Review of Savage Streets (1984) by Melissa C — 14 Jan 2009

Like so many of the 80s-set exploitation flicks that came after it, 'Savage Streets' takes a bunch of serious problems (gang violence, rape, injustice) and turns them into grist for a string of guilty pleasure revenge setpieces.

Linda Blair dominates the screen as Brenda, a good kid from the bad side of town who just wants to hang with her slutty girlfriends and look after her angelic, mute sister. When a prank pulled against some local punks leads directly to sexual assault and murder (as it often does in these sorts of movies), it's time for Brenda to bust out her crossbow, poof her hair up in an 80s-style soufflé, and dish out some cold, hard justice.

Though the title and lurid poser art seem to promise a fast-paced body count-laden actioner, 'Streets' takes its time building up to the inevitable bloodshed (which was predictably censored quite a bit by the MPAA).

Ultimately it's not an action flick so much as a teen drama that has a lot of unpleasant things happening in it. That said, it's slickly directed, competently acted, and does deliver some satisfying moments of comeuppance.

Best of all, it's got Blair, who gives this flick everything she's got, whether she's cat-fighting in the school shower, staring down scuzzy principal John Vernon, or ordering a slimy street punk at arrow-point to bend over and kiss his ass goodbye.