Garotas das Ruas

A forgotten gem. Melissa Leo is awesome. And Leon is the smoothest pimp ever put on screen.

If you're looking for a film about "the life" -- there are better.

But if you're looking for a moody piece that will make you feel nostalgic for 80's NYC, I can't think of many better.

Future Oscar winner Melissa Leo is radiant here in a very early big screen appearance. She plays "Cookie", a runaway girl, who's fleeing an abusive stepfather and pitiless mother, along with her younger brother Tim (Randall Batinkoff). Almost immediately after arriving at the Port Authority bus terminal, she's targeted by a pimp named Duke (Dale Midkiff of "Pet Sematary"). Grateful that he gives the two of them a place to stay, she's soon turning tricks for the guy, but turns sour on him when he brutally beats her friend Heather (Deborah Offner). When she thinks of switching pimps, things escalate to the point where he's spending an eventful night tracking her down, intending on doling out some serious punishment.

While "Streetwalkin'" is to be commended for being reasonably sleazy and offering an appropriately grim look at the whole world of hookers and pimps, there's really nothing that's special here. The ladies all look great, of course. Julie Newmar of 'Batman' fame shows that she could still turn heads at 50 something years of age, and gives a solid performance as a worldly veteran prostitute. Writer / producer Robert Alden and writer / director Joan Freeman maintain a respectable enough pace, use their locations well, and create the right look for the movie with cinematographer Steven Fierberg. Leo is an appealing protagonist, and Midkiff is definitely amusing as a creep who won't be deterred from his mission. He takes a lot of abuse on his way to the inevitable showdown. Leon, Antonio Fargas, Annie Golden, Khandi Alexander, Julie Cohen, Greg Germann, and Kirk "The Giggler" Taylor round out a decent supporting cast. This viewer particularly liked singer Golden as the pathetic junkie hooker Phoebe.

The movie might have had more impact if it weren't so obviously reminiscent of "Vice Squad". One thing's for sure: Midkiff is no Wings Hauser.

Six out of 10.

This starts off like a movie of the week, then turns into a pimp slasher movie. It's a bit all over the place, with some over the top acting, but it's trashy and weird enough that it's worth a watch. Julie Newmar seems to be on a different planet though.

Flashback in the 80s NYC nightlife all RAW and soundtrack was DOPE! I wish I knew where they filmed the name of the club in this movie? Awesome movie hands down "Julie Newmar" is even in it.. Genuine! Authentic! Cinema!

The concept of "Streetwalkin''" isn't new. Throughout the 70s and 80s there were lots of exploitation movies depicting the gritty and disturbing nightlife in the back-alley streets of big cities like New York and Los Angeles. It doesn't matter if there are many, though, because every rough and realistic portrait of street prostitution is worth seeing.

So, yes, the many comparisons between this one and "Vice Squad" (1982) are justified. And, again yes, the latter is better and even more impactful. That still doesn't mean "Streetwalkin'" doesn't come recommended as well.

"Streetwalkin'", written and directed by Joan Freeman, teaches us at least two valuable lessons. One: when you're a runaway teenage girl and your name is Cookie, then you don't have to worry about finding a suitable street name. Two: if you want to teach a cruel pimp a lesson, you better make sure he's dead, otherwise he'll turn into a mad psycho with only blood-vengeance on his mind. Poor Cookie, her kid brother, and a few of her colleagues must battle for survival after she rejects her maniacal pimp, Duke.

Strong performances from the ensemble cast, the authentic grim atmosphere, and a handful of uncompromisingly violent sequences make this a strong & memorable mid 80s drama/thriller. Melissa Leo is terrific as the vulnerable Cookie, but the most forceful performances come from Dale Midkiff (as the psychotic pimp) and Julie Newmar (as the elderly, wise, and experienced street flower).