Yes, I actually thought this was better than some recent horror/comedies I've seen. Certainly superior to Urban Legend or Scream. I'm positively stunned by the fact that people would see the cover for this movie, read the title and synopsis, watch it, and then complain that this flick is offensive. For crying out loud, what do you expect from a film whose promotional literature shows a melted transient's head in a toilet bowl? Casablanca? Anyone dumb enough to see this movie and be taken aback by its admittedly sordid contents has exactly what they have coming to them.
144 Reviews
An outlandish, unapologetic delight.
james_trevelyan24 November 2005
'Street Trash' the most offensive film ever made? Quite possibly. This baby is exceedingly hard to locate, which is unfortunate, because it is an outlandish, unapologetic delight with a wonderful streak of black, black humour. Director Jim Muro has since become one of the most respected Steadicam operators in the business, and has worked his magic upon some pretty big pictures. I believe he was the Steadicam operator on 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day', but I might be wrong.
When an enterprising liquor store owner in New York's Lower East Side(?) finds a dusty crate of something named Tenafly Viper stashed behind a brick wall in a back room of his place of business, he decides to sell it cheaply to the bums in the neighbourhood who are his chief customers. But Tenafly Viper is strong stuff indeed; strong enough to melt one's body! And you thought hangovers were bad.
Pretty soon, the homeless population around the liquor store is dwindling as more and more of these unfortunates consume this deadly drop and promptly disintegrate. The first bum to imbibe the killer stuff does so while seated upon a filthy lavatory. He melts into the commode, pulls the chain, and flushes himself away! Truly tasteless, n'est pas? Two more memorable scenes from 'Street Trash' come to mind: in one, a man has his penis bitten off; in the other, a man is spectacularly decapitated by a flying gas cylinder. I read in Fangoria(?) that this scene required eight special effects crew members to pump blood! 'Street Trash' reminds me of Peter Jackson's wonderful 'Bad Taste' which, while far superior to 'Street Trash', is in the same outrageous vein. I guess it might also be likened to 'The Incredible Melting Man', although the special effects makeup in that picture was provided by the legendary Rick Baker - his first film? - and so is much better than anything in 'Street Trash'.
'Street Trash' is an excellent title, because trash is what this film is all about. Its milieu is grimy and bleak, and everything about the whole affair is inherently unclean. Oh yeah, I just remembered another memorable scene: a cop fights a man in a men's room, and beats him to the ground. Then the cop sticks two digits down his own throat and vomits upon the prone man! Pretty sick (excuse the pun)! This film also makes me think of John Waters in its examination of white trash, something Waters did with films such as 'Desperate Living' and 'Pink Flamingoes'. Like those flicks, 'Street Trash' serves up plenty of gross-out gags so, if that is what floats your boat in a movie, then you will certainly enjoy this. I hope 'Street Trash' has a huge cult following, and I suspect it does. And deservedly so.
When oh when oh WHEN is the DVD Special Edition going to be released?! I for one await it with great anticipation. By the way, if you do find this film, do not miss the song which plays over the end credits - very funny stuff! The last time I watched 'Street Trash' I was laughing because one of the bums reminded me of Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes fame. Sorry, Mr Robinson... no offence intended!
When an enterprising liquor store owner in New York's Lower East Side(?) finds a dusty crate of something named Tenafly Viper stashed behind a brick wall in a back room of his place of business, he decides to sell it cheaply to the bums in the neighbourhood who are his chief customers. But Tenafly Viper is strong stuff indeed; strong enough to melt one's body! And you thought hangovers were bad.
Pretty soon, the homeless population around the liquor store is dwindling as more and more of these unfortunates consume this deadly drop and promptly disintegrate. The first bum to imbibe the killer stuff does so while seated upon a filthy lavatory. He melts into the commode, pulls the chain, and flushes himself away! Truly tasteless, n'est pas? Two more memorable scenes from 'Street Trash' come to mind: in one, a man has his penis bitten off; in the other, a man is spectacularly decapitated by a flying gas cylinder. I read in Fangoria(?) that this scene required eight special effects crew members to pump blood! 'Street Trash' reminds me of Peter Jackson's wonderful 'Bad Taste' which, while far superior to 'Street Trash', is in the same outrageous vein. I guess it might also be likened to 'The Incredible Melting Man', although the special effects makeup in that picture was provided by the legendary Rick Baker - his first film? - and so is much better than anything in 'Street Trash'.
'Street Trash' is an excellent title, because trash is what this film is all about. Its milieu is grimy and bleak, and everything about the whole affair is inherently unclean. Oh yeah, I just remembered another memorable scene: a cop fights a man in a men's room, and beats him to the ground. Then the cop sticks two digits down his own throat and vomits upon the prone man! Pretty sick (excuse the pun)! This film also makes me think of John Waters in its examination of white trash, something Waters did with films such as 'Desperate Living' and 'Pink Flamingoes'. Like those flicks, 'Street Trash' serves up plenty of gross-out gags so, if that is what floats your boat in a movie, then you will certainly enjoy this. I hope 'Street Trash' has a huge cult following, and I suspect it does. And deservedly so.
When oh when oh WHEN is the DVD Special Edition going to be released?! I for one await it with great anticipation. By the way, if you do find this film, do not miss the song which plays over the end credits - very funny stuff! The last time I watched 'Street Trash' I was laughing because one of the bums reminded me of Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes fame. Sorry, Mr Robinson... no offence intended!
It's on the box
kosmasp26 June 2020
Or whatever package it was contained in, when you purchased it. You watched it online/digital/via your implanted eye? Damn that movie is still being seen in a 100 years? Not bad at all (congrats Imdb for also still existing in whatever form that may be). But all jokes aside, this is not a masterpiece, it couldn't be on any scale or measure.
Having said that, the movie has so many merits it's tough to not like it though. If you have a heart for low budget filmmaking or films at all that is. Editing is key here, in combination with guerilla filmmaking at its finest. I can only assume that quite a few shots in the movie were made without permission. A lot of favors cashed in, framing that makes you forget what time of day it is, resources used to its fullest (especially when it comes to location) and quite the special effects ... really well made. The story and characters are paper thin at best ... but this is sleaze, this is trash and so are they. Be aware of what you watch and don't judge it on a different scale. This is not Citizen Kane (that's still a thing people say, right?)
Having said that, the movie has so many merits it's tough to not like it though. If you have a heart for low budget filmmaking or films at all that is. Editing is key here, in combination with guerilla filmmaking at its finest. I can only assume that quite a few shots in the movie were made without permission. A lot of favors cashed in, framing that makes you forget what time of day it is, resources used to its fullest (especially when it comes to location) and quite the special effects ... really well made. The story and characters are paper thin at best ... but this is sleaze, this is trash and so are they. Be aware of what you watch and don't judge it on a different scale. This is not Citizen Kane (that's still a thing people say, right?)
So Wrong, it's Just Plain RIGHT
RevRuin17 May 2001
One day someone said, "I'd like to make a movie featuring a bottle of hooch that makes people melt into multi-colored ooze. I think I'll also add "sub-plots" about insane homeless vets, murder, necrophilia, gang-rape, castration, and police brutality. Oh, and it's a COMEDY."
Anyone who blasts the movie probably had no idea what they were getting into. Yeah, the story - if you want to call it that - is flimsy at best, but the film is punctuated by some inventive effects, some nice camera work, and a hysterical mostly-improvised Doorman character played by James Lorinz.
Summed up, if you like your movies dispicable, reprehensible, obnoxious, offensive, crude, and downright nasty, pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.
Anyone who blasts the movie probably had no idea what they were getting into. Yeah, the story - if you want to call it that - is flimsy at best, but the film is punctuated by some inventive effects, some nice camera work, and a hysterical mostly-improvised Doorman character played by James Lorinz.
Summed up, if you like your movies dispicable, reprehensible, obnoxious, offensive, crude, and downright nasty, pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.
Tideland couldn't possibly be better.....
CelluloidRehab28 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Director J. Michael Muro's opus is also his only directorial credit (so far there is only a rumor of Street Filth Part Deux). The rest of his credits have been either as a camera operator or cinematographer. It is so utterly amazing how and even that this movie got made. This movies started shooting in 1982 and took years of starting and stopping to complete, with a cast consisting of both thespian-trained and complete newcomers (think Bicycle Thieves).
It is gritty at the same time it is vivid. It is New York in its transitional phase during the 80's. The director chose Long Island City on the other side of the East River in Queens as the major location. This area was one of the last remnants of New York City's industrialized past. It is an area of warehouses and brick, the homeless, prostitutes, pimps and the criminally insane. With the choice of eerie electronica as the musical background, the time frame could easily be placed in a post-apocalyptic environment where everyone struggles just to survive. It is interesting how this "lifestyle" is juxtaposed right next to the "civilized/real" world. The real world intrudes into this hyper-real, deteriorating steel jungle. I can't help but be reminded of Robot Holocaust in terms of the look (another movie filmed deep within the power station, in the shadows of New York) and Evil Dead/Dead Again in its spirit.
In a junkyard, two homeless brothers survive the rigors of the street. Introduce a $1 alcohol called Viper, which is like Drano in color and result. This is the other major recurring element, Viper. We follow the trail of the alcohol, like money or a disease/virus passing between various people. I knew there is something intrinsically wrong with with well-drinks at bars. $1 drinks have to be outlawed. In to the mix add a crazy selection of characters : a steroid-laden gung-ho cop, the criminally insane and violent ex-Vietnam vet turned hobo-overlord, a colorful mixture of homeless carny folk, the mob, a gas-mask wearing shoplifting hobo, a bald sweaty lecherous junk yard owner and the greedy alcohol peddler.
This movie is filthy enough to drive you to shower with a pumice stone and rubbing alcohol. It is quite graphic. Everything from hand-to-hand combat to decapitation and from castration to necrophilia. Add in full frontal nudity, exploding heads and acid peel (think of a rainbow version of the death from another 80's cult movie, The Stuff) for an extra layer of added grime. It rubs the dirt on it's skin. It does this whenever it's told. It rubs the dirt on it's skin, or else it gets the hose again.
As I stated earlier, this movie make its home in a vivid Cinema-scope Twilight Zone reality. A trans-realistic place where fate plays a role even on the dog-eat-dog and chaotic fringes of society. This is a place where the law or civilization has a minimal effect. It is a base and much reduced existence. There is no silver lining in this universe. It's a caste system consisting of levels of blue collar rejects.
I had worked and been to this area of New York many times. During several visits I was even solicited for sex and drugs. There are places in this area that remain much the same way they were 20 years ago, while others are being transitioned into the new SoHo. In 20 years, there will be nothing left of what there was. Luckily this movie will be one of those things that survive. It is a tribute to the people and gung-ho independent film making that was and is still possible in New York City (in the same category as Mean Streets, Abel Ferrara's Driller Killer, Toxic Avenger and other productions from Hells Kitchen's own Troma). Watch this one solo or with a recommended wingman. Whatever you do, get your tetanus shot, drink orange juice and eat some Special K in preparation. It sure is a dirty world out there.
It is gritty at the same time it is vivid. It is New York in its transitional phase during the 80's. The director chose Long Island City on the other side of the East River in Queens as the major location. This area was one of the last remnants of New York City's industrialized past. It is an area of warehouses and brick, the homeless, prostitutes, pimps and the criminally insane. With the choice of eerie electronica as the musical background, the time frame could easily be placed in a post-apocalyptic environment where everyone struggles just to survive. It is interesting how this "lifestyle" is juxtaposed right next to the "civilized/real" world. The real world intrudes into this hyper-real, deteriorating steel jungle. I can't help but be reminded of Robot Holocaust in terms of the look (another movie filmed deep within the power station, in the shadows of New York) and Evil Dead/Dead Again in its spirit.
In a junkyard, two homeless brothers survive the rigors of the street. Introduce a $1 alcohol called Viper, which is like Drano in color and result. This is the other major recurring element, Viper. We follow the trail of the alcohol, like money or a disease/virus passing between various people. I knew there is something intrinsically wrong with with well-drinks at bars. $1 drinks have to be outlawed. In to the mix add a crazy selection of characters : a steroid-laden gung-ho cop, the criminally insane and violent ex-Vietnam vet turned hobo-overlord, a colorful mixture of homeless carny folk, the mob, a gas-mask wearing shoplifting hobo, a bald sweaty lecherous junk yard owner and the greedy alcohol peddler.
This movie is filthy enough to drive you to shower with a pumice stone and rubbing alcohol. It is quite graphic. Everything from hand-to-hand combat to decapitation and from castration to necrophilia. Add in full frontal nudity, exploding heads and acid peel (think of a rainbow version of the death from another 80's cult movie, The Stuff) for an extra layer of added grime. It rubs the dirt on it's skin. It does this whenever it's told. It rubs the dirt on it's skin, or else it gets the hose again.
As I stated earlier, this movie make its home in a vivid Cinema-scope Twilight Zone reality. A trans-realistic place where fate plays a role even on the dog-eat-dog and chaotic fringes of society. This is a place where the law or civilization has a minimal effect. It is a base and much reduced existence. There is no silver lining in this universe. It's a caste system consisting of levels of blue collar rejects.
I had worked and been to this area of New York many times. During several visits I was even solicited for sex and drugs. There are places in this area that remain much the same way they were 20 years ago, while others are being transitioned into the new SoHo. In 20 years, there will be nothing left of what there was. Luckily this movie will be one of those things that survive. It is a tribute to the people and gung-ho independent film making that was and is still possible in New York City (in the same category as Mean Streets, Abel Ferrara's Driller Killer, Toxic Avenger and other productions from Hells Kitchen's own Troma). Watch this one solo or with a recommended wingman. Whatever you do, get your tetanus shot, drink orange juice and eat some Special K in preparation. It sure is a dirty world out there.
What was that about again?
supatube4 March 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Originally I assumed it was about a liquor store dealer trying to wipe out the parasitic hobos in the area. Admittedly I wasn't concentrating. Then I picked up the pieces - its about... a hobo who needs to learn to care about his hobo brother... I think. And to be honest, as far as horror goes, maybe my misinterpretation of what was going on was better?
But this was far more comedy than horror, like far more "Pink Flamingos" than it is "Gremlins". And it has it's quirks. The meltdowns are impressive and colourfully so, which I wanted to hate initially. There is crass humour, crass was expected the humour not so much, so props to landing the jokes. Cinematography was surprisingly great, flowing effortlessly with constant awkward frames amplifying that awkward fluidity I was soaking up from this sad little story.
But the characters were awful. Damn, were they awful. Who were we suppose to be watching? The first man we see turns out to be awful, so we assume not him. His brother is sweet but what a total naff, so not him. The cop could be a hero, but he boxes a hobo, so no. Then it turns out, yes, the first guy, and that kinda sucks.
Taking everything into account: the story was lacking, the characters were shocking, the humour had some swings and hits, others were misses, the effects were fun - there is by no means a way of calling this a stellar film, and I wouldn't know when to recommend it that wouldn't feel like a bit of a waste of time but it's not the worst thing to come out of a bargain bin before.
But this was far more comedy than horror, like far more "Pink Flamingos" than it is "Gremlins". And it has it's quirks. The meltdowns are impressive and colourfully so, which I wanted to hate initially. There is crass humour, crass was expected the humour not so much, so props to landing the jokes. Cinematography was surprisingly great, flowing effortlessly with constant awkward frames amplifying that awkward fluidity I was soaking up from this sad little story.
But the characters were awful. Damn, were they awful. Who were we suppose to be watching? The first man we see turns out to be awful, so we assume not him. His brother is sweet but what a total naff, so not him. The cop could be a hero, but he boxes a hobo, so no. Then it turns out, yes, the first guy, and that kinda sucks.
Taking everything into account: the story was lacking, the characters were shocking, the humour had some swings and hits, others were misses, the effects were fun - there is by no means a way of calling this a stellar film, and I wouldn't know when to recommend it that wouldn't feel like a bit of a waste of time but it's not the worst thing to come out of a bargain bin before.
A fun load of rubbish
The_Void20 March 2006
I've wanted to see Street Trash ever since it figured in Empire Magazine's 'Top Ten Goriest Moments' list some time ago...and now that I finally have, I've been left with mixed feelings. The movie gets off to a promising start, which sees a shop owner find a box of old booze (called 'Viper'), which he decides the local bums will lap up for a dollar a bottle. It's not long until the first gore scene - which sees an unlucky drunken tramp take a sip of the drink, and finds himself melting down the toilet (not before pulling the chain!), but then the movie doesn't know what to do with itself; and although the unappetising drink makes up the main plot; it doesn't figure very often, and James Muro's film doesn't really know where to go from there. The rest of the plot focuses around a bunch of bums who live on a rubbish dump. Just like high society, low society has its rules and regulations; and the main focus is on two brothers (one who wears a silly hat), as they struggle against local law enforcement, shop keepers and of course, other bums.
James Muro actually does a good job with the atmosphere on this film, as it's always downtrodden and dirty, and very much suits the tramp underbelly that Street Trash captures. The fact that this movie is about tramps does give it a certain degree of originality, as there aren't many movies that take place in this area of society. Of course, the reason that most people will see this movie is because of the gore. The gore effects are extremely stupid and impossible to take seriously; but then again, you can't go into a movie called 'Street Trash' expecting it to be serious. The set pieces don't show a great deal of originality, but there is something captivating about seeing someone melt away inside their clothes. Street Trash is supposedly the 'king' of "melt movies" - so I hope I don't ever see a 'bad' one. The acting is pretty awful; but the movie does feature one great performance, from Frankenhooker star James Lorinz in the role of 'doorman'. I really wish this guy would get more roles - he's hilarious! In a movie about people melting, the best scene is one that involves him talking to a copper...
James Muro actually does a good job with the atmosphere on this film, as it's always downtrodden and dirty, and very much suits the tramp underbelly that Street Trash captures. The fact that this movie is about tramps does give it a certain degree of originality, as there aren't many movies that take place in this area of society. Of course, the reason that most people will see this movie is because of the gore. The gore effects are extremely stupid and impossible to take seriously; but then again, you can't go into a movie called 'Street Trash' expecting it to be serious. The set pieces don't show a great deal of originality, but there is something captivating about seeing someone melt away inside their clothes. Street Trash is supposedly the 'king' of "melt movies" - so I hope I don't ever see a 'bad' one. The acting is pretty awful; but the movie does feature one great performance, from Frankenhooker star James Lorinz in the role of 'doorman'. I really wish this guy would get more roles - he's hilarious! In a movie about people melting, the best scene is one that involves him talking to a copper...
Heard a lot about this...
Leofwine_draca14 March 2016
STREET TRASH is one of the better known, zero budget B-movies of the 1980s. It has that reputation thanks to a series of incredibly splattery effects scenes in which homeless people melt from the inside out in spectacular displays of multi-coloured goo. Sadly, these excellent effects scenes are absolutely the only thing the film has going for it, and otherwise it's a complete dud.
The viewer is forced to sit through endless and unending scenes of sub-par comedy involving various street characters and their machinations. The opening chase scene is high energy but everything else falls flat, particularly the lowbrow attempts at comedy. There doesn't really seem to be much of a script to speak of, and the acting is strictly amateur. Those special effects are grand indeed, but there aren't enough of them to sustain the running time, and like the Australian flick BODY MELT, this is all effects and no substance.
The viewer is forced to sit through endless and unending scenes of sub-par comedy involving various street characters and their machinations. The opening chase scene is high energy but everything else falls flat, particularly the lowbrow attempts at comedy. There doesn't really seem to be much of a script to speak of, and the acting is strictly amateur. Those special effects are grand indeed, but there aren't enough of them to sustain the running time, and like the Australian flick BODY MELT, this is all effects and no substance.
Most Notorious Melt Movie Must Be Viewed By All
galaxy206916 July 2002
Street Trash (1987) deserves 10+ stars for its movie poster art alone - a splashy and grossly exaggerated masterpiece of a poisoned wino melting and flushing himself down a crusty warehouse toilet. The movie itself is cheap, sleazy, vile, disgusting, florescent, stinky, slimy, perverse, insane, and retarded...which is why it must be viewed by everyone. You must watch this movie.
Street Trash personified the essence of crappy, late 80's horror slop, but also achieved legendary status within hip underground horror circles. What drew me to the movie were the colorful images of the make-up and special effects that gleamed from the pages of Fangoria and GoreZone Magazine. This is truly one-of-a-kind cinema and resides in the outer realms of art-house oddities/gore flicks. They certainly don't make 'em like this anymore!
Street Trash personified the essence of crappy, late 80's horror slop, but also achieved legendary status within hip underground horror circles. What drew me to the movie were the colorful images of the make-up and special effects that gleamed from the pages of Fangoria and GoreZone Magazine. This is truly one-of-a-kind cinema and resides in the outer realms of art-house oddities/gore flicks. They certainly don't make 'em like this anymore!
Junkyard dogs
movieman_kev6 September 2005
A liquor store owner finds a crate of Viper alcohol in his basement which he sells to dirty bums for a buck per bottle. But the brew comes with the nasty side effect of causing the drinker to melt. The film also has to deal with bums who live in a junkyard, a local mobster, and a sociopath Vietnam vet. I first saw this as sometime in my early teens, the penis keep away, and the bum melting into the toilet stayed with me. So when I saw it out on DVD, being the splatter horror moviephile that I am, I didn't hesitate to pick it up. Knowing that a 2-disk special edition was on the horizon, but I just couldn't wait anymore. Sadly it wasn't as great as I remembered, it kinda drags horribly in some places and could definitely by trimmed down a bit to tighten it up, yet there's still more then enough good points to recommend it. Great gore, some hilarious dialog, totally UN-PC (which I always applaud) and while the 'plot' seemed like it was just scrawled on a bar napkin one drunken night, I didn't seem to mind much. A fun LOW low budget splatter film although in the end, i like 1993's "Body Melt" a bit better.
My Grade: C+
Eye Candy: full frontal by a man and woman as well as a topless woman near the beginning; Miriam Zucker as a drunk slut shows all; and Jane Arakawa gets topless as Wendy
DVD Extras: only a theatrical trailer
Notes: comes with Viper sticker labels, which is neat
My Grade: C+
Eye Candy: full frontal by a man and woman as well as a topless woman near the beginning; Miriam Zucker as a drunk slut shows all; and Jane Arakawa gets topless as Wendy
DVD Extras: only a theatrical trailer
Notes: comes with Viper sticker labels, which is neat
Boring Trash
BloodyPredator221 September 2020
6.1 for this Boring Garbage ? in 100 Minutes Runtime there are only 4-5 Gore scenes. The remain is just meaningless dialogues and pointless characters and the jokes aren't funny at all. The Incredible Melting Man is way better than this (though it's also not a great movie).
Diamond in the Trash!
Movie-Misfit19 November 2014
Street Trash is an amazing little surprise of wonderful cinematography, hilarious satire, cheesy performances, fantastic old school special effects and gore, and total entertainment!
This is what the 80's was all about, true independent film making that didn't need to follow rules and still manages to entertain more than most of the Hollywood crap that comes out today.
UK based distributors, Arrow Label, have released such a beautiful DVD and Bluray package that includes reverse sleeves, original artwork, with a host of extras and digitally remastered version of the classic!
I really enjoyed Street Trash. It is exactly what it says on the tin, bright and colourful, loud and nasty, hilarious and gross.
Well worth the watch!
This is what the 80's was all about, true independent film making that didn't need to follow rules and still manages to entertain more than most of the Hollywood crap that comes out today.
UK based distributors, Arrow Label, have released such a beautiful DVD and Bluray package that includes reverse sleeves, original artwork, with a host of extras and digitally remastered version of the classic!
I really enjoyed Street Trash. It is exactly what it says on the tin, bright and colourful, loud and nasty, hilarious and gross.
Well worth the watch!
Good fun
karl_consiglio20 September 2010
The thing I like about B-movies is that can go all the way, well at least within their budget. Sometimes you see big budgets that have all the money and know how and yet keep their films boringly safe and thereby uncreative. I loved Street trash, particularly the cinematography, good composition and use of color(not referring to the gluey stuff that comes out of the bodies here). The music might have been a wee bit too spoon feeding and the use of dirt of the characters faces, at times the make up was a wee bit overdone. I wonder why that nice chick did not bother taking that dirty kid she fancied home, first and foremost for, privacy, safety and so as he may have a wash before going down on him.
Tries too hard
Superunknovvn5 December 2005
"Street Trash" tries so hard to be a cult movie with it's nonsensical storyline, the over the top gore and violence and the weird characters. That's the main problem with this film. Instead of being a charming little b-movie it turned out to be a somewhat annoying and seemingly endless obscurity. Example: there's a scene where a bum gets his penis cut off and a bunch of other guys start playing Piggy In The Middle with it. Do you get the picture? This movie is begging to be loved by people who love the gross and the absurd and it's all too obvious. Besides, "Street Trash" never seems to get anywhere. It starts of with a guy farting in another guy's face, then some guy's literally melting away and we think, okay, that's what the movie's going to be about. Then this storyline is completely abandoned and for hours and hours (or so it seems) we witness the everday life of a bunch of bums who live in little self made flats at a car dump. Obviously, for most parts this movie isn't meant seriously (there's a hilarious Robert DeNiro-like character called Nick Duran who curses in a ridiculously rude manner and who even gets to sing his own little song when the credits roll) but on the other hand the makers also seemed eager to gain the respect of horror audiences. As a horror movie "Street Trash" falls flat on its face. The gore effects are nicely done and there's interesting steady cam work to be found here (I hear the director went on to work for James Cameron), but the epic length and the stupid plot of this film prevent this from being a success. If you just have a casual interest in the genre, avoid "Street Trash" at all costs and even if you're a die hard-fan think twice about watching it. Sitting this one through really is a toughie.
Hypnotic! Dripping in class, and really very well done
jamesbourke5014 December 2001
Warning: Spoilers
If you've ever seen the cover for this movie, either sitting on a shelf in some video store or found it hidden in the bargain bin underneath the likes of 'What Lies Beneath' or Titanic' and you've simply thought, no way will i ever let this gross looking booger grace my v.c.r, friends let me just say, you'll be missing out on the treat of a lifetime.
It's strange when you discover movies and to what degree they affect you, for me it was writing down every line of dialogue that i found amusing and memorable, and from the first scene to the last, every line is a gem, the camerawork is fluid and precise, who knew that years later the director James(Jim)Muro would later lend his steadicam talents to such high brow fare as Strange Days, Heat and even more so Point Break, will he ever consider taking another shot in the directors chair?
As for the acting, spot on, these guys were total unkowns to me, apart from R.L. Ryan who turned up in stuff like The Toxic Avenger and Eat and Run, but everyone involved infront of the camera as well as behind really took the bull by the proverbials, and this is the legacy that they have left us.
Also if you like me like watching out for Producer's or Directors turning up in they're own films, watch out for writer/producer Roy Frumkes as the poor unfortunate buisnessman who gets himself covered in Viper Gue and then proceeds to melt.
If you ever wanted to see a movie where the cop beats up on a susicious person and then proceeds to throw up on them, or a gang of junkyard bums playing catch with a severed penis, say no more, pay the money for the movie in that bargain bin, because a bargain you are going to get, in every sense of they way
It's strange when you discover movies and to what degree they affect you, for me it was writing down every line of dialogue that i found amusing and memorable, and from the first scene to the last, every line is a gem, the camerawork is fluid and precise, who knew that years later the director James(Jim)Muro would later lend his steadicam talents to such high brow fare as Strange Days, Heat and even more so Point Break, will he ever consider taking another shot in the directors chair?
As for the acting, spot on, these guys were total unkowns to me, apart from R.L. Ryan who turned up in stuff like The Toxic Avenger and Eat and Run, but everyone involved infront of the camera as well as behind really took the bull by the proverbials, and this is the legacy that they have left us.
Also if you like me like watching out for Producer's or Directors turning up in they're own films, watch out for writer/producer Roy Frumkes as the poor unfortunate buisnessman who gets himself covered in Viper Gue and then proceeds to melt.
If you ever wanted to see a movie where the cop beats up on a susicious person and then proceeds to throw up on them, or a gang of junkyard bums playing catch with a severed penis, say no more, pay the money for the movie in that bargain bin, because a bargain you are going to get, in every sense of they way
Get a mop
hellholehorror17 May 2021
A cop deliberately throws up on a 'suspect', a tramp urinates on a cop after taking him out, the same tramp cuts someone's penis off and then plays catch with his mates with it, a girl is drunk, gets screwed to death by a bunch of tramps and then her corpse screwed by a fat horny guy. I haven't even started on the booze that makes you melt or explode. The title tells you everything that you need to know. Trash would be my one word. Tramps are obsessed from booze is what I learnt. This movie is pretty funny, not a trash classic like Brain Damage (1988) or Maniac Cop (1988) but full of great melting and a tramp community that is far from normality. A million times better than The (far from) Incredible Melting Man (1977). I do like the gritty eighties theme that is also present in Vice Squad (1982), They Live (1988) and to a lesser extent in The Toxic Avenger (1984). That was a long review for such oddly entertaining trash that is actually a bit boring and lacks depth but who thought it wouldn't? This is pure trash. You're reading this so you'll probably enjoy it because you like trash. Never forget playing piggy-in-the-middle with a tramp's severed penis. Also "get a mop" takes on a new meaning.
Great effects, not much anything else
westside-surfer12 August 2014
I was hoping for a Toxic Avenger quality flick. The cover looked awesomely disgusting so it looked promising. Straight up, Street Trash has some of the coolest gross-out effects I've ever seen. The hobos really looked like bums. I'm still wondering if some of them were picked up on the spot, or at least bought the clothes off their greasy backs.
Unfortunately, Street Trash scraps everything else. There's no story, character development, or dialogue. Apart from the hilarious "keep away" scene, there's hardly a reason not to push the fast-forward button. Burton, the gas-mask wearing bum, was the only guy with any charisma. Too bad he only played a supporting role to the main character, if you can even call him that.
Toxic Avenger is legendary not just because of the grotesque special effects; it worked because characters were actually funny and likable. We empathize with Toxie when he's shunned by his mother and has to live in the dump. A lot of these Troma-inspired directors concentrate exclusively on the shocking deaths and forget to give us a reason to watch the remaining 75% of the movie.
Street Trash is cool if you're just in it for the effects (which are awesome). Everyone else will be let down. Damn, this movie had such great potential.
Unfortunately, Street Trash scraps everything else. There's no story, character development, or dialogue. Apart from the hilarious "keep away" scene, there's hardly a reason not to push the fast-forward button. Burton, the gas-mask wearing bum, was the only guy with any charisma. Too bad he only played a supporting role to the main character, if you can even call him that.
Toxic Avenger is legendary not just because of the grotesque special effects; it worked because characters were actually funny and likable. We empathize with Toxie when he's shunned by his mother and has to live in the dump. A lot of these Troma-inspired directors concentrate exclusively on the shocking deaths and forget to give us a reason to watch the remaining 75% of the movie.
Street Trash is cool if you're just in it for the effects (which are awesome). Everyone else will be let down. Damn, this movie had such great potential.
One man's trash...
TomBofthelivingdead19 October 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Awesome flick! Think Troma and you're on the right track. Street Trash would be right at home with other Troma fare like Toxic Avenger and Class Of Nuke'em High (infact, a couple people you might recognize from those films appear here as well). Sud & Buds are the order of the day! This one's putting a comedic slant on the proceedings (like the two movies I just mentioned) and for the most part, it works. The laughs are intentional, as opposed to other movies I have reviewed, which you tend to laugh at due to the high grade of cheese involved.
One morning, a liquor store owner uncovers a case of booze, called Tenafly Viper, in the basement that appears to have been there since prohibition was repealed. Being an opportunistic business man, he sells the stuff for a buck a bottle. Since his store is located in a Jersey slum, his customers tend to be homeless drunks. Lo and behold, a young homeless drunk, named Fred (who lives in a auto wrecking yard with his younger brother, Kevin), comes in and swipes a bottle and then has it stolen by another derelict. Turns out, Fred's lucky it happened cause when the thief sits down on a toilet and takes a swig from the bottle, he pretty much turns into slime (neon slime, at that) and drains down the crapper.
More homeless people start to melt after drinking the Viper, till Fred realizes what's going on when he sees one of them explode. Now it's up to him to warn everybody. To make matters worse, he's got a mobster, named Duran, after him cause he made off with the guy's girlfriend while she was drunk and puking in an alley behind Duran's restaurant. Fred takes her back to his squat and has his way with her... till the other bums in the area show up and pretty much rape the holy hell outta her and leave her dead, down by the river. Duran has also got it in for the doorman who let Fred walk right by with the girl and did nothing to stop him.
Also, there's Bronson (played by Vic Noto), a deranged Veitnam veteran who's kinda like the school yard bully of the bums. He has a (very) small army of homeless troops to carry out his orders, which include terrorizing the locals. Add in a no nonsense cop looking to take Bronson down and you got yourself a hell of a good time. As I said at the start, if you like Troma films, there's a lot you'll probably dig here.
The Good: The characters and dialogue, for starters. Bronson is a real loon, taking every opportunity to act like he's still back in Nam. The cop (played by Bill Chepil) is even better! I love it when he tells a woman that's giving him a hard time about helping a guy who's been splattered by a melting bum, "Lady, I'm not so sure you don't gotta cock". The scene where Fred and Kevin's friend, Burt, hits a grocery store to shoplift them some dinner is a riot. The best though, has got to be Duran and the doorman (Tony Darrow and James Lorinz). They're scenes together crack me up. I like the melting scenes as well. The film isn't very gory in a blood and guts way (though there are a couple scenes that are pretty nasty), it's more about the melting, which is pretty gross none the less. I think the special effects are darn good, considering the meager budget this movie had. Oh yeah, the scene where Bronson starts a game of keep away with a guys severed penis is a hoot!
The Not So Good: There's a bit of a stretch were no one melts. Since these scenes are amongst the highlights of the movie, it's a little bit of a letdown. The acting, as usual in these types of movies, is pretty bad but, c'mon, it's a low budget splatter flick from the 1980's. If you don't do juvenile humor (penis keep away anyone?), you'll want to avoid this one.
One morning, a liquor store owner uncovers a case of booze, called Tenafly Viper, in the basement that appears to have been there since prohibition was repealed. Being an opportunistic business man, he sells the stuff for a buck a bottle. Since his store is located in a Jersey slum, his customers tend to be homeless drunks. Lo and behold, a young homeless drunk, named Fred (who lives in a auto wrecking yard with his younger brother, Kevin), comes in and swipes a bottle and then has it stolen by another derelict. Turns out, Fred's lucky it happened cause when the thief sits down on a toilet and takes a swig from the bottle, he pretty much turns into slime (neon slime, at that) and drains down the crapper.
More homeless people start to melt after drinking the Viper, till Fred realizes what's going on when he sees one of them explode. Now it's up to him to warn everybody. To make matters worse, he's got a mobster, named Duran, after him cause he made off with the guy's girlfriend while she was drunk and puking in an alley behind Duran's restaurant. Fred takes her back to his squat and has his way with her... till the other bums in the area show up and pretty much rape the holy hell outta her and leave her dead, down by the river. Duran has also got it in for the doorman who let Fred walk right by with the girl and did nothing to stop him.
Also, there's Bronson (played by Vic Noto), a deranged Veitnam veteran who's kinda like the school yard bully of the bums. He has a (very) small army of homeless troops to carry out his orders, which include terrorizing the locals. Add in a no nonsense cop looking to take Bronson down and you got yourself a hell of a good time. As I said at the start, if you like Troma films, there's a lot you'll probably dig here.
The Good: The characters and dialogue, for starters. Bronson is a real loon, taking every opportunity to act like he's still back in Nam. The cop (played by Bill Chepil) is even better! I love it when he tells a woman that's giving him a hard time about helping a guy who's been splattered by a melting bum, "Lady, I'm not so sure you don't gotta cock". The scene where Fred and Kevin's friend, Burt, hits a grocery store to shoplift them some dinner is a riot. The best though, has got to be Duran and the doorman (Tony Darrow and James Lorinz). They're scenes together crack me up. I like the melting scenes as well. The film isn't very gory in a blood and guts way (though there are a couple scenes that are pretty nasty), it's more about the melting, which is pretty gross none the less. I think the special effects are darn good, considering the meager budget this movie had. Oh yeah, the scene where Bronson starts a game of keep away with a guys severed penis is a hoot!
The Not So Good: There's a bit of a stretch were no one melts. Since these scenes are amongst the highlights of the movie, it's a little bit of a letdown. The acting, as usual in these types of movies, is pretty bad but, c'mon, it's a low budget splatter flick from the 1980's. If you don't do juvenile humor (penis keep away anyone?), you'll want to avoid this one.
A trashy tale of down-and-outs with a serious drink problem.
BA_Harrison23 January 2009
When a liquor store owner discovers a crate of 60 year old alcoholic beverage called Viper hidden in his basement, he decides to get shot of it by flogging it to the local hobo population for $1 a bottle. Rather than cough up a buck, filthy tramp Fred swipes a bottle of Viper (although why he doesn't nick something better is beyond me) but can't seem to hang on to his booze long enough to sample it. This turns out to be rather fortunate for the light-fingered vagrant, since Viper turns out to have the tendency to melt anyone who drinks it!
A low-budget, Troma-style comedy/horror that aims to mix outrageous scenes of bad taste with gloopy special effects and broad comedy, Street Trash has attained something of a loyal cult following since its initial release in 1987. Personally, I can't quite see what the fuss is about: director Jim Muro occasionally achieves a satisfying balance of tastelessness and gross-out humour, but for the majority of the running time, his movie just isn't offensive enough to be shocking, bloody enough to be horrifying, or clever enough to be funny.
Furthermore, the narrative structure for Street Trash is almost as messy as one of its melted tramps, with its tale of dissolving drunks clumsily intertwined with several other random story lines: there's a dreary sub-plot featuring a hard-as-nails cop who is out to capture a psychotic Vietnam veteran, an unlikely romance that blossoms between Fred's teenage brother and an Asian chick sporting nasty 80s hair and makeup, and some rubbish about a smart mouthed doorman who runs into a spot of trouble with his mafia boss.
As for the much trumpeted 'melt' scenes, they are (with the exception of one impressive exploding hobo) very unconvincing, the victims dissolving into piles of what looks like fruit puree and multi-coloured paint.
Still, I suppose a viewing of this movie is still worthwhile thanks to its classic 'piggy-in-the-middle-with-a-severed-penis' scene, the moment where a hugely overweight, bald sleaze-bag indulges in a spot of non-explicit necrophilia (always good for a laugh), and the OTT finale in which a character is decapitated by a flying compressed-air cylinder.
A low-budget, Troma-style comedy/horror that aims to mix outrageous scenes of bad taste with gloopy special effects and broad comedy, Street Trash has attained something of a loyal cult following since its initial release in 1987. Personally, I can't quite see what the fuss is about: director Jim Muro occasionally achieves a satisfying balance of tastelessness and gross-out humour, but for the majority of the running time, his movie just isn't offensive enough to be shocking, bloody enough to be horrifying, or clever enough to be funny.
Furthermore, the narrative structure for Street Trash is almost as messy as one of its melted tramps, with its tale of dissolving drunks clumsily intertwined with several other random story lines: there's a dreary sub-plot featuring a hard-as-nails cop who is out to capture a psychotic Vietnam veteran, an unlikely romance that blossoms between Fred's teenage brother and an Asian chick sporting nasty 80s hair and makeup, and some rubbish about a smart mouthed doorman who runs into a spot of trouble with his mafia boss.
As for the much trumpeted 'melt' scenes, they are (with the exception of one impressive exploding hobo) very unconvincing, the victims dissolving into piles of what looks like fruit puree and multi-coloured paint.
Still, I suppose a viewing of this movie is still worthwhile thanks to its classic 'piggy-in-the-middle-with-a-severed-penis' scene, the moment where a hugely overweight, bald sleaze-bag indulges in a spot of non-explicit necrophilia (always good for a laugh), and the OTT finale in which a character is decapitated by a flying compressed-air cylinder.
Sleazy and disgusting and just plain fun!
Hey_Sweden15 November 2014
Liquor store owner Ed (M. D'Jango Krunch) is nosing around in his basement when he finds some VERY old booze labelled "Tenafly Viper". He figures, what the hell, he'll sell it to his customers for $1 a bottle. But this booze is deadly stuff: when people drink it, they explode into goop in all colours of the rainbow. While the body count rises, the story focuses on two street denizens who are brothers: Fred (Mike Lackey) and Kevin (Mark Sferrazza) who take up residence in a spacious auto junkyard along with various other hobos.
"Street Trash" marks, to date, the only theatrical directing credit for James M. Muro, who went on to Hollywood and became one of the most in-demand Steadicam operators in the business. Basing this movie on a short subject he'd made, he clearly has some real fun with the material. The Manhattan-based production makes some excellent use of locations, and has some very striking characters. Among them is the almighty Bronson (Vic Noto), a psychotic Vietnam veteran with a bunch of flunkies. Sexy Jane Arakawa, a gal with a great pair of legs, is the secretary who takes sympathy on Fred & Kevin and their cronies. Pat Ryan ("The Toxic Avenger") is her horny, scuzzy boss. And Bill Chepil is the surly, hard driving detective working these streets.
The makeup effects are wonderfully gross and effective. There are scenes here so memorable that they remain favourites for fans: Burts' impromptu shopping trip, and the entire "penis keepaway" sequence. One brilliant gag occurs early on when Bronson manhandles a nerdy motorist. The two best characters are thuggish restaurant owner Nick Duran (Tony Darrow) and his smart mouthed doorman (James Lorinz of "Frankenhooker"). Muro and company know that their scenes are some of the funniest here, so they keep their story going during the end credits.
While "Street Trash" took about 13 weeks to shoot, its journey to movie screens took about three years. It proves that filmmaking finesse isn't always everything: sometimes gung-ho enthusiasm and the willingness to pull out all the stops can go a long way too.
Eight out of 10.
"Street Trash" marks, to date, the only theatrical directing credit for James M. Muro, who went on to Hollywood and became one of the most in-demand Steadicam operators in the business. Basing this movie on a short subject he'd made, he clearly has some real fun with the material. The Manhattan-based production makes some excellent use of locations, and has some very striking characters. Among them is the almighty Bronson (Vic Noto), a psychotic Vietnam veteran with a bunch of flunkies. Sexy Jane Arakawa, a gal with a great pair of legs, is the secretary who takes sympathy on Fred & Kevin and their cronies. Pat Ryan ("The Toxic Avenger") is her horny, scuzzy boss. And Bill Chepil is the surly, hard driving detective working these streets.
The makeup effects are wonderfully gross and effective. There are scenes here so memorable that they remain favourites for fans: Burts' impromptu shopping trip, and the entire "penis keepaway" sequence. One brilliant gag occurs early on when Bronson manhandles a nerdy motorist. The two best characters are thuggish restaurant owner Nick Duran (Tony Darrow) and his smart mouthed doorman (James Lorinz of "Frankenhooker"). Muro and company know that their scenes are some of the funniest here, so they keep their story going during the end credits.
While "Street Trash" took about 13 weeks to shoot, its journey to movie screens took about three years. It proves that filmmaking finesse isn't always everything: sometimes gung-ho enthusiasm and the willingness to pull out all the stops can go a long way too.
Eight out of 10.
Street Fighters
thesar-223 December 2017
Well, this film's trivia bit sums up the movie very nicely:
Vic Noto (Bronson) was cast a day before principal photography commenced (less than 12 hours.) "I didn't know what the hell I was doing," he said, "nor did I EVER understand who Bronson was. I did scene by scene not even knowing what the movie was about. I didn't read the script until three months AFTER (the movie) was wrapped. I STILL don't know who Bronson was."
This "movie" is all over the place and yet, still (mostly) works. It's also simultaneously intentionally and unintentionally funny and effective in scares, but that might just be me: decades-old, low budget horror has frightened me since I was a lad.
Not sure what the intention of this film was, but they sure as hell crammed in a ton of ideas. An antihero bum, a crazy Vet and toxic alcohol all play central themes, but so does horrible rape, sexual harassment, a gangster vs. a comedian and tons and tons of both full-frontal male and female nudity.
I guess the death drink is prime, though it only shows up for a fraction of the movie. Basically, a liquor store owner finds a carton of old liquor and without thought, sells it for a buck a pop (kinda low, even for mid-80s time) and within seconds of drinking, or even touching, the victim is reduced to the same fate as that toxic-gang member towards the end of Robocop (same summer as this film. Must've been a theme or fear of the time.)
But, there are many more subplots as we really follow the antihero homeless man through many misadventures. It's thoroughly nuts and yet watchable. I seriously doubt anyone was serious here and they were, indeed, out to have a fun and humorous time despite the few, though effective, gore scenes.
Recommended for die-hard trashy-80s low budget "horror-comedies," like Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, The Toxic Avenger and other Troma film fans. Though, unbelievably, this was shot much better than those other disturbing, but "fun," films.
***
Final thoughts: You show me full-frontal male nudity within seconds of the film opening, and you got me hooked. Nice touch, so to speak, to not just feature the gals.
Vic Noto (Bronson) was cast a day before principal photography commenced (less than 12 hours.) "I didn't know what the hell I was doing," he said, "nor did I EVER understand who Bronson was. I did scene by scene not even knowing what the movie was about. I didn't read the script until three months AFTER (the movie) was wrapped. I STILL don't know who Bronson was."
This "movie" is all over the place and yet, still (mostly) works. It's also simultaneously intentionally and unintentionally funny and effective in scares, but that might just be me: decades-old, low budget horror has frightened me since I was a lad.
Not sure what the intention of this film was, but they sure as hell crammed in a ton of ideas. An antihero bum, a crazy Vet and toxic alcohol all play central themes, but so does horrible rape, sexual harassment, a gangster vs. a comedian and tons and tons of both full-frontal male and female nudity.
I guess the death drink is prime, though it only shows up for a fraction of the movie. Basically, a liquor store owner finds a carton of old liquor and without thought, sells it for a buck a pop (kinda low, even for mid-80s time) and within seconds of drinking, or even touching, the victim is reduced to the same fate as that toxic-gang member towards the end of Robocop (same summer as this film. Must've been a theme or fear of the time.)
But, there are many more subplots as we really follow the antihero homeless man through many misadventures. It's thoroughly nuts and yet watchable. I seriously doubt anyone was serious here and they were, indeed, out to have a fun and humorous time despite the few, though effective, gore scenes.
Recommended for die-hard trashy-80s low budget "horror-comedies," like Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, The Toxic Avenger and other Troma film fans. Though, unbelievably, this was shot much better than those other disturbing, but "fun," films.
***
Final thoughts: You show me full-frontal male nudity within seconds of the film opening, and you got me hooked. Nice touch, so to speak, to not just feature the gals.
something not very funny about this horror-comedy
o_s_k_r8 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this because I saw it compared to Peter Jackson's early films. Unfortunately there's something not quite on the money with Street Trash. The film starts off great with a couple of hilarious melt-deaths. Then the horror dries up and it becomes a fairly unpleasant tale about a bunch of hobos living in a junkyard. There's not really any likable characters and a vague misogynistic undercurrent. The movie could really benefit from having a strong female lead but there's only victims to be found. There's a nympho-type who gets gang-raped and murdered. There's a van full of prostitutes. There's a deranged hobo girl who seems desperate for sex. The only half decent female character is an Asian girl who fends off the molestations of her necrophiliac boss. But she doesn't seem to be angry enough about it. I would have preferred to see her out for revenge or at least call the police. Basically the middle section of this film is sexist trash. There's also a scene were a penis is chopped off and thrown all over the junkyard like a football match. But somehow that didn't make me laugh it just felt downbeat and creepy.
That said you should definitely hang in there for the final third of the movie. The last gore- deaths are amazing and ridiculous. And the way the Vietnam vet finally gets his due is very impressive. There's some great stuff in this final section. The scenes featuring James Lorinz (think Frankenhooker) are also pretty funny and lively.
That said you should definitely hang in there for the final third of the movie. The last gore- deaths are amazing and ridiculous. And the way the Vietnam vet finally gets his due is very impressive. There's some great stuff in this final section. The scenes featuring James Lorinz (think Frankenhooker) are also pretty funny and lively.
Magnificent Trash!!!
tordeforest30 December 2002
Street Trash is a masterpiece of crap! If you are an aficionado of intentionally horrible garbage, you cannot do better than this. It's got everything you'll love - keep away with a guy's dick, corpse rape, melting bums, and more! And I've found that all guys love it, and all girls hate it. If you're a guy, what more could you ask for in an afternoon's entertainment with the guys? The next time your wife or girlfriend decides to attend a teddy bear convention or something like that, get a couple of suitcases, a boatload of nachos, and throw a Street Trash / Frankenhooker party for your friends. They'll love you for it!
Lost Treasure From the 1980s... Not to be Missed
gavin69425 April 2009
In a world where the homeless fight each other and will do just about anything for food and booze, we come across "Street Trash". All is fine and good until the day a long lost case of Tenafly Viper, a cheap wine, is uncovered and sold to the bums... one sip of this stuff, and you're history.
I have heard of this film talked about highly for some time now, and I finally saw it. Oh my! The blood, gore and nasty black humor is unbelievable. What can this film be compared to? Not much... maybe some of Troma's better films ("Terror Firmer"?), or "Frankenhooker". It stands alone as the ultimate bum fight movie.
The special effects really take the cake. Melting bums... exploding bums... bums that get ripped in half... this is the kind of thing that takes the best minds in the makeup industry to perfect, and they've done it. Sure, the colorful ooze might not be realistic... but I don't think that was the point here. It's just messy!
If you haven't seen this... see it. Like, now. Like, this day. Seriously. Don't watch anything else. If you do, that is a big mistake. Thank you, Synapse Films for releasing this... if a better copy exists, I don't know about it. But then, what do I know? I hesitated too long on seeing this and deserve to be punished.
I have heard of this film talked about highly for some time now, and I finally saw it. Oh my! The blood, gore and nasty black humor is unbelievable. What can this film be compared to? Not much... maybe some of Troma's better films ("Terror Firmer"?), or "Frankenhooker". It stands alone as the ultimate bum fight movie.
The special effects really take the cake. Melting bums... exploding bums... bums that get ripped in half... this is the kind of thing that takes the best minds in the makeup industry to perfect, and they've done it. Sure, the colorful ooze might not be realistic... but I don't think that was the point here. It's just messy!
If you haven't seen this... see it. Like, now. Like, this day. Seriously. Don't watch anything else. If you do, that is a big mistake. Thank you, Synapse Films for releasing this... if a better copy exists, I don't know about it. But then, what do I know? I hesitated too long on seeing this and deserve to be punished.
Definitely a product of its time
preppy-327 July 2010
REALLY revolting horror film about a bunch of homeless guys drinking some liquid that transforms them into monsters...or something. I caught this at a film festival way back in 1987. It was unrated but no one under 17 was admitted into the theatre. The director actually introduced the film and there were a few cast members in the audience. Afterwards there was a Q&A. During the film EIGHT people walked out in pure disgust--one woman made it a point to yell at us that we were all perverts for watching when she stormed out. The director was verbally attacked in the lobby and the Q&A didn't go well. Me (like most of the audience) were just so totally disgusted at what we saw that we just sat there stunned. This film easily has some of the most disgusting characters and incidents I've ever seen in a movie. One bit with a nude dead woman in a junkyard almost made me bolt. However these films were all the rage in the 1980s. "The Evil Dead", "Reanimator", "Day of the Dead"...all unrated and playing at mainstream theatres. This wouldn't be made today and no theatre would touch it. It also shows NYC of the 1980s which doesn't exist anymore. So it IS interesting as a period piece. However, as a film, it's pretty dreadful. Badly acted with horrendous special effects but you do have to admire it (sort of) for going full force and not backing down or trying to be politically correct. It sets out to be offensive and it DOES achieve that! Is this a good movie? Not at all but it's gotten a certain cult status. If you're into REAL graphic gore and no budget horror films you might get a kick out of this. I give if a 4 mostly for its nerve.
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