Into the Warrior-Verse
Exploring The Warriors (1979) and it's many tributes
What makes The Warriors click for me is how, at its heart, it's an epic poem. A bunch of underdogs faced with enemies from all sides, guided by the simple desire to make it back to their "homeland". As far as the audience knows, these guys weren't on anybody's radar. Based out of Coney Island, it's not hard to imagine. Enemies were just a handful in their past, and now every gang in the city is gunning for them.
I found the film at my local video store, roughly in 2004. It was one of the last VHS tapes I've ever rented. What likely set my interest off was either previews or ads of the respective video game listed in a magazine that year. What was harder to miss was the fact the game was being developed by Rockstar Games. It was only just the early aughts, and Grand Theft Auto was already a household name. I felt like Rockstar could do no wrong when I heard they were doing an adaptation of the film. It felt like the stars were aligning for me to find the Warriors at that time in my life.
It's a film that drips with a late 1970s New York aesthetic, with a vibrant infusion of color punctuating the darkness of the night. Every gang’s outfits are easily distinguishable, with every color scheme touched upon. It's safe to say that there's very little risk of friendly fire whenever brawls break out. Their looks give the experience a heightened, mystical feel. The contrast of the grungy environments and the suggestion of violence at every turn grounds the look, keeping it from breaking out into excessive camp, but campy it still is.
Few films define its characters as well as the cast here. Within the first moments, we get distinct representations of their personalities, hearing hot takes on their journey to the heart of the city. Their distinctions are not just in personality but in personal appearance. What we get is physical, racial, and fashion diversity between each member. Some peacock more than others, others let their body language do the work, but there's no difficulty telling who's who (especially Cowboy with his Stetson). Their predicament and the immediate understanding of the characters creates a greater level of connection, making them easy to root for as they face every successive challenge, while also fearing for their lives at every turn1. Being with this gang for a night, feels like being let into an exclusive club. It’s easy to identify with a member of the group and project everyone else you know on the others. When shared with someone else, it creates an instant bonding experience.
I fondly remember in the mid-2000s getting involved in the Warriors film fan community. The Warriors spark a fierce dedication for anyone who falls in love with them. When I found a forum dedicated to the film, it felt like finding a second home. Looking back, it was easily the most inviting fan community I can recall diving into. It was in stark contrast to the prepubescent flash film communities I engaged with at the time. Those communities suffered from an excessively edgy disposition, overrun with exclusion and conformity expected from the losers heading the pack. Even the mere mention of black or urban culture brought deep eye rolls (and sometimes outright harassment). That was a non-issue in the Warriors fan community, in large part because the film itself is racially diverse, from its leads, all the way down to its extras. It makes the gender swapping in the recent musical a non-issue.
The film’s cult has had a long history of investment in rap and hip-hop. It isn’t hard to find kindred spirits. Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda is one of those kin. Along with Eisa Davis, one of my favorite records of 2024 ended up being the wildcard concept album devised by the two aptly named Warriors. Our heroes are gender swapped, forming a smaller crew, resulting in even more underdog status. Hearing it for the first time, I was elated at just how clear it is that Davis and Miranda understand the soul of what makes The Warriors work. It’s an album that leans heavily into how much the film is a vivid snapshot of a particular time in New York, with its influences still felt today. The musical’s team cut a cultural slab of what makes New York such a rich and culturally diverse epicenter of influence. As a complement to the film, it provides more color to the psyche of characters that aren’t as fleshed out. As a fan, it sets a new tone that feels like added world-building.
I’m never expecting a Warriors tribute, but if it’s coming at all, the chances of passion being the driver are always high. Tributes like the musical and game serve the film, without attempting to change a single thing about it. This model is always superior to vapid efforts to remake or reboot a property. I’m proud to be a part of a fan community that can have such reverence without constant squabbling, just mere appreciation.
Props to James Remar for infusing a misogynistic douchebag like Ajax with a sleazy charm. The only reason his character ultimately works is that he’s sufficiently punished for attempting to rape someone. I love how they redefined this moment in the musical with a gender swap, Remar in place of the cop that catches Ajax.