - "she still snatches in second"mike - "yeah that just could be it!!!"