 Thanks for checking out this movie review video. This is for the 1987 film Street Trash And if you've seen this film, it's a pretty notorious film for what it is and yeah, we're gonna get into it But let's not Pretend this is some wonderful piece of cinema because I know there are people who are like I love it It's such a wonderful film. It's a fun film In the way that it's just sleaze and ridiculousness and it's not gonna be for everyone But is it a great film? No, it is not at all a great film There are good things about it. There are great things about it actually, but I think it's for me personally I think it's a fun film. I have a good time with it But you know, you got to keep things in perspective just saying so here we go getting to Street Trash Directed by J. Michael Murrow Who's had a long career in film actually working in camera in the camera department for many many films that you may know I'm gonna name some of the big names that are not horror, but mainly just more the horror ones he worked on spookies by the way I have a review for spookies as well as a review on the documentary about spookies and some additional information that I got in an interesting way on Spookies, so I have basically three spookies videos here so you can check those out He also worked on brain damage maniac cop slime city Friday the 13th 8 Jason takes Manhattan the abyss Predator 2 and tons of huge non-horror titles such as just for some examples Titanic heat and terminator to the guy had a career and I will say from a Directorial standpoint this film is good. You know in cinematography wise it looks good So there are some technical things in this film that really come together and work well I'm gonna throw on top of that the practical effects obviously this film is known for the practical effects I mean obviously it's mainly known for like the technicolor melt scenes mainly the first one on the toilet, but There are great things about this film. There really are so this was written by Roy from key from kiss Who also wrote scripts for document of the dead? Yes about night of living dead the Substitute the substitute to schools out and the substitute three winner takes all I Didn't know there were more than one substitute films Have I seen I think I may have seen the first one. It's been a long time So there actually is a documentary that came out in 2006 called melt down memoirs Which is about the making of street trash it features two deleted scenes in the film too Which may be a reason that people might want to check this out or just to figure it just to find find out The behind-the-scenes craziness of how this film all came together. That's why I want to see it So the scenes that were cut out were a junkyard dance sequence Sounds fun and a subplot that flushes out the relationship between Fred and Bronson, which Probably good that they didn't have that scene in there because do we need another subplot in the film? I would argue where there really are no real plots in the film or that it's just a series of A bunch of mini plots that aren't really plots, you know, there really is no plot to the scene There aren't any, you know, lifelike characters There aren't any characters that have any sort of development and that's why I say like it's not a good film because the script is just It's trash the script is trash really. It's just that visually and ridiculous As far as visuals and ridiculousness the film comes together for those reasons So anyway, Vic Nato, who's the guy who plays Bronson in this film said that he did his acting basically scene-by-scene and he really didn't have any clue who his character was or what the film was Until he read the script three months after the film had wrapped shooting. So Whenever you watch this film Understand that when Bronson's on camera, he has no clue what the film is He has no clue who his character is even supposed to be He's just acting scene-by-scene with the lines that he's given and it was three months later after wrapping shooting That he found out what the film was Mind blown that is insane information in my opinion Mike Lackey who's the guy who actually played Fred made this the severed penis the also very famous severed penis in this film But he actually made three different size versions of that severed penis. Why I don't know seems a little excessive But they had names for each one of them one was called the pecker One was called the poker and the largest one was called the packer Which I thought that was funny people should know that the f-word is spoken apparently 128 times in this film That should come as no surprise to anyone because yeah, it's a lot. It's a lot The garbage truck Fred jumps into in this film was actually used as a form of Transportation to get some of the cast to the premiere of the movie I think that's actually a really good kind of like You know marketing promo stunt to do and also was probably relatively cheap. I Am I wrong? I assume it was relatively cheap But maybe it costs a lot to kind of rent a dump truck or maybe they owned it somehow. I don't know Brian Singer yes, the Brian Singer who did the film usual suspects and has done so much more was actually a production assistant on this film He cut his teeth on strict street trash. I'm sure he doesn't really tell people about that It's probably not something he likes to go into because it's not highbrow or anything, but That is history and you know, that's not totally uncommon There have been things that have actually alluded to the fact that West Craven actually did pornography before he got into Film and I believe that's Sean Cunningham actually Was was doing some directing of pornography before he got into like legitimate film Just saying So immediately with this film they set up the atmosphere as an urban wasteland And they really do that because you know like these boarded up buildings. They look crappy There's trash all over in the streets And it's kind of also the music kind of matches like a dystopian situation So I mean really that is the atmosphere they're going for everyone's terrible. Nothing is good It really does seem like this urban dystopia for the entire film And I feel like they set that up well in the beginning to create that atmosphere They capture it quite well and give you the expectation of basically what it's going to be and what it's going to be is Everything's terrible. There's no good stuff in this There's no good people in this and it's just a series of crazy over-the-top stuff that goes down because it's a terrible situation This film obviously presents a terrible characterization of people who are homeless if it were actually made today This would actually be very problematic now. This does point to something I talk about every now and then which is I Am of the opinion that films like this That aren't very PC are fine to watch because they were from a different time And it's good to see that and understand how far we've come as a society and be able to look at that and think That was a different time and back then things like this were very much acceptable So you can watch the film with that context now if someone were to make this film today. I would say That's not a good idea You shouldn't really do that because we're past that at this point It was already done obviously with street trash, so we don't really need to go there again now that said I actually think I would argue and I was gonna argue this later But I'm gonna argue it now because it seems like the time I would argue that there should be a Prequel to street trash and it should be all about the ten of flight viper and how that drink came to be So you wouldn't really focus at all on the the homeless aspect or any of the ridiculous characters or the depravity necessarily But you just focus on the backstory of where did this ten of flight viper come from because that's the most Most important in a way, but most interesting aspect of this film I think one of the big problems with this film for me personally is it doesn't seem like there's much of any like one focus And that's why I was saying there's no real plot to the story or plot to the film There's no like singular focus, and I think the singular focus should have been on the ten of flight viper Now you could argue that it kind of is because it's in the beginning and then it's place a big part in the end But it disappears at for very long stints and really doesn't seem to you know Get all that involved in the storyline of what's going on It's kind of more like there's this ten of five fly viper and it melts people But then there's you know all this drama with people who are homeless You know so I would I would just think that a prequel about the ten of fly viper would be very interesting And very cool and could be a great film actually So the opening sequence of the film actually exudes crazy energy with some great 80s music That's another thing like it's not good music, but it's great 80s music You know what? I mean like cheesy and ridiculous and for people who are fans of 80s films, especially 80s horror You probably like that type of music That oh, I need to say about the viper. I'm just gonna call it viper not ten of fly viper now, but The label school. I love how they design that label And like I said, I just want to know the origin of that one And that's the thing like watching the film when you find out what this product is Like you do want to know the origin of it and there's nothing about that like it's just like just accept that this thing exists It melts people and we're gonna see that happen I mean that's great in itself that all the melting happens And I love how in the end of the film they go like all in on just killing as many people as possible with the viper I'm all for that that's great in the film, but just wanted more about it They do waste no time establishing Bronson as the main villain and they tie his current state of being the villain into his situation from Vietnam and being messed up from Vietnam and That actually is kind of a product of you know the 70s basically because that was a real thing You know people were horribly messed up because of Vietnam So in a way there kind of is a social commentary in this film There is that theme of Vietnam destroying people psyches destroying who people are as a person So I think that's really what's at play for Bronson in particular Notice the rainy-esque fast-moving Camer work during the technicolor melt scene Yes, the very first one that grabs everyone's attention that everyone talks about the technicolor melt on the toilet where he's you know his Bony hand that's you know the rest of his body has dropped off of it It's still holding the the flusher Just love how that scene plays out. It is amazing But yeah, they have that kind of rainy like fast-moving Camer work towards the ground that kind of like comes up to it. That's got to be inspired by Ted Raimi It's got to be inspired by the evil dead. I mean obviously and On that topic Really the melt scene is what put this film on the map It truly is wonderful and that goes what I was saying about the practical effects being very good for this film very good Wendy actually makes a distinction between runaways and bums with the brothers that she visits being Fred and Kevin Now Wendy is the woman who works at the at the junkyard for that really horrible boss She It doesn't make sense that she has interest in Kevin really. I mean it would make sense that she has like She has a soft spot for Fred and Kevin because of their story because of their situation That's fine, but the whole like actual like sexual attraction with Kevin does not make any actual sense really especially because Kevin seems to be way younger than she is So that's weird as well, but this film doesn't go by any sort of conventions obviously because it's just sleaze I mean it's sleaze. I Like the shot of the business man's melting face while the people argue with the cop It looks really cool The one where the second person to drink the viper and start melting when the guy like looks up and a big glob of him melting falls on his face and then he's like running and then he's on the ground But there's a really cool shot where it's showing like Where his faces where he's laying on the ground and the cameras behind and pointing up and showing all these people kind of like In a group arguing over his body basically I thought that was a really cool scene and it kind of shows the ridiculousness of it and kind of shows that People were more focused on arguing with each other than they were with this guy's needs and the fact that he was dying But that kind of sums up the world of street trash honestly like people don't really care about each other it's just it's a everyone gives everyone the proverbial middle finger and They move on that's how it goes By the way the toe popping off during the scene with the the second guy who's melting and then his goo Drops on the business man's face. They're showing his foot like while he's melting like hit his big toe Just like pops and like stuff kind of like foams out. I like that part. It's pretty good I'd like how the guy trying to steal the food the guy who's like shoving all the raw chicken into his pants Puts a bag on his head puts a plat a paper bag on his head before he then walks through glass and breaks it I just thought that was kind of a weird choice. I guess he was just putting it on his head to like Protect his face from the glass, but I it's just weird It's a weird thing, but that whole scene in general is kind of weird and kind of racist actually In quite a few aspects, but once again, it's 1987 and it was street trash We don't ask questions Take note that the doorman at the restaurant in this film. That's the scene where Fred has picked up that drunk woman and he walks past the restaurant the doorman. They're witnessing that is James Lawrence. That's the actual actor who is of Franken Hooker fame now Franken Hooker came out three years after Street Trash and I'm wondering if Henin lotter saw James Lawrence in Street Trash and decided to cast him in Franken Hooker But Lawrence James Lawrence is my favorite part other than the melting. He's my favorite part of Street Trash Especially the post credit. Well During credit scenes I guess that are intercutting between the credits and and the actual scenes. He's great He his acting just outshines everyone really I think he does an excellent job But because he's in this I actually really like to think that this film that Street Trash is in the same universe as the Henin lotter films Because Frank Henin lotters already said that all the all of his movies are in the same universe like Franken Hooker Brain damage and all three of the basket cases are in the same universe So since Lawrence is also in Street Trash I like to pretend that Street Trash is in the same universe as all the Henin lotter films Which if you stop and think about that That creates some cool visuals and cool ideas just saying The rape scene is shot like a nightmare with the guys like animals I know a lot of people comment about the rape scene once again This is one of those things where it was definitely a more accepted thing for people to be putting in film back then It's still being done nowadays a lot of filmmakers will do it a lot more tastefully and I think it only is really warranted when it's actually really a part of the story other than that if you're just putting it in there to Up the ante to someone being a worse person. You don't have to go that far You don't really have to do that to show that someone's bad person. I think it's it's a cheap way to get there It's kind of like the old trope of You know if you really want to pull at someone's heartstrings just show how they have a good relationship with their child You know, it's just Yeah laziness in my opinion, but you can tell they were trying to be as awful as possible with the junkyard owner having sex with the dead body Yes, the guy commits necrophilia I was surprised actually that he they didn't show that to be honest because at this point, you know Your street trash you're already doing what you're doing. Why didn't you even go that bro? I mean, I'm glad they did not but I'm I was also surprised that they you know And I'm I'm saying this from the standpoint of when it was the first time I watched it Which has been many years ago at least five or six years ago Was the first time I've seen it a few times since and I know Joe Bob Briggs covered it as well with the last drive it but That's followed by the severed penis gag actually the the fact that you find out or it's alluded to the fact that the junkyard owner Has had sex with the dead body of the woman who was raped Then the penis gag happens where the penis is cut off and then it's you know People are basically throwing hot playing hot potato with with the severed penis Which I wonder which one they went with the pecker the poker or the packer. I Didn't get that information. So I don't know put your guesses in the comments Which one it is it looked like it was probably the medium-sized one the poker. I don't know Who knows but one of the weird things about that scene One of the weird things one Many weird things about that scene but one of the weird things about that scene is that the guy whose penis has been severed Doesn't act like that happened to him basically like he acts just like oh my gosh Like it's this this kind of just like wackiness But that's something that just kind of permeates the entire film honestly And I think that's one of the reasons that a lot of like the depraved schlocky sleazy things in the film play Lighter than they actually otherwise would be is because a combination of how they shoot it shoot it How it's acted and how the music is Makes it more seem just like over the top and wacky as opposed to like just disgusting and wrong. You know what I mean Put some comments down there if you feel me and even if you don't actually There are so many random characters popping up that you don't know which way they're going to choose to go with the film and They kind of go every way with the film like I was saying like they'll just focus on okay Well, let's just follow this character for a while. Okay. Well now I'll just follow this character for a while Like it's a very aimless type film and for that reason. I mean, it's kind of fun But at the same time it also has a tendency to drag a bit because of that aspect as well Just saying Most people probably thought the cop would end up living in this film But oh no not in a dystopian wasteland film and not in street trash, of course not I mean typically especially in the 80s the cop would end up living I mean, how many films are there where the cop doesn't live especially when he has been focused on a decent amount And he's trying to do something good, you know That just hammers home the fact that nothing good happens in street trash in the in this town really except I guess Kevin Kevin lived in the end and beat Bronson but still things are terrible the guy exploding really is a great part The the large guy who who found the the viper and I like the kind of like the long shot that they do of him up against the wall Just kind of like sitting there and then he's just growing growing growing and he explodes and apparently during that scene Some of the stuff that explodes out of them. If you really look closely They had had one company that was willing to sponsor them basically for it And it was like a cake company. It was like a cake or donut company So they had like so much of that on set so they actually threw a bunch of that into that scene So when the explosion happens, there's actually cake in there. So look for that the next time you watch it So Yeah, I just wanted to say again the viper should have been the point of the film I do like that they go heavy on the melt desks at the end already basically said that it is fun It kind of brings you back to having a good time and kind of upping the ante Just as when that gets the courage to stand up to Bronson The viper does her in once again showing that good things don't really happen in street trash When that finally gets the the gall the courage and she stands up to him and then Viper kills her The end with Bronson chasing Kevin is actually boring since everything prior is way crazier and Kevin wasn't even Developed as a character. Yeah, I did care about Kevin really I don't think they set him up to be all that sympathetic. They didn't develop him He wasn't a very good character his relationship with Wendy didn't really make a whole lot of sense and And all the melts that they have going on before that scene where Bronson's chasing Kevin through the junkyard Those are all way better faster paced more interesting and then I just feel like it kind of brings the film down Intel the moment where that canister goes and hits Bronson and takes his head off And then you see his head laying on the ground as his mouth still moving It looks great. Did I say the practical effects on this were really good because they're really good I'm sure everyone watching this agrees with me. I'm preaching the choir on that one The scene during the credits is great because of James Lawrence. It's basically like at the end of the film He's stealing the film I'm just saying is anyone else with me on that put some comments down there Is James Lawrence not the best part acting wise of this film? I think he does and that's why I'm glad that they finished the film with him. It made me stick around for the credits The cinematography is actually good considering how little people think of this film. I think it does look good There certainly are pacing issues, which I think stems a lot from there not really being a plot and The just aimless depravity of the film in general It just happens. That's what the film is. I Remember the 80s and 90s and the attitude attitude towards people who are homeless was that they were in that position because it was all their fault It was very common for people to yell things like get a job so this film back then was not all that shocking a lot of people had very poor attitudes towards people who were homeless and You know, there are plenty of people who still do nowadays, but it is much better than what it was So for that reason, that's why I say that you know a film like this Is one of those films that you look at and think about the context of those times and how this was just like Oh, it's schlocky. It's depraved. People weren't upset back then when this film came out about the depiction of people who are homeless They were just upset about, you know, the grossness of the people melting and you know the the the Language that was used that this fact that the f-word was used 128 times, you know and the violence You know, those were the things they were concerned about not the depiction of people who were homeless But we've come a long way and this film definitely shows that so it's good to watch films like this to you know Remember how far we've come but it's also good to watch films like this because let's be honest It's just fun to kind of turn your brain off every now and then and just watch some crazy stuff Like Street Trash Yeah, so with that said it's kind of hard to rate this film So I'm gonna rate it two ways. I'm gonna do out of five stars with half stars in play I'm gonna do it as as an actual like film in the entire pantheon of films where it is at rate and for that one I would say one star One star and I give it I give it the one Because of the way it looks visually in the practical effects and James Lawrence Now as a so bad, it's good film though I'm gonna go all the way to a Between three and a half and four. I'm gonna I'll go for I will go for because it is crazy It's up there definitely so yeah a one as an actual film a four as a so bad It's good film But anyway, I would love to hear your opinions on Street Trash go ahead and put them in the comments We'll talk about them get geeky Also, do me a quick favor and hit the subscribe button because that's your way to repay me If you like this video or any video I've ever done that is your best way to do it It literally takes you a second and it means a lot to me and the growth of this channel and the growth Honestly of this nerdy horror community. I'm trying to build through my channel So I would appreciate that also hit the notification bell button because that way you'll know whenever New videos are coming out whether it's one of these review videos or not unboxing or a haul or one of my opinion Videos any of that stuff, but regardless, thanks for taking time to watch this and until next time keep it brutal