Mixed Blood - Die Ratten von Harlem

A film about a Latina henchwomen and her mob of kid gangster as she tries to keep afloat her fledging drug business AS their supplier, the "German" tries to make his changes.

Personally liked it better than most of Morrissey's narrative films, which I found to be too amateurish. This is a bit better presented and feels less pompously done. I also love how it really have that sense of random narrative swings that reminisce his earlier, and more abstract work. No kidding but there is a literal Menudo Fan Merch Gang Violence scene in this film that goes for a minute.

Though I feel that the vast amount of stuff that he tried to pack in this film was not all made well. I do not think it necessarily succeeds in making a narrative of the racial component of the film. I also felt that the first half of the film feels far too unfocused on whatever it was trying to do.

Though the very end really amps the film. It goes haywire (including a failed bullet hit squib with the main actress lol) AND became a Mommie Dearest situation - which was better realized plot point to be honest.

Yes it was cheesy throughout many parts, but a great deal of this movie was authentic! The fearlessness of the kids, the clothing (from lumberjack coats to RUN-DMCish leather fur hooded bombers). The abandoned buildings, prostitution on dirty mattresses in an empty lot, people getting thrown off roofs, wild random shootouts, disrespect of the police, dirty police, the music, everything was just authentic! One poster on here tends to think that a lot of what went on in this movie was far-fetched, I have news for you my friend, it wasn't!!! That's how crazy it used to be in the ghettos of NY (although I never knew Alphabet city was just as bad as the Bronx or Uptown Manhattan) before Rudolph Giuliani came into office. It's like an unrated, more violent version of the movie Beat Street, lol. I tell ya, I caught this flick late at night on Showtime and I was immediately taken back to the old neighborhoods that I grew up in (bronx & uptown manhattan, Spanish harlem). Many of the scenes brought back crazy memories of the violence and just plain ghetto activity that used to take place back in those days. The bodies outlined in chalk, the casual demeanor when someone you knew got shot dead, aggggghhhhh, this movie was just crazy. If you want a glimpse of what the Bronx and Spanish harlem (and I suppose Alphabet City) were like pre-mayor giuliani, watch this movie. For those of you who have been there, you know what I am talking about. Cypress Avenue, 141 street, stand up!

(1985) Mixed Blood ACTION CRIME DRAMA

Co-written and directed by Paul Morrissey that has a low budget, and although interesting, it could've been better. The movie focuses on some of the worst slums called "Alphabet City", a slang name of a neighborhood located within the East Village in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Its name comes from Avenues A, B, C, and D, the only avenues in Manhattan to have single-letter names. And depicting a point in time when crime was frequent since it was common knowledge that some of the NYC police were corrupt. Anyways, out of two rival gang factions competing for illegal drug selling, it sympathizes more on one of them lead by a lady who derived from Rio De Janeiro whose name is Rita La Punta (Marília Pêra) who happen to have a good looking son she calls Thiago(Richard Ulacia). Complications arise as soon as one of two rival gang member, Carol(Linda Kerridge) sought a liking to Thiago, Rita's second hand man, allowing the possibility for The German (Ulrich Berr) to take full control. Besides the budget being low, viewers would also have to endure many second rate acting. It explains itself well but could've been better.

This film should be given more credit. Parts of this film has been copied in many Drug/Gangster Films after this film's release. Example:In the beginning of the film were they throw the kid off the roof. This act is copied in the movie Above The Rim. Scarface may be the only other drug movie that has been copied more. I be the first to admit that the acting is not up to par and in my opinion that really gives the film a more sense of realism. By the acting being that way it is it has given the film a documentary feel in my opinion. It makes you wonder whether or not a film crew was following around real drug dealers. Ricahrd Ulacia as Thiago in my opinion was okay. But Marlia Pera was excellent. The part were she breaks out in song was over the top but it enhanced her character in the movie. That part really showed the characters dual personality. Watch the movie and you will understand what I'm saying. The problem is that this movie will never become mainstream because of how real it is. Scarface was fantasy with some realism, Mixed Blood was all real. It gives you sense on how it was in the ghetto at that time. It shows how dirty some cops are. The Spanish was on point. The soundtrack was excellent. To me that made the movie. They're better films out there but this unique in it's own way

I first learned about this film reading "Andy Warhol's Diary" (he loved it). What makes it more interesting for me is that I've lived in Alphabet City for the last 13 years so it's fascinating to realize that the locale where "Rita" is kept hostage is ONE BLOCK from my doorman building! The film has the raw feel that is classic Paul Morrissey. It's entirely entertaining and one particular standout is Rodney Harvey. (Jose)....what a gorgeous boy who I came to learn od'd at the age of 30.

To conclude, this is a gritty and very entertaining film and well worth checking out. Not Morrissey's best but I enjoyed it a lot.