A psychotic cop in Southern California is targeting prostitutes for execution; meanwhile, a pretty blonde urchin tries getting her life together. I rented this because I was very impressed with director Katt Shea's work on the underrated "Poison Ivy" and I was not disappointed. The psycho stuff doesn't really jell with the homeless kids angle, but it's a commendable attempt to mix genres, and Christina Applegate gives a superb, surprisingly serious lead performance (her final scene in a bus depot is riveting and heart-rending). Much better than I was expecting, "Streets" is a good, hearty try at both social drama and crime thriller. **1/2 from ****
14 Reviews
Underrated film about life on the street
goya-420 September 2000
Christina Applegate stars in her movie debut as a runaway teen who can't read. She learns about life on the streets of Venice Beach..not as bad as it sounds.. Applegate does well and the story isnt half bad..the requisite prostitute killing cop kinda pushes it though... on a scale of one to ten..a 6
This could haven been much better
preppy-317 April 2006
Forgotten movie which barely got a release. I didn't even know it existed until I saw it while casually browsing at a video store. Homeless teenager hooker Dawn (Christina Applegate) angers psychotic cop Lumley (Eb Lottimer) who wants to kill her. She runs into a nice, normal teenage boy (David Mendenhall) and, together, they try to get away from the cop.
Supposedly factual movie on the lives of homeless kids in Vencie, California. It was obviously made on a VERY low budget and looks appropriately grimy and gritty. It is well directed and Applegate is just fantastic as Dawn. Mendenhall has his moments too and it has an incredibly sad (but realistic) ending. Still, two things really lessen this film.
One is some truly terrible dialogue--the situations are believable but the dialogue isn't. The second is Lottimer as the killer--he's not a bad actor but his character is given NO depth or insight. Also the bursts of VERY graphic violence are jarring. With a little more polish to the script and more depth this might have worked. As it stands it's only worth seeing for Applegate and some nice direction. I can only give it a 7.
Supposedly factual movie on the lives of homeless kids in Vencie, California. It was obviously made on a VERY low budget and looks appropriately grimy and gritty. It is well directed and Applegate is just fantastic as Dawn. Mendenhall has his moments too and it has an incredibly sad (but realistic) ending. Still, two things really lessen this film.
One is some truly terrible dialogue--the situations are believable but the dialogue isn't. The second is Lottimer as the killer--he's not a bad actor but his character is given NO depth or insight. Also the bursts of VERY graphic violence are jarring. With a little more polish to the script and more depth this might have worked. As it stands it's only worth seeing for Applegate and some nice direction. I can only give it a 7.
*** out of 4.
brandonsites198112 September 2001
A police officer is loose on the streets killing runaway teenagers who were forced into prostitution in Venice, California. His main target is a would be victim (Applegate) who escaped.
Compelling look at homeless teenagers manages to blend in a thrilling suspense story also. Applegate is very good in the lead role, the situations are done realisticly and the direction is terrific. Very well made thriller is highly underrated.
Rated R; Extreme Violence, Lanuage, Brief Nudity, and a Sexual Situation involving teenagers.
Compelling look at homeless teenagers manages to blend in a thrilling suspense story also. Applegate is very good in the lead role, the situations are done realisticly and the direction is terrific. Very well made thriller is highly underrated.
Rated R; Extreme Violence, Lanuage, Brief Nudity, and a Sexual Situation involving teenagers.
Street Without Joy
sol12182 December 2006
Warning: Spoilers
**SPOILERS** Hard hitting and thought-provoking film about life on the streets in one of the most depressing and run down section of the city of Los Angeles that's so barren and lifeless that it looks like it was hit by a nuclear explosion. Even the color in "Streets" is so washed out and lackluster that it comes across like an black white and light-brown film.
Surviving on the streets since her prostitute and drug addicted mother deserted her as a little girl Dawn, Christina Applegate,has been turning tricks to support her self and her heroin habit. One day as she's talking business with one of her Johns under the boardwalk he suddenly attacks and tries to strangle her to death. Rescued from the psycho by vacationing music student Sy, David Mendenhall,the two become almost inseparable for the rest of the film due to circumstances beyond their control.It just so happens that the psycho who attacked Dawn turned out to be LA motorcycle policeman Lumby, Eb Lottimer, who's sick obsession is into both taking as well as giving pain.
Being stalked by Lumby, who we find out is a serial murder of local L.A prostitutes, who's sick mind just can't accept that Dawn got away from him with Sy's help. During the rest of the movie h murders a number of Dawn's friends in order to get from them information where she's staying at in order to both torture and murder her. The scenes of Dawn living and surviving on the cold hard and unfriendly streets of inner city L.A are about as realistic as any movie that I've ever seen about street people. The film also shows how their lives are nothing more then being able to survive from one day to the next with death as the only way out for them in this hell on earth. Which in many cases is not of their own choosing but whatever fate or providence choose for them.
The psycho on the loose angle of the movie is it's weakest point with Lumby being made to be an L.A policemen who thrives on inflicting pain on himself. We also see him going out on the streets and murdering homeless people who don't have anyone who as much as cares if their alive or dead like Dawn. It would have been more believable if Lumby were just your average solitary and rootless psycho-killer who could get away with his crimes a lot easier then a member of the local police force. Who's constantly supervised by his superiors and watched by his fellow police officers whom he works the streets with.
The film "Streets" doesn't at all cop out in it's depiction of Dawn who comes across as a hard and bitten street hooker who's seen her best and most productive days long pass her by and rarely if ever as the girl next door type in both her lifestyle and her taste in the good things in life. All Dawn wan't in life in a mattress to lay down on, every now and then with a John customer, a roof over her head and her occasional shot in the arm, with a needle of heroin, to keep her from remembering the depressing life that she's living.
Christina Applegate the hot as a pistol teenage sexpot Kelly Bundy of "Married with Children" fame is eerily convincing as the down in the dumps unwashed and unwanted teenage hooker Dawn and her acting in the film is about the best that I ever saw her do on both the big and small screen. Eb Lottimer as the Psycho cop Lumby also making the best of a very difficult role that seemed forced into the movie to spice and heat it up a bit. 18 year-old actor David Mendenhall whom I once saw in a frightening futuristic Twilight Zone episode about mind control called "Examination Day" is both heroic and touching as Sy who tries to not only save Dawn from being killed by her former John, Lumby. But later tries to turn her life around by offering her to come back home with him to his family, something that Dawn never had. Despite a better life and family to love and care for her Dawn in the end goes back to the only life that she ever knew and felt comfortable with the one on the mean bitter and hostile streets of inner city L.A.
Surviving on the streets since her prostitute and drug addicted mother deserted her as a little girl Dawn, Christina Applegate,has been turning tricks to support her self and her heroin habit. One day as she's talking business with one of her Johns under the boardwalk he suddenly attacks and tries to strangle her to death. Rescued from the psycho by vacationing music student Sy, David Mendenhall,the two become almost inseparable for the rest of the film due to circumstances beyond their control.It just so happens that the psycho who attacked Dawn turned out to be LA motorcycle policeman Lumby, Eb Lottimer, who's sick obsession is into both taking as well as giving pain.
Being stalked by Lumby, who we find out is a serial murder of local L.A prostitutes, who's sick mind just can't accept that Dawn got away from him with Sy's help. During the rest of the movie h murders a number of Dawn's friends in order to get from them information where she's staying at in order to both torture and murder her. The scenes of Dawn living and surviving on the cold hard and unfriendly streets of inner city L.A are about as realistic as any movie that I've ever seen about street people. The film also shows how their lives are nothing more then being able to survive from one day to the next with death as the only way out for them in this hell on earth. Which in many cases is not of their own choosing but whatever fate or providence choose for them.
The psycho on the loose angle of the movie is it's weakest point with Lumby being made to be an L.A policemen who thrives on inflicting pain on himself. We also see him going out on the streets and murdering homeless people who don't have anyone who as much as cares if their alive or dead like Dawn. It would have been more believable if Lumby were just your average solitary and rootless psycho-killer who could get away with his crimes a lot easier then a member of the local police force. Who's constantly supervised by his superiors and watched by his fellow police officers whom he works the streets with.
The film "Streets" doesn't at all cop out in it's depiction of Dawn who comes across as a hard and bitten street hooker who's seen her best and most productive days long pass her by and rarely if ever as the girl next door type in both her lifestyle and her taste in the good things in life. All Dawn wan't in life in a mattress to lay down on, every now and then with a John customer, a roof over her head and her occasional shot in the arm, with a needle of heroin, to keep her from remembering the depressing life that she's living.
Christina Applegate the hot as a pistol teenage sexpot Kelly Bundy of "Married with Children" fame is eerily convincing as the down in the dumps unwashed and unwanted teenage hooker Dawn and her acting in the film is about the best that I ever saw her do on both the big and small screen. Eb Lottimer as the Psycho cop Lumby also making the best of a very difficult role that seemed forced into the movie to spice and heat it up a bit. 18 year-old actor David Mendenhall whom I once saw in a frightening futuristic Twilight Zone episode about mind control called "Examination Day" is both heroic and touching as Sy who tries to not only save Dawn from being killed by her former John, Lumby. But later tries to turn her life around by offering her to come back home with him to his family, something that Dawn never had. Despite a better life and family to love and care for her Dawn in the end goes back to the only life that she ever knew and felt comfortable with the one on the mean bitter and hostile streets of inner city L.A.
Imperfect & uneven, but mildly absorbing and more well made than not
I_Ailurophile25 November 2022
The first sights and sounds to greet us make for an inauspicious start, and my first impression was to reflect "I'm not saying that it's entirely without value or can't be appreciated on its own merits..." I am saying that the song to greet us over the opening credits (and the end credits) is so overwrought that it sounds like a parody of a more earnest ballad. In fairness, elsewhere I quite like Aaron Davis' score, especially in tense moments where it embraces a more discordant slant. Beyond the misogyny suggested in the basic premise, we're also subjected to dialogue filled with tired and unnecessary strains of sexism, transphobia, and ableism, to say nothing of unseemly prejudice against sex workers. Even putting this aside the dialogue is a little questionable, and all over the place; the scene writing and plot development are decidedly brusque; some scenes in and of themselves feel scattered, and inspire a bit of skepticism.
Meanwhile, even with the focus on one particular character, 'Streets' is probably at its best in providing a portrait of, well, life on the streets, and all the trials, tribulations, and varieties of people that come with it (not unlike 1992 drama 'Where the day takes you'). Where the picture centers a thriller narrative it comes off as a tad common, and arguably even contrived - which is strange since the crux of the plot, a beast of a cop who is also a brutal killer, is all too realistic and believable, especially as his coworkers are characterized with the true to life pathos of protecting their own and moreover disbelieving anyone who actually needs help. Plus, in 2022 it seems odd that anyone could possibly be as trusting of police as some of the secondary supporting characters are here, though even if we take the story at face value, these characters are rather lacking of intelligence as written.
Suffice to say that this is a mixed bag in some measure. It's still enjoyable and worthwhile; the bones of the plot are solid, and while the screenplay is troubled otherwise, there are some scenes that are written and executed with fine intelligence. I think the cast are actually quite excellent: Christina Applegate, only 19 at the time, commands the main role with deft skill; it's always a pleasure to see Aron Eisenberg in a film, and Eb Lottimer's portrayal of nasty Lumley is filled with grit, spite, and chewing of scenery. Even those in smaller supporting parts make the most of the time they have on-screen. The production design and art direction are commendable, and those sparing effects we see are done very well. Any stunts, and bursts of action or violence, look really good. Despite any dubiousness, for as emphatically dark and ugly as the core of the feature is, it does manifest a certain grim atmosphere as Lumley pursues his prey, and meaningful suspense. If weakly, this is a film we can get invested in.
More so than not I think this is pretty good. The most substantial weakness is probably the uneven writing, which feeds into a broader issue of 'Streets' not giving us something to wholly latch onto, something that particularly elevates it. At its best it's strong and actively engaging, but that sense of absorption isn't sustained throughout the length. Even at that, however, the movie is suitably well done in other regards to earn a soft recommendation. Unless you're a diehard fan of Applegate or someone else involved you don't necessarily need to go out of your way to see this; on the other hand, if you come across it and aren't looking for The Best Of The Best to fill your time, then it's a decent way to spend 85 minutes. Nothing remarkable at large and imperfect, all the same I admire the hard work and earnestness that went into 'Streets,' and it's duly worthy after all.
Meanwhile, even with the focus on one particular character, 'Streets' is probably at its best in providing a portrait of, well, life on the streets, and all the trials, tribulations, and varieties of people that come with it (not unlike 1992 drama 'Where the day takes you'). Where the picture centers a thriller narrative it comes off as a tad common, and arguably even contrived - which is strange since the crux of the plot, a beast of a cop who is also a brutal killer, is all too realistic and believable, especially as his coworkers are characterized with the true to life pathos of protecting their own and moreover disbelieving anyone who actually needs help. Plus, in 2022 it seems odd that anyone could possibly be as trusting of police as some of the secondary supporting characters are here, though even if we take the story at face value, these characters are rather lacking of intelligence as written.
Suffice to say that this is a mixed bag in some measure. It's still enjoyable and worthwhile; the bones of the plot are solid, and while the screenplay is troubled otherwise, there are some scenes that are written and executed with fine intelligence. I think the cast are actually quite excellent: Christina Applegate, only 19 at the time, commands the main role with deft skill; it's always a pleasure to see Aron Eisenberg in a film, and Eb Lottimer's portrayal of nasty Lumley is filled with grit, spite, and chewing of scenery. Even those in smaller supporting parts make the most of the time they have on-screen. The production design and art direction are commendable, and those sparing effects we see are done very well. Any stunts, and bursts of action or violence, look really good. Despite any dubiousness, for as emphatically dark and ugly as the core of the feature is, it does manifest a certain grim atmosphere as Lumley pursues his prey, and meaningful suspense. If weakly, this is a film we can get invested in.
More so than not I think this is pretty good. The most substantial weakness is probably the uneven writing, which feeds into a broader issue of 'Streets' not giving us something to wholly latch onto, something that particularly elevates it. At its best it's strong and actively engaging, but that sense of absorption isn't sustained throughout the length. Even at that, however, the movie is suitably well done in other regards to earn a soft recommendation. Unless you're a diehard fan of Applegate or someone else involved you don't necessarily need to go out of your way to see this; on the other hand, if you come across it and aren't looking for The Best Of The Best to fill your time, then it's a decent way to spend 85 minutes. Nothing remarkable at large and imperfect, all the same I admire the hard work and earnestness that went into 'Streets,' and it's duly worthy after all.
Obscure drama worth seeing for one reason
gregorik4 April 2020
And that one reason is Applegate's lead performance, of all things. This film is mostly typical late 80's Cali-based dramatic thriller fare, with its requisite abusive cops, rundown underpasses and throwaway dialogue.
Or is it? Christina Applegate sticks out like a sore thumb with her deeply poignant performance as the teenage hooker lead. She has at least one memorable monologue detailing how she grew up in motel bathrooms all over town while her hooker mom conducted biz with her clients next room.
She and her character honestly belong in a better film. Unfortunately, that film never materialized.
Or is it? Christina Applegate sticks out like a sore thumb with her deeply poignant performance as the teenage hooker lead. She has at least one memorable monologue detailing how she grew up in motel bathrooms all over town while her hooker mom conducted biz with her clients next room.
She and her character honestly belong in a better film. Unfortunately, that film never materialized.
Compelling characters and gripping action!
xeno47-213 February 2006
Christina Applegate stars as, Dawn, a heroine-addicted teen-prostitute fighting for survival on the streets of Venice, whose narrow escape from a psychotic cop (Ed Lottimer) armed with an explosive home-made gun and bent on raping and slaughtering runaways, initiates a bloody pursuit through the hardened world of homeless teens.
After thwarting her attempted rape and murder, Dawn befriends Sy (David Mendenhall), a naive middle-class teen runaway and aspiring musician, who's chosen a temporary life on the streets for seemingly artistic inspiration. Dawn takes Sy under her wing and gives him a guided tour of her world, along the way their friendship of mutual dependence blossoms into youthful love.
Dawn introduces Sy to an interesting array of characters. Most notably Bob (Patrick Richwood) a heroine dealer and eccentric metaphysical philosopher obsessed with the palindromic nature of his own name and its relation to his existence. Also look for a pre-Nog Aron Eisenberg for those Deep Space 9 fans, and 2nd Unit photography by Janusz Kaminski.
"Streets" is a compelling look at the lives of the forgotten and abandon children forced into early adulthood combined competently with gripping psycho-killer action. The violence is superb Corman-esquire exploitation with a nice amount of gore, mostly due to the killer's use of a special gun capable of blasting material into oblivion. However one of the more violent executions is entirely off screen accompanied by a descriptively muffled bang.
The performances are convincing and Katt Shea's direction is outstanding. There are many inventive sequences that utilize techniques that are often misused by others. There is a first-rate use of off screen sound and dialogue, especially Bob's rants, plus a gorgeous temporal ellipsis that brings the audience from one time to the next within the same space. When watching this I was struck how the image of the motorcycle cop hunting down the innocence of a child is something that we've assigned almost icon status to the villain in Terminator 2, however this film demonstrated that same notion of a symbol of protection and justice twisted into the complete opposite -and a couple years before James Cameron's version.
This film is so underrated why is it not on DVD???
After thwarting her attempted rape and murder, Dawn befriends Sy (David Mendenhall), a naive middle-class teen runaway and aspiring musician, who's chosen a temporary life on the streets for seemingly artistic inspiration. Dawn takes Sy under her wing and gives him a guided tour of her world, along the way their friendship of mutual dependence blossoms into youthful love.
Dawn introduces Sy to an interesting array of characters. Most notably Bob (Patrick Richwood) a heroine dealer and eccentric metaphysical philosopher obsessed with the palindromic nature of his own name and its relation to his existence. Also look for a pre-Nog Aron Eisenberg for those Deep Space 9 fans, and 2nd Unit photography by Janusz Kaminski.
"Streets" is a compelling look at the lives of the forgotten and abandon children forced into early adulthood combined competently with gripping psycho-killer action. The violence is superb Corman-esquire exploitation with a nice amount of gore, mostly due to the killer's use of a special gun capable of blasting material into oblivion. However one of the more violent executions is entirely off screen accompanied by a descriptively muffled bang.
The performances are convincing and Katt Shea's direction is outstanding. There are many inventive sequences that utilize techniques that are often misused by others. There is a first-rate use of off screen sound and dialogue, especially Bob's rants, plus a gorgeous temporal ellipsis that brings the audience from one time to the next within the same space. When watching this I was struck how the image of the motorcycle cop hunting down the innocence of a child is something that we've assigned almost icon status to the villain in Terminator 2, however this film demonstrated that same notion of a symbol of protection and justice twisted into the complete opposite -and a couple years before James Cameron's version.
This film is so underrated why is it not on DVD???
A strong, gritty and disturbing portrait of the grim plight of destitute homeless kids
Woodyanders12 December 2006
Warning: Spoilers
From the makers of the phenomenal, trend-setting "psycho murders peel artists" milestone "Stripped to Kill" and the outstanding offbeat existential vampire horror knockout "Dance of the Damned" comes this grim, tough, unflinchingly realistic down'n'dirty exploitation thriller about young, strung-out, totally on her own illiterate Venice Beach, Los Angeles prostitute Dawn (a strong, unglamorous, very endearing and somewhat startling performance by Christina Applegate; Kelly Bundy on "Married ... With Children"), a fiercely self-reliant teenager who turns tricks in order to eke out a meager existence and support her heroin habit. Dawn has a near-fatal run-in with brutish, sadomasochistic sleazy teen hooker killing cop Lumley (a cogent, creepy, live-wire portrayal of frighteningly deep-seated seething psychosis by Ed Lottimer), who relentlessly stalks Dawn and savagely picks off her scruffy homeless street people pals throughout the rest of the movie. David Mendenhall offers a solid and likable turn as the naive, slumming rich kid who develops a crush on Dawn and gets caught up in her tawdry and thankless day-to-day lifestyle.
"Streets" is something of a surprise: it's a gritty, gutsy little B picture (Roger Corman gets credited as the executive producer) that successfully manages to relate a compact, seamy, highly credible slasher narrative while simultaneously delivering a rich and vivid exploration of how unemployed folks at the bottom rung of the socioeconomic ladder somehow manage to barely squeak by and how people with real power and authority in our society can get away with cruelly preying on those hapless and helpless individuals whose utter powerlessness and political vulnerability make them easy targets for constant victimization. Katt Shea Ruben's sturdy, no-nonsense, unsentimental direction (Ruben also co-wrote the rough-edged, pungently insightful script), the garishly lit, evocative cinematography, a brooding melancholy score (the sad, haunting ballad that's beautifully sung by Elizabeth Daily which plays on the soundtrack during the opening and end credits is especially poignant and effective), the top-notch acting (besides the three excellent leads, both Kay Lenz and Starr Andreeff have nice cameos as lady police officers), an authentically grungy depiction of L.A.'s desolate beach-side milieu, and the uncompromisingly downbeat ending all give this shamefully overlooked and underrated scrappy gem a potent scroungy verisimilitude that's extremely compelling and powerful. A real sleeper.
"Streets" is something of a surprise: it's a gritty, gutsy little B picture (Roger Corman gets credited as the executive producer) that successfully manages to relate a compact, seamy, highly credible slasher narrative while simultaneously delivering a rich and vivid exploration of how unemployed folks at the bottom rung of the socioeconomic ladder somehow manage to barely squeak by and how people with real power and authority in our society can get away with cruelly preying on those hapless and helpless individuals whose utter powerlessness and political vulnerability make them easy targets for constant victimization. Katt Shea Ruben's sturdy, no-nonsense, unsentimental direction (Ruben also co-wrote the rough-edged, pungently insightful script), the garishly lit, evocative cinematography, a brooding melancholy score (the sad, haunting ballad that's beautifully sung by Elizabeth Daily which plays on the soundtrack during the opening and end credits is especially poignant and effective), the top-notch acting (besides the three excellent leads, both Kay Lenz and Starr Andreeff have nice cameos as lady police officers), an authentically grungy depiction of L.A.'s desolate beach-side milieu, and the uncompromisingly downbeat ending all give this shamefully overlooked and underrated scrappy gem a potent scroungy verisimilitude that's extremely compelling and powerful. A real sleeper.
Very violent film but beautifully executed!!
macgill3-113 February 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I had always wanted to see a film about the crazy homeless people in Venice, CA and now I have! This film is very entertaining on many levels. What if the cops in Los Angeles really are this insane?!
Streets has a great cast: a young Christina Applegate peppered with a nice spread of unforgettable character actors such as Aron Eisenberg (deep space nine fans) and Patrick Richwood.
The acting by Christina Applegate is fantastic (though the acting by most everyone in this film is quite good!)- she's so young here but already you can see how natural her acting is!
The direction by Katt Shea is superb. There are many shots in here seldom performed by directors well- but she does them all flawlessly! The blood and gore does not appear phony which is surprising since this film didn't have a gigantic budget.
Above all the script of Streets is very well done. The characters are well developed and the dialogue is believable. It doesn't end with a cheerfully happy end either- it goes a more realistic route which I appreciated.
Streets is very violent and suspenseful it will leave you shaken and on the edge of your seat!! SEE IT! Why is this not available on DVD yet?!!
Streets has a great cast: a young Christina Applegate peppered with a nice spread of unforgettable character actors such as Aron Eisenberg (deep space nine fans) and Patrick Richwood.
The acting by Christina Applegate is fantastic (though the acting by most everyone in this film is quite good!)- she's so young here but already you can see how natural her acting is!
The direction by Katt Shea is superb. There are many shots in here seldom performed by directors well- but she does them all flawlessly! The blood and gore does not appear phony which is surprising since this film didn't have a gigantic budget.
Above all the script of Streets is very well done. The characters are well developed and the dialogue is believable. It doesn't end with a cheerfully happy end either- it goes a more realistic route which I appreciated.
Streets is very violent and suspenseful it will leave you shaken and on the edge of your seat!! SEE IT! Why is this not available on DVD yet?!!
Amazing Movie with Christina Applegate
saturasdemon6 September 2014
Finally I saw this movie and it is better than I imagined.
Without spoiling anything be prepared for some violence and sad scenes. The cinematography is beautiful and fits the story.
Don't miss on this film only because its a bit dated, its an "hidden gem" and could become some kind of early 90s cult classic if only more people would watch it.
So if you ever have the opportunity, watch it.
And I really hope this will be released sooner or later on DVD or Bluray (somebody make a petition).
If you liked the movie please make your own review and rate ;-)
Without spoiling anything be prepared for some violence and sad scenes. The cinematography is beautiful and fits the story.
Don't miss on this film only because its a bit dated, its an "hidden gem" and could become some kind of early 90s cult classic if only more people would watch it.
So if you ever have the opportunity, watch it.
And I really hope this will be released sooner or later on DVD or Bluray (somebody make a petition).
If you liked the movie please make your own review and rate ;-)
A truly fine movie with an excellent lead performance.
Hey_Sweden12 January 2012
Director Katt Shea deserves a lot of credit for "Streets", a gritty, honest, heartfelt little movie that serves as more than mere exploitation, creating a hard hitting portrayal of runaway youth in Venice, California, personalizing the story by focusing on Dawn, played by TV star Christina Applegate in a wonderful, tour-de-force performance. Dawn is a heroin addicted, teenage prostitute attacked by a john, and who forms a friendship with a kid named Sy (David Mendenhall) who distracted the cop long enough for her to get away. The budding relationship between Dawn and Sy forms a solid basis for the rest of the movie, written by Shea and producer Andy Ruben, which devastatingly illustrates the kind of hard scrabble existence led by people like Dawn. Applegate delivers a performance that is alternately tough, feisty, sympathetic, kind, and vulnerable - but, most of all, it's believable. Mendenhall also does well as the nice guy who is new to the life being lived by Dawn and her contemporaries, who can't really identify with them as he is definitely not of their world. Enjoyable contributions are also made by Patrick Richwood as Bob, Aron Eisenberg as Roach, Mel Castelo as "Elf", and Alan Stock as Allen. This coming from Concorde, it's still exploitative enough for those watching who expect a certain degree of trash. Applegate does bare her breasts for a scene, but this particular scene is played for romance rather than just sex. And the ongoing subplot with the deranged john, a motorcycle cop named Lumley (played with convincing intensity by Eb Lottimer), is standard enough stuff, although the viewer may be taken aback by Lumley's home made weapon that metes out brutal punishment. The music score by Aaron Davis is supremely effective, as is the beautiful and haunting composition "Dawn's Theme" sung by Elizabeth "E.G." Daily. The use of the locations is excellent, and in general this is quite well made and stylish. Although mostly played (very) seriously, it's not without its humorous moments. Cameos are made by ladies who'd previously starred for director Shea: Kay Lenz ("Stripped to Kill") and Starr Andreeff ("Dance of the Damned"). This is genuinely potent stuff, right up to its riveting ending, and worth watching, both for Applegate fans interested in seeing her show off her dramatic chops earlier in her career and for exploitation film aficionados. It's too good to miss. Eight out of 10.
A story that'll move you and will remember for a long time.
hkollar24 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this movie in early 90s, and it stayed with me, the plight of street kids, their small pleasures, their drug addiction and especially the sad ending of this movie.
It is cruel what life can do to abandoned children. A fine spirited person like Dawn (Applegate) deserves better, but doesn't get it.
You'd watch this movie for Applegate - She radiates in this role. The movie could've been better shot and wish a better quality copy is available on DVD. What I could get to watch was ripped from a VCR.
If you don't like sad endings - skip this movie - You'd be rattled at the sad reality of street kids and their exploitation.
But, this movie deserves far higher than the 5.5 score it has in IMDb right now. I'd rate it at 8.
It is cruel what life can do to abandoned children. A fine spirited person like Dawn (Applegate) deserves better, but doesn't get it.
You'd watch this movie for Applegate - She radiates in this role. The movie could've been better shot and wish a better quality copy is available on DVD. What I could get to watch was ripped from a VCR.
If you don't like sad endings - skip this movie - You'd be rattled at the sad reality of street kids and their exploitation.
But, this movie deserves far higher than the 5.5 score it has in IMDb right now. I'd rate it at 8.
somewhere...
mattkratz14 March 2002
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not exactly sure how to rank or rate this film. On one hand, it gives a gritty account of life on the streets, with good performances, as it focuses primarily on the exploits of a teen prostitute (well played by Applegate), as she escapes from a killer and forges a relationship with straight kid Sy (Mendenhall).
On the other hand, it also focuses too much on the psycho cop and features too many of his killings as he tries to make his way to Applegate and keep her from revealing his sick secret. He tries to get the other street kids to tell him where she is, and either kills them or maims them in some way if they don't. This aspect of the movie all but ruins it. A minimal amount on this aspect would have sufficed.
If I had to rate this movie, I'd probably give it ** out of ****.
On the other hand, it also focuses too much on the psycho cop and features too many of his killings as he tries to make his way to Applegate and keep her from revealing his sick secret. He tries to get the other street kids to tell him where she is, and either kills them or maims them in some way if they don't. This aspect of the movie all but ruins it. A minimal amount on this aspect would have sufficed.
If I had to rate this movie, I'd probably give it ** out of ****.
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