{2jtab: Movie Review}

Street trash: Special Meltdown Edition - Blu-ray Review

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3 stars

Offering a tongue-in-cheek solution to the homeless problem that plagued nightly news during the 1980s, Street Trash is a horror-comedy that goes out of its way to offend everyone … regardless of their bum status.  In doing so, the film earns its underground cult status as THE official “melt” movie of lower Manhattan.  Exaggerated, gross, and full of more oozing goo than most films, Street Trash is the first (and only) soap opera for the homeless.  This is exploitive cinema at its most offensive and definitely not for sensitive eyes.

Written by independent filmmaker Roy Frumkes, Street Trash is the sullied tale of what happens when cheap wine goes bad and is sold anyway.  Freddy (Mike Lackey), Kevin (Mark Sferrazza), and Burt (Clarenze Jarmon) are down on their collective luck and just trying to get by.  Their lives; however, are about to get worse.  Ed (M. D'Jango Krunch), a liquor store owner, discovers a case of expired “Tenafly Viper” in his cellar and sells it to the unlucky hobos for a dollar a bottle.

Sometimes good deals - like really cheap booze - should be avoided.

Somehow and in some way, Viper has become a toxic alcoholic brew and “melts” – from the inside out – anyone who samples it.  And a lot of people drink it.  Suddenly, a war on the streets breaks out over the intoxicating brew; a battle involving a homeless vet with quasi-psychic abilities named Bronson (Vic Noto), a pesky cop, and, of course, many, many bottles of Tenafly Viper.

All rules are thrown out the window when reviewing a film known for its game of catch with a severed penis, a cop who pukes on people, and a drink that melts you into goo.  Bad acting?  Of course!  Tasteless?  Completely.  You’ve got a gang rape of a drunk woman in a salvage yard for heaven’s sake.  But – under the direction of James Muro (director of photography in Kevin Costner's Open Range) – Street Trash lands every single one of its societal insults and, trust me, there are a lot.

This isn’t solely commentary, mind you, and what it does say might not even be intentional but the film has a few moments of greatness…before pilfering them away with scenes of fat people exploding.  This has student film written all over it – except that it isn’t one.  Street Trash is simply an ugly film in which grimy people make out in the most disturbing of ways.  It’s a masterpiece of crap.

If there’s anything to be learned by watching Street Trash it’s that expiration labels are to be read, understood, and followed.

{2jtab: Film Details}

Street trash: Special Meltdown Edition - Blu-ray ReviewMPAA Rating: This title has not been rated by the MPAA.
Director
: J. Michael Muro
Writer: Roy Frumkes
Cast:
Mike Lackey, Bill Chepil, Vic Noto
Genre
: Horror | Comedy
Tagline:
Just when you thought you had seen it all.
Memorable Movie Quote: "This is all dog food on this list and that's chicken coming out of your pants!"
Distributor:
Synapse Films
Official Site:
Release Date:
August 20, 2010
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
September 16, 1987

Synopsis: When a liquor store owner finds a case of "Viper" in his cellar, he decides to sell it to the local hobos at one dollar a bottle, unaware of its true properties. The drinks causes its consumers to melt, very messily. Two homeless lads find themselves up against the effects of the toxic brew, as well as going head to head with "Bronson" a Vietnam vet with sociopathic tendencies, and the owner of the junkyard they live in.

{2jtab: Blu-ray Review}

Street trash: Special Meltdown Edition - Blu-ray Review

Component Grades
Movie

Blu-ray Disc
3 stars

4



Blu-ray Experience
3.5 stars

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Available on Blu-ray - July 9, 2013
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles
: English SDH
Audio: nglish: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; Single disc (1 BD)

Synapse Films presents Street Trash in a sharp 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer that doesn’t disappoint.  While some grit and grime remains on the print, this release is stunning for its color use, so much so that it hardly looks like the version of the film audiences are used to seeing.  Vibrant in attitude and color; the film and its gore actually pops with energy thanks to the work done to the upgrade.  Depth is good, too.  Contrast exhibits healthy black levels proving some decent detail - notable in close-ups and clothes – and good lines throughout.  Skin tones are strong, too.  Along with this newly remastered print, Street Trash will melt your eyes and ears with stunning English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • There are two good audio commentaries: the first is with writer/producer Roy Frumkes and the other is with director James Muro.  Both are informative and fun.

Special Features:

Synapse Films should be commended for the stellar job they’ve done with this new Blu-ray entitled the “Special Meltdown Edition”.  Befitting of that grand title, it comes packed with a bunch of special features. First and foremost is a feature length documentary called “The Meltdown Memoirs” that runs over two hours and is all about the making of this infamous film. The original 16mm short film “Street Trash” is included, too.  Actress Jane Arakawa is interviewed and there are a number of deleted scenes and outtakes.  Throw in a promo teaser, and the original theatrical trailer, too. Add all that up and you get a ton of extras for a largely overlooked movie.

  • The Meltdown Memoirs (120 min)
  • Street Trash Short Film (15 min)
  • Jane Arakawa Interview (10 min)
  • Deleted Scenes & Outtakes (7 min)
  • Promotions (3 min)

{2jtab: Trailer}

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