Monte Hellman directs Warren Oates, Harry Dean Stanton and Patricia Pearcy in this independent drama where a down-on-his-luck cockfighter takes a vow of silence until he can train a tournament winning bird.

Banned in the U.K. because of its continual cruelty to animals, this popped up on Tubi recently. I gritted my teeth and watched solely as I love Warren Oates. Macho character study a-go-go, scruffy edition. This does exactly what it says on the tin. While you get a real behind the scene tour of the bloodsport circuit there isn’t really a compelling 90 minutes of story or development here. More a hangout movie where lots of living things fight to the death or are maimed by the owners for petty reasons. Ugh.

5

Perfect Double Bill: Two-Lane Blacktop (1971)

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