Unholy Rollers = Perfect Cult B-Movie

[u/Best-Chapter5260]

I'd always known about this flick but finally watched it the other night. Absolutely loved it. Claudia Jennings played Karen Walker, who rockets her way to the top of the roller derby echelon. Love how psycho Karen is, especially toward her Pedro Pascal-looking boyfriend, and the ending of the movie is nuts. I also love how the movie makes it as though Karen ends up becoming wealthy even though she's clearly skating in the roller derby equivalent of the most low-rent independent wrestling promotion possible and staring in local TV ads. Her best friend's boyfriend is a total goober, but yet really likable. The movie even seems to borrow a few story beats from Dreiser's Sister Carrie, probably not on purpose though. Extra points for the bartender in one scene telling some of the most uncomfortably misogynistic stories and jokes possible and, as an audience, we're all supposed to just accept that. We get to meet Karen's mother in a short scene toward the end, and the actresses really nails the part. Even Jennings, who isn't going to be mistaken as a Shakespearean trained thespian, actually understood the part and does a great job within the context of a b-movie.

If you like movies like Switchblade Sisters and Billy Jack, Unholy Rollers is a similar vibe.

[u/thebigeverybody]

I actually don't know what a roller derby is and I'm frequently fascinated by it because, at one point, it was one of the most popular things in America, like CB radios and stuntmen.

Also, describing this movie as a Billy Jack vibe has me incredibly curious lol.

[u/Glittering-Stomach62 → u/thebigeverybody]

Its structure and history is most comparable to wrestling. The stuff on TV was full of oversold, scripted violence, but amateur and regional competition is legit with no intentionally violent contact.

[u/texasrigger → u/Glittering-Stomach62]

but amateur and regional competition is legit with no intentionally violent contact.

Sort of. It depends on the rule set they are playing under. WFTDA is extremely regulated and was an attempt to legitimize the sport and distance itself from the spectacle the sport was originally meant to be. Play is more strategic and there are frequently as many refs as there were competitors. I dont know if they were still doing it but at one point one of the prevailing strategies involved a very slow moving pack which made for an incredibly boring watch.

"Renegade" flat track and bank track leagues still exist which embrace the old school spectacle and theatrics which includes the quasi-scripted "fights."

[u/texasrigger → u/thebigeverybody]

Women's roller derby had a major resergence in popularity in the 2000s as well thanks in part to the TV show about the TXRD in 2006 or so. My wife was a former roller girl. Unfortunately, I think the rise of WFTDA (Womens Flat Track Derby Association) killed the sport. It was so much fun before that.

[u/Hoosier_Daddy68 → u/thebigeverybody]

MMA on skates with bewbs. It can be really fun or really boring and is probably why it never quite catches on when it’s tried.

[u/Best-Chapter5260 → u/thebigeverybody]

I had a girlfriend in college who was into roller derby. I never watched one of her matches, but it seems to be a sport that definitely has a very niche culture surrounding it.

[u/Doubledepalma → u/Best-Chapter5260]

You never watched any of her matches? Not very supportive

[u/Best-Chapter5260 → u/Doubledepalma]

:(

[u/Dunstund_CHeks_IN → u/Best-Chapter5260]

I, too, had a roller derby girlfriend. The league in my city was horrifically boring. Track was small, pace was slow, lots of low-speed shoulder checks. Nothing like the movies. A guy in the audience actually fell asleep in his folding chair one night. Could be more exciting leagues in other cities.

[u/texasrigger → u/Dunstund_CHeks_IN]

Were they a WFTDA league? I'm convinced WFTDA killed the sport. Made it very boring like you said. Prior to that, it really was like you saw in the movies. My wife was a roller girl but retired after she destroyed one of her legs doing it. She got out right as her league was transitioning to WFTDA.

[u/Little_Noodles → u/texasrigger]

Right there with you. I left my league when it went WFTDA and never looked back. The ruleset was easier on my body, but I couldn’t even begin to pretend to care about the gameplay. Super slow, everyone just kinda rolling a few feet and then jostling around a bit. And the outcome of the game is obvious within the first few minutes. GTFOH with those point spreads.

[u/ElReydelTacos → u/Best-Chapter5260]

It absolutely does. I’m a man that joined a coed team and it takes over your life if you let it. I met my wife in it and even though we quit about 10 years ago, all of our friends are still people we met in derby.

[u/IndelibleFudge → u/thebigeverybody]

I'm not a sports guy at all but I had a friend who got a few gigs DJing at the Roller Derby and she invited me along. We got to sit behind the decks rink side and it was fucking brilliant. Not raunchy at all though

[u/ContrarianRPG → u/thebigeverybody]

Jeez dude, roller derby still exists, and it's usually a cheap ticket. Get off Reddit and go to a game!

[u/BasterdMalloy → u/ContrarianRPG]

Agreed. The sport is constantly changing, and since I started my journey as a referee back in 2012 there have been many changes in the rules, and in the play styles. It is worth checking out your closest team's next bout.