The Windsplitter (1971)

Directed by J. D. Fiegelson
My rating: 1.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, VCI Entertainment)

Independently released Easy Rider clone has Jim McMullan returning to his childhood home in Texas after becoming a movie star in Hollywood. In the interim he's taken up riding a chopper and wearing his hair long. He's quickly branded a hippie by the local mayor, sheriff, dad, well, just about everybody. They shoot his dog one night in an ugly, drawn-out scene. He's still in love with his old girlfriend, who happens to be the daughter of the preacher, which sets up the inevitable confrontation. The VCI release is in what I call "faux widescreen", taking a full frame print and "squishing" it to look widescreen then putting mattes on the top and bottom. The process distorts the image and makes everyone look short and fat.