Savage Streets (1984)

Director:

Danny Steinmann

Writers:

Norman Yonemoto (screenplay) and
Danny Steinmann (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 October 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime

Tagline:

An eye for an eye.

Plot:

A teenage vigilante (Blair) seeks revenge on a group of violent thugs who raped her handicapped sister and killed her best friend.

Plot Keywords:

Gang | Revenge | Punk | Bear Trap | Crossbow

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Linda Blair	...	Brenda
John Vernon	...	Principal Underwood
Robert Dryer	...	Jake
Johnny Venocur	...	Vince
Sal Landi	...	Fargo
Scott Mayer	...	Red
Debra Blee	...	Rachel
Lisa Freeman	...	Francine
Marcia Karr	...	Stevie
Luisa Leschin	...	Maria
Linnea Quigley	...	Heather
Ina Romeo	...	Stella
Jill Jaxx	...	Waitress (as Jill Bunker)
Mitch David Carter	...	Greg (as Mitch Carter)
Richard DeHaven	...	Richie

Also Known As:

Zombie Brigade (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

93 min | Norway:87 min | UK:80 min (heavily cut) | Australia:83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (CFI)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | West Germany:18 (heavily cut) | Iceland:16 | UK:18 (heavily cut) | Australia:R | France:-16 | Norway:18 | Sweden:(Banned) | USA:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Canada:(Banned) (Nova Scotia) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Ginso Investment Corp.

Trivia:

Producer John Strong did an uncredited rewrite on the script.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: While the girls are working out in the gym, the mic and boom supporting it just hover over Brenda's head.

Quotes:

Valerie: Wow! Cindy, what a babe!
Cindy: Look, but don't touch, sweetie!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Linnea Quigley's Horror Workout (1990) (V)

Soundtrack:

Killer

80's exploitation with great cast

Savage Streets (1984) is directed by Danny Steinmann and this belongs to the better achievements of the vigilante genre. Brenda's (Linda Blair) deaf little sister Heather (Linnea Quickley) is abused by a brutal street gang and left to her agony on the school floor. Her sister is very tough and powerful (both physically and mentally) and soon she begins her own war against those b****rds that raped and killed innocent people.

There are no morals in this films, but as far as one is interested in vigilante movies (which may include some morals, too) this is very pleasant classic from the 1980's as these films are not made anymore. The rape scene is pretty disturbing as the girl cannot even scream. The violence is not too heavy but heavy enough to shock the mainstream audience, and this would probably not get an R rating nowadays in its full form, but then, it didn't get it back then, either. Linnea is very beautiful and acts her silent role convincingly, and her sister's actress Linda Blair is also fantastic and should scare all the males with her crossbow and killer expression on her face..

I liked this flick, because I love these nostalgic (just listen to the marvelous soundtrack!!!) street films from the 80's. Others of its kind are for example Lustig's Vigilante, Winner's Death Wish (from the 70's but still) and Ferrara's Ms. 45. Savage Streets is not too intelligent movie but as a trash exploitation this is very important piece of genre's history, in my opinion! And of course there is a shower scene without any other purpose than to show us naked women. And also a fight scene in the shower! And also.. Well, fans of the genre know exactly what to expect from this kind of film: great dialogue and characters, nudity, gratuitous violence, rock and disco music and so on, and Savage Streets delivers it all and so is recommended for fans of this kind of low budget exploitation.

7/10