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Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Sick Product of a Sick System

Lack of good storyline.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

"Stone" has everything you expect from a '70s drive-in style cult classic: low budget, anti-social characters, sex, violence, drug use, and of course, motorbikes. It's portrayal of a bikie gang still feels surprisingly realistic, and the obvious limitations of the shoot largely don't work against the movie. These are low life characters, so Oscar-worthy cinematography isn't really needed. The acting is, mostly, adequate - be on the look out for legendary Australian character actors Bill Hunter (RIP) and Garry McDonald. There is, however, one ridiculous scene where a nightclub owner tells the hero about his love of the bikie gang featured using so many dated slang terms it's as though he's getting paid per colloquialism. It sounds so awkward coming out of his mouth that these terms must have been embarrassingly old hat even in 1974.That scene, and one amusingly over-the-top motorcycle decapitation scene aside, and "Stone" is exactly what you expect it to be; in fact, it may even be a little bit better.

Director and actor Sandy Harbutt has created a gem in Stone.It stars Ken Shorter who has also been in other classic flicks, Praise 1998, Dragonslayer 1981 and Ned Kelly 1970.Also starring Hugh Keays-Byrne who was also in the classic flicks, Mad Max 1979 and Mad Dog Morgan 1978.It also stars Roger Ward who like Hugh Keays-Byrne was in Mad Max and Mad Dog Morgan plus the classic flick, Turkey Shoot 1982.I enjoyed the drug scenes, violence and Australian scenery.If you enjoyed this as much as I did then check out other classic biker flicks, Easy Rider 1969, Stone Cold 1991, Lone Hero 2002, Shame 1988, The Stranger 1995 and Hell Ride 2008.

Declared by many fanatic and knowledgeable cinema experts – amongst them Quentin Tarantino – as THE ultimate biker-exploitation classic, "Stone" indeed is a quintessential 70's highlight that fully surpassed my already high expectations. In his genre, the movie simply is a lot better than the other and this is illustrated through a non-stop series of powerful and astonishing sequence from the opening credits and onwards. "Stone" is different to watch you expect at first … more stylish, classier and absorbing than you could ever imagine. You anticipate seeing a trashy and savage biker-flick, but you actually get the complete opposite. For example, usually the opening credits in this type of film exist of images of tough bikers riding through desolate landscapes guided by heavy guitar music and loud rock lyrics; am I right? Well, "Stone" does the contrary. The opening credits are serene, with close ups of mechanical motorcycle equipment and no music at all. Simply the distinctness of this particular sequence made a very big impression on me. Then immediately after follow three murder sequences, but not at all gratuitous or unnecessarily violent ones. Almost saddening killings of biker men who – as far as we know up until that moment, at least – haven't even committed any crimes. Someone is targeting the members of the Sydney biker gang The Grave Diggers for elimination. In spite of their hugely different opinions and moral codes, The Grave Diggers – led by the charismatic Undertaker – eventually allow undercover cop Stone to ride with them and thus infiltrate in the harsh world of crime, brotherhood, violence and Kawasaki 900's. The most powerful sequence of the entire film is undoubtedly the phenomenal biker funeral parade. This scene is extendedly shown and discussed in the superb documentary on Australian cult cinema "Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation" and it was the main reason why I desperately wanted to see the film. It certainly doesn't disappoint as I even experienced goose bumps at the sight of more than 400 amateur bikers participating in this event. Inevitably, but understandably as well, "Stone" can't keep up the level of brilliance throughout the entire film. The scenario gradually becomes more talkative and moralistic, but still there are several more flashes of sheer ingenuity, craftsmanship and subject matter expertise (like the downbeat climax, to name just one). "Stone" is the vastly admirable one-man-project of Sandy Harbutt, who wrote and directed the film, composed some of the soundtrack, designed the sets AND plays the complex role of gang front man Undertaker. Even though he never did anything else anymore after "Stone", cult freaks should nevertheless eternally respect Harbutt for what he accomplished here. I'm sure that if "Mad Max" hadn't came along, "Stone" would still be the number one cult movie of Australia. In my humble opinion, Sandy Harbutt's only mistake was the casting of Ken Shorter as the titular anti-hero "Stone". He certainly isn't plausible enough to depict a raw biker – even an undercover one – with his baby face and Prince Valiant haircut.

This picture is excellent. It's a slice of the rougher side of Australian life in the 70s. Everything fits together and the whole is a great hour-and-a-half Aussie yarn. I recent managed to catch a screening on the big outdoor Moonlight Cinema screen in Sydney. It fantastic to see it up on the big screen. Take the trip