MOVIE REVIEW : ‘Riders’ Manages to Find Way to Big Screen

For reasons no doubt known only to its makers, and perhaps their tax attorneys, the Western “Riders in the Storm” opens theatrically today despite the fact that it defines the category straight to video . Not since the heyday of Republic Pictures have we heard such lines as “He feeds on the foulness of the cantina” or “I just wanted to thank you for sucking the poison out of my spider bite.” And these are the serious lines.

This execrable oater directed by Charles Biggs set in the mid-1880s has something to do with small-time outlaws, a kidnaped heiress, a good-hearted madam of a Mexican whorehouse and a guy named Little Swede who can shoot out the eyes of an owl at 500 yards.

Borrowed bits of “The Professionals” and “The Wild Bunch” keep passing before your eyes, and so do Western stalwarts like Bo Hopkins and Michael Horse and the late Doug McClure. Less familiar faces include Brett Baxter Clark, Crystal Owens, J. David Watson and Kim Dawson. This movie will not make them any more familiar.

* Unrated. Times guidelines: It includes mild violence and brief nudity.

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‘Riders in the Storm’ Bo Hopkins: Billy Van Owen Kim Dawson: Sandy Morgan Brittany: Rita Doug McClure: Hamilton Monroe A Filmhaus releasing presentation. Director Charles Biggs. Producer Peter Davy. Executive producers Robert Genova and Anatoli Savriken. Screenplay by Frank Lee and Charles Biggs. Cinematographer Massimo Zeri. Editors Mark Innocenti and Edward Arno. Music Bob Demarco and Ken Rogers. Set decorator/wardrobe Ginny Bowen. Running time: 1 hour, 41 minutes.

* Now playing at the Monica 4-Plex, 1332 2nd St., Santa Monica, (310) 394-9741.