WTF?! - Savage Streets (1984)
“They raped her sister... killed her best friend. Now she must seek revenge!”
Next up in WTF Cinema magnificence is the 1984 Linda Blair vigilante extraordinaire film, “Savage Streets.” Released on October 5, 1984, New York Magazine described the film as “All about the seedy violence of the Hollywood Boulevard underworld.” When the evil gang “The Scars” push their weight around, just a little too much (and that’s putting it nicely) the leader of “The Satins” Brenda (Linda Blair) saddles up with her hottest zip-up jump suit and crossbow, going practically Ape-Shit on every gang member who does her wrong. You see, Brenda’s deaf-mute baby sister Heather (Linnea Quigley) gets gang-raped by “The Scars” while Brenda is settling a score with another dame in the girls' shower at The High School.
Let’s start by saying that “Savage Streets” won’t be everyone’s cup of punk-turned-champion tea. However, forty years later, this film still holds its own. There are some incredibly eye-opening 80s fashions and some great cinematography of Hollywood and Los Angeles before any gentrification took place. “Savage Streets” is CO-written and directed by Danny Steinmann, a former porn director.
Although largely panned when first released, “Savage Streets” has grown a huge cult following. This film wasn’t produced to make any kind of statement, just to make money and entertain. Although it has some rough scenes in it to watch, it’s an honest film. The film makers and actors believe in it. You can tell by how hard they’re trying.
“Savage Streets” features an incredible array of 80s rock music, mostly performed by Australia’s acclaimed artist John Farnham. It’s rumored that the incredible soundtrack for the film wasn’t released due to a marketing “pullback.” Copies of the LP you may find today would be Demo Copies. In 2005 the independent label Turbo Productions did release and abbreviated version of the film’s soundtrack, but that has come and gone. Fans of “Animal House” will recognize actor John Vernon (Dean Wormer) as Principal Underwood. Cinema-files with a real keen eye will recognize “Showgirls’” Gina Gershon as a glorified extra in the film.
WTF moments in “Savage Streets” include; gang leader Jake’s razor blade earring; The way the male members bond by kissing each other on the lips; Linda Blair roughing up not one, but two chicks: one in class, ripping off her top: and the other in an all-nude shower fight that makes “Orange Is The New Black” look like the pillow fight from the film “Annie.”; the preparation and execution of a skin tight jump suit, accompanied by a loaded crossbow, which Blair has no problem accessing to revenge the gang; and the untimely demise of pregnant character Francine in the hands of “The Scars” (complete with wedding gown and all).
What defies detailed description is a very violent, uncomfortable and prolonged rape scene with Heather and the gang. It’s the toughest part of the film to watch and I can only assume that Steinmann took it to that extent because: (a) he was going for shock value and (b) his experience in adult films allowed him a much more realistic simulation ... too real. Many years later actress Linnea Quigley (Heather) told author Louis Paul (“Tales from the Cult Film Trenches,”) “That was a film that I did with Linda Blair, who was great to work with. However, my scenes involved being raped. My character was not allowed to have any lines. It was a very hard film to make.” In her book “Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film,” Carol J. Clover writes, “...if Farrah Fawcett of Extremities stands at the more credible end of the continuum, Linda Blair in Savage Streets stands at the other.”
“Savage Streets” which first picked up an X rating, then was “downgraded” to an R, was one of a slew of “lone tough girl” films to be released about that time in the 80s. Scarred (1983) and the start of the “Angel” series (1984) to name a few. Although “Savage Streets” has been classified as a girl gang film, the Satins’ Debra (Blair) does a majority of the fighting. After all, a girl can only take so much crap.
Independent CODE RED announced a limited Blu-ray release (only 1000 copies issued) for April of this year, for its fortieth anniversary. Sadly, that has not surfaced. I contacted CODE RED, and I am awaiting their reply. I recommend renting or buying the 2disc DVD box set, if anything else. You should see this film strictly as a study in that this film got made. A film like this couldn’t be and wouldn’t be produced by the studios, today. It just wouldn’t exist. It has some great one-liners and a plot-line that will have you rooting for Blair by the end.
“Savage Streets” starring; Linda Blair, Linnea Quigley, Johnny Venocur, Sal Landi, Scott Mayer and Debra Blee. Directed by Danny Steinmann. (1984) 93 minutes.
