• Release year: 1987
• Director: J. Michael Muro.
• Producer: Roy Frumkes.
• Screenplay by: Roy Frumkes.
• Cinematography by: David Sperling.
• Music by: Rick Ulfik.

Shotgun Commentary: 80s horror comedy has never had a better visual definition.

Review

Street Trash has everything you expect from an 80s horror comedy: an uncomfortable array of all the -isms that would get it cancelled nowadays, litres and litres of goo in various colours, gratuitous ultraviolence, and a hardcore critique of the American society of the time.

The feature roughly follows Fred (Mike Lackey), a homeless young man who goes about life trying to survive by any means necessary. He lives in a scrapyard managed by a predator but ruled by a self-appointed king of the homeless. How does this work? Unclear, it just does.

The world in which Fred lives is ruled by the laws of the jungle, in which the strongest abuse the weak without any remorse or mercy. Parallel to this, there is a shop selling a new liquor at one dollar per bottle, which makes it great for people with barely any money. The downside of this fantastic new liquor? It will dissolve you from the inside and turn you into the human equivalent of a melting popsicle.

Now and then

This is the perfect example of why people who talk about how modern horror has “elevated” the genre know nothing of cinema. These kinds of people are the same ones that write off films like Street Trash in favour of other titles like Hereditary (2018) or The Substance (2024).

Newsflash: social critique through horror was not invented in the 21st century. Movies with terrible special effects and uncomfortable narratives have a lot to say about the past, present and future of society. It is easy to let the goo fool you, but anyone who gives titles like this one a fair chance will easily see that these films are about a lot more than ultraviolence and multicoloured gunk.

The age-old horror

In fact, few features have a critique of the US military quite as striking as this one. Nowadays we have gorgeous features like My Dead Friend Zoe (2024) and short films like Liquor Bank (2025) to remind us that the issue is far from over, but back in the 80s you had horror to point out the uncomfortable truths: veterans are just discarded soldiers whose future nobody cares about, not even their own country. The use and discard system of the US military is infamous. While it is not the only country that completely forsakes its veterans, it is among the worst in terms of VA services.

Naturally, an 80s horror comedy will not touch upon the topic of US VA quite as beautifully as the aforementioned modern pieces. Still, it has no issues showcasing, as crudely and shockingly as possible, the extent to which former soldiers who served their country are dismissed and discarded. Treated like disposable animals or just another piece of filth one has to avoid in the street. In this case, this situation ends up actually turning them into beings that resemble animals more than they do humans.

All in all, Street Trash is not the high-end piece a lot of horror fans would love to watch. It is one that makes you uncomfortable beginning to end. In fact, it is one so violent and coarse that it makes watching people melting into colourful goo feel like a nice respite. This movie will probably not make you laugh, but it will certainly make you think.

Street Trash (1987) will be released on 4K UHD Collector’s Edition Blu-ray and digital from April 27. Newly restored from the original negative. 

The Collector’s Edition Blu-ray, housed inside a VHS box, is available to pre-order now, limited to 2,000 copies. It features:

• Over 5 hours of brand-new extras.
• Newly recorded audio commentaries.
• Exclusive artwork and inserts designed by illustrator Graham Humphreys.

To celebrate the release, Street Trash will return to select UK & Irish screens for one-off shows in May – including the Prince Charles Cinema in London, CultPlex in Manchester and Broadway in Nottingham.

Street Trash will be available on 4K UHD and Digital from Monday April 27, and returns to select UK & Irish screens in May. 

Pre-order on Amazon here, on HMV here, and on Zavvi here!

Advice to take from this movie:

• Never go anywhere with a stranger.
• Some jobs are not worth keeping.
• It is never too late to blow someone up.

What’s your take? Have you watched Street Trash? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀