Street Trash (1987)

Street Trash (NR) - Review

"...stinks, of beauty!"

The lives of New York's 1980 era hobos comes into bizarre focus in this black comedy/horror flick from first time director and future legend of Steadicam operation Jame Muro.  The stellar camera is a huge benefit to a film so intent on slumming, with the majority of scenes taking place in a junkyard brimming with disgusting wino characters it somehow keeps it fun.  Don't think this is a movie you can predict scene by scene due to its shlockbuster image, the movie intelligently mashes together story threads with a deft eye on the unpredictable (though some of the fat could stand to be edited).  Scenes will fly by focused on the humor of hobo life, the hobo-king/vietnam vet with flashbacks, the violent cop with a job to do, the NY mafia with its image to protect, all somehow loosely tied to a crate of expired liqour called Viper that leaves you with an instantaneously killer hangover.  The moral envelope is pushed hard, taboos are broken with as much glee as the cameraman has in inventively flowing through the scenes ala Raimi's Dead trilogy.  Showcasing the exaggerated life on the street in an unexpected manner, Street Trash lives up to its name (and cult status) by glamorously living in the neon puss filled gutter that it joyfully pisses in.

7.5 Chickens in your Pants out of 10