1%

Australia, 2017, 92 minutes, Colour.
Ryan Corr, Abby Lee, Matt Nable, Simon Kessel, Josh Mc Conville, Aaron Pedersen, Jacqui Williams.
Directed by Stephen Mc Callum.

The title is arresting but could be about anything! In fact, it is about bikies – and there needs to be a distinction immediately between bikie gangs and bikie clubs. One of the meanings of 1% is that these are the gangs who capitalise on drugs and money laundering.

Not everyone will want to see a film about bikie clubs let alone bikie gangs. This one is about gangs. The bikies look formidable sitting on their high-powered machines, helmets which may be protective but make them look sinister. Then there are the jackets, the emblems, the tattoos. Some of them look so hard, tough, that they do not elicit audience curiosity.

This film is frighteningly watchable.

The setting is Western Australia, the focus on to gangs, one of which is led by a rather terrifying Sugar, Aaron Pedersen, the rival gang temporarily led by Mark (“Paddo�) Ryan Corr while the “President� Knuck (a title which he over-relishes), played by Matt Nable, who wrote the screenplay, is serving a three-year sentence in prison. While Mark is temporarily in charge, he is encouraged to make a deal with Sugar for laundering the drug money. He is encouraged by the President’s girlfriend, Hayley (Simon Kessel). They have an audience in prison with the “President� but he resents anyone interfering with his power.

And then he gets out. He throws his weight around, has his loyal followers, especially in the clubhouse, a big area where members can play pool, drink, horse around, indulge in sexual activity. At the bar is Mark’s wife (Abby Lee, model and actress for Victoria’s Secret, Calvin Klein, appearing in both American and Australian film is). We discover that looks can be deceiving. She is pretty and glamorous, even at the bikie club. But, as many have noted, she soon begins to remind us of Lady Macbeth, the power behind the would-be throne.

Knuck is a jealous man, loving his partner but not necessarily in love with her. In prison, he has had homosexual experiences and, on release, has something of a roving eye, especially on a young accountant, friend Mark, who becomes Knuck’s victim.

The action soon becomes quite bikie-Shakespearean, Knuck continually asserting his authority is acting capriciously, Mark having to go to Sugar to try to recently negotiate the deal. Clearly, the setting up of battlelines.

There are brawls at the club. There is even a siege of Mark’s house in a pleasant suburban street. There are bodies lying in the garden and backyard.

The pawn in all of this activity is Mark’s rather simple brother, Skink (a very convincing performance bringing in quite some emotion by Josh McConville), who makes all kinds of mistakes, regrets, dreams of a relationship with a girl but is betrayed by one of the women down at the club, has to be defended all the time by Mark. He also becomes a pawn in his sister-in-law’s ambitions which leads to mistakes, Skink having to be defended, deaths and, as in Shakespeare, the end of an era and a new kingdom being set up. We cannot predict who will be the survivors.

As was said earlier in this review, frighteningly watchable.


1. A grim film? Frightening? The world of bikies? Clubs? bikies and their codes?

2. The title, the 1% of bikies working outside the law? Deals, percentages?

3. The West Australian setting, the ordinary suburbs and houses, the streets? The bikies, en masse on the roads? At the club houses? The interiors of the clubs? The musical score?

4. The audience response to the bikie’s, the clubs, the gangs, the types, their lifestyle, the quality of the bikes, their uniforms and clothes, badges and symbols?

5. The introduction to Mark, deputy, his age, his past, relationship with his wife, love, her urging him on? The meeting with Sugar, the discussion of the deals, the money laundering? His relationship with Stink, Stink and his mistakes about the money and the drugs, Sugar’s reaction and threats? Mark and his care for Stink, loyalties?

6. Sugar, his character, leader of his gang, hard, the discussions with Mark, the propositions? The later interviews, the deals? The clash with Knuck?

7. Mark going to the jail with Hayley, Hayley and her trying to sell the deal to Knuck? The interview with Mark, his listening, turning down the deal, asserting himself as President?

8. The club, the clubhouse, the men, the bar, the pool table, the beer and drinking, the sexual activity?

9. Knuck as President, the experience in jail, taking himself seriously, his status, the sexual activity, homosexuality, the sexual encounter with Hayley, loving her, but avoiding her? His eye on David, the assault, his concern about his reputation, the homophobic language?

10. The rejection of the deal, three years absent, jealous, Hayley encouraging him, at home, staying away, Hayley’s disappointment in him?

11. Stink, his age, brother to Mark, the influence of Mark’s wife? The drugs, his mistakes, his mental condition? Simple? The sexual focus, the magazines, the encounter with Josie – seeing her with others, disappointment and hurt? Giving her the drugs? Her confessing and naming Sting? Sugar, the reprieve, with Mark? Mark, his reaction? Stink at home, Mark being tough with him, confining him to his room? Mark’s wife and her using Stink? To kill Knuck? The gun, his going to the house, his fears, Hayley confronting him, firing the gun?

12. Mark’s wife, the overtones of Lady Macbeth, urging her husband on? Mark and his wanting to leave, to go to Queensland? Her not wanting this, her wanting to stay, wanting him to be president, owning the club in the bar? Her urging Stink? His mistake, the dire consequences?

13. The range of club members, David the accountant, Knuck eyeing him and abusing him, David subservient, their loyalties, the setup for war. the fight, the siege in the suburbs, the shootings, the deaths, men riding out?

14. Mark, shot, Knuckk and the violence? Hayley and her being wounded? Mark’s death?

15. The aftermath, Mark’ wife, going to the bar, shooting the barman? Hayley coming in, wanting to be the boss? Mark’s wife shooting her?

16. The overtones of Macbeth, vaulting ambition, the role of the wives, the leaders, murder, a new era?