Street Trash

Who would have ever imagined that 37 years after low-budget cult body horror Street Trash, we'd be getting another dose of Tenafly Viper-fuelled craziness? Not me, that's for sure, but here it is - the follow up to Jim Muro's madcap melt movie.

What do we expect from a new Street Trash film? Lots of melting hobos and the occasional severed dick gag, that's what, and director Ryan Kruger more than delivers: this one is much messier and more manic than the original, with gallons of blood and multi-coloured goop splashed around as nasty Mayor Mostert (Warrick Grier) attempts to exterminate the city's homeless population with Tenafly Viper gas.

Only a brave group of down-and-outs can save the day: sex and drug addict Ronald (Sean Cameron Michael), Alex (Donna Cormack-Thomson), Chef (Joe Vaz), crackheads Wors and Pap (Lloyd Martinez Newkirk and Shuraigh Meyer) and crazy 2-Bit (Gary Green).

To put it simply, this film is bonkers. It took me a while to get into the spirit of things, but once I did, I had lots of fun with it. The characters are crazy, there's a lot more melting than in Muro's original, with excellent practical effects, and there's actually a better story this time around, as the street trash freedom fighters plot to overthrow the government to end their extermination.

Obviously, this type of film isn't going to appeal to everyone - it probably isn't going to appeal to most sane people, to be honest - but if you enjoy over-the-top trashy horror (think Troma at its most absurd) then you might have a good time. I actually enjoyed this more than the original, but then that one didn't have an invisible, blue, sex-obsessed, potty-mouthed creature called Sockle in it (stay right to the end of the credits to see just how filthy he is!).

6.5/10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.

This is a remake, reboot of the original 1987 film. The original film was a very funny and disgusting 80"s splatter film. This is a little more story oriented and more of a dystopian sci fi action film where the homeless are a target by the system and they fight back. This is very different from the original film and has more social commentary. It's still very tongue in cheek and does maintain the disgusting splatter effects where people's skin melts and explodes. For what this is, it's still a decent watch. However I feel the 2024 version riffs more from Paul Verhoven's Robocop than the original film. The acting performances are mostly disposable and inferior to the gore. If you enjoy lighthearted splatter flicks with a good amount of action, you have a good chance enjoying this. I did find this to be amusing but I much prefer the original film as it's more unique and better executed.

There's two types of people in this world. Those that enjoy the original 1986 Street Trash movie and those that don't. This movie is definitely for the first of the two. It's a great example of a remake done correctly. It doesn't just retread the original story. It tells it's own story while taking place in the same universe as the 1986 movie while keeping the same type of humor and body horror. If you've seen the original and enjoyed it for what it is, give this a shot. It probably won't make your "Favorite Movies of 2024" list but, I would say, you'll still find it entertaining and hilarious.

I hate to say this, because I love the original Street Trash, and I'm also a fan of B-movies, bad movies and Troma, but I just didn't enjoy this new re-boot/sequel whatever it is. I thought the humour was lame and it tries to be quirky but came across as stupid but not the kind of stupid I like. For many it's worth watching for the gore and melts, which to me I'm guessing, is what most people will want in a Street Trash rehash. And the FX are done well. The story and characters I didn't like. I can see it pays a lot of homage to the original. It just didn't hit the right nerve for me. Still I'm glad it exists as many will like it and it's probably a nuts enough of a movie for any trash movie or body horror fan.

Perhaps I'm old school now but the 1987 original had a certain charm to it, gooey effects, a wild script with a band of actors pulling together to bring it to life, for which all with great aplomb.

Rookie Director Jim Muro excelled with his steadicam work capturing every nuanced moment.

Now moving onto Ryan Kruger's remake or sequel or whatever it wishes to be. Despite some lovely little nods to the original, it quickly falls apart, true the effects remain suitable gross but it lacks the sparkle of what made Muro's an everlasting gem.

Poorly scripted with some wild misfires, the storyline is strained with a storyline that pretty much goes nowhere!

I do question why the character of Chef is Jewish when the movie is set in Cape Town, the actor playing Ronald seems to be acting as if he's in another movie, he seems decent enough but he doesn't belong here.

Having been looking forward to this, it'll never be watched again.