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Savage Streets -
You may already know that '80s cinema has plenty of cheese, but did you know it has lots of sleaze as well? Some movies combine the two, with this prime example of the teen vigilante subgenre doing just that. I'm a fan of movies that also function as time capsules, and this one achieves this in front of and behind the camera. Getting to see Hollywood Boulevard from this era in all its glory is a treat, as is the soundtrack with exactly the kind of AOR bangers I hoped it would have from start to finish. While Linda Blair was famously trashed for her performance as lead Satin and revenger Brenda, I think her work dovetails with the tone Steinman and company were trying to achieve. As for her target, Jake, Robert Dryer (R.I.P.) might as well have been born to play the role because he makes him out to be as terrifying as he looks. John Vernon also deserves credit for riding a fine line of being dignified and making his X-rated dialogue get under your skin. Speaking of, I confess to watching an edit that heavily chops up the material that besides Blair's performance made the movie an object of derision amongst critics. If you're interested in the 90-minute edit and come up empty in your search, I would not feel bad because with this one’s dialogue and violence, especially in a scene at a bridge, it cuts plenty deep as it is.
This movie does a pretty good job at putting that Margaret Atwood quote about men being afraid of women laughing at them and women being afraid of men killing them - or worse - into motion. It may be foolish to complain about things like taste, subtlety and nuance in movies like this one, but it could use more. Class of 1984 is equally exploitative, but since it has more of these things and where it matters, it is superior. If you're in the mood for something like this and you haven't seen Class of 1984, watch it first. If you have, this one will still check your boxes, but do not expect any extra credit (pardon the pun since they're in high school). It is also just as likely to make you want to take a shower afterwards.
You may already know that '80s cinema has plenty of cheese, but did you know it has lots of sleaze as well? Some movies combine the two, with this prime example of the teen vigilante subgenre doing just that. I'm a fan of movies that also function as time capsules, and this one achieves this in front of and behind the camera. Getting to see Hollywood Boulevard from this era in all its glory is a treat, as is the soundtrack with exactly the kind of AOR bangers I hoped it would have from start to finish. While Linda Blair was famously trashed for her performance as lead Satin and revenger Brenda, I think her work dovetails with the tone Steinman and company were trying to achieve. As for her target, Jake, Robert Dryer (R.I.P.) might as well have been born to play the role because he makes him out to be as terrifying as he looks. John Vernon also deserves credit for riding a fine line of being dignified and making his X-rated dialogue get under your skin. Speaking of, I confess to watching an edit that heavily chops up the material that besides Blair's performance made the movie an object of derision amongst critics. If you're interested in the 90-minute edit and come up empty in your search, I would not feel bad because with this one’s dialogue and violence, especially in a scene at a bridge, it cuts plenty deep as it is.
This movie does a pretty good job at putting that Margaret Atwood quote about men being afraid of women laughing at them and women being afraid of men killing them - or worse - into motion. It may be foolish to complain about things like taste, subtlety and nuance in movies like this one, but it could use more. Class of 1984 is equally exploitative, but since it has more of these things and where it matters, it is superior. If you're in the mood for something like this and you haven't seen Class of 1984, watch it first. If you have, this one will still check your boxes, but do not expect any extra credit (pardon the pun since they're in high school). It is also just as likely to make you want to take a shower afterwards.