Killers Three (1968)

Director: Bruce Kessler

Writers: Dick Clark, Michael Fisher

Composers: Mike Curb, Harley Hatcher, Jerry Styner

Starring: Robert Walker Jr., Diane Varsi, Dick Clark, Norman Alden, Maureen Arthur, Tony York, Merle Haggard, Bonnie Owens, John 'Bud' Cardos, Beach Dicerkson, Jerry Petty , Clint Stringer, William Alspaugh, Douglas Barger

More info: IMDb

Tagline: It started out as a Country Picnic! But before it was over 37 men were dead.

Plot: Two backwoods North Carolinians, Johnny (Walker) and Roger (Clark) rob a bootlegger's safe, kill several people in the process, and head for California with Walker's wife, Carol (Diane).

My rating: 6.5/10

Will I watch it again? No.

What starts out as a 'revenuers against the moonshiners' low budget action flick turns into a 'criminals on the run' picture clearly inspired by the previous years' BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967). I much prefer the second half when the chase is on.  Normally in a picture like this you'd get lots of action while they gang's on the run but not this one.  It slows down quite a bit.  At first it was a contrast to the first half and it felt like it was going nowhere fast but there are some moments that make it worthwhile like when Carol goes to visit her mother for the last time (which reminds me of how much Clyde & Bonnie used to visit their families).  I can see how a lot of people would be turned off by the slow pace of the last half hour or so but I grew to really dig it.  There are small moments of excitement but that's the violence that erupted when the law crossed their paths.  The other times are spent worrying where they're going to go, how they're going to travel and eat, etc.  Real life problems, the most basic of needs have to be met...just like what happened with Clyde & Bonnie (if you're remotely interested in their story I HIGHLY recommend Jeff Gunn's wonderful book, GO DOWN TOGETHER: THE TRUE, UNTOLD STORY OF BONNIE AND CLYDE).  One of the big reasons why I've been wanting to see this (and it's on Netflix streaming of all places) is because Dick Clark wrote, produced and starred in it.  He does a really good job.  Hell, they all do just fine.  Merle Haggard sings a few ballads and has a small role.  I don't need to see it again but if I did, I think I'd start right when they blow the safe that starts their time on the lam.  That's the best part.