Suburbia (1983) User Reviews (65)

Welcome to the suburbs...the slums of the future. (spoilers)

[vertigo_14 · 8/10 · 31 December 2004]

Penelope Spheeris, loyal punk film director, presents a starkly depressing tale about a handful of ostracized teenagers known as The Rejected Kids. They're a group of punks who left home, neglected in one way or another (except for the main character, Jack) and take up living in condemned housing in Los Angeles. Trouble seems to follow them wherever they go because they make easy targets.

This is a treat in several respects, despite being such a horribly depressing and, sadly, honest film. First, you get to see performances by old punk favorites, T.S.O.L., DI, and The Vandals. Second, Wade Watson (bass player for the US Bombs) and Flea (in his film debut) are casted as two of the delinquent teens. The instrumental soundtrack, too, is very good. And third, is the sheer honesty with the disappointment of the suburbs, which were once proclaimed as the future Utopia. What it turned out to be was a disaster of crass consumerism that denied too much human affection, replacing it instead with the satisfaction of consumption, so much so that in the end, the suburbs had their problems just like everyone else, only they did a better job of hiding it behind the imagery of white picket fences and perfect lawns. This film is one of many to make that point.

A little bit of everything punk....

[wobbly33 · 8/10 · 27 August 2005]

This is not a documentary, although much of it is allegedly based on fact. What "Suburbia" does, and does well, is capture a moment in LA/OC punk. If you were there, you recognize almost every character in the film, and you probably recognize a lot of the "actors." It's a grab bag of punk "types": the skinhead, the conehead, the goth, the mohawk, etc. etc. But if you were an LA suburban punk, you knew someone just like all of them. If you're of a certain age, of a certain time, of a certain place, it's a touchstone. You know exactly what it was like. Even the rednecks have their place, when the plants were closing, when and middle-class life starting fading away. The story is not great, the acting is not great, but the moment is captured, and if you were there, it takes you right back: when moshing was called slamming, and tattoos were done with a straightpin by hand, not next door to the Starbucks. If you weren't, you get a pretty good idea about what is was like to be a punk when you couldn't buy it at the mall, when it might actually get you beaten up by jocks, when a nosering might get you fired from the record store. Punk was, for a time, actually dangerous. And that made it great.

A spot-on scrappy slice of pure 80's punk angst

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 13 May 2010]

A motley bunch of disaffected punk kids take up residence in a grubby old abandoned home on the outskirts of an affluent California suburb and form their own messed-up, but loyal and loving alternative family. Unfortunately, a hostile group of intolerant redneck vigilantes who call themselves the Citizens Against Crime take issue with the punks living in their neighborhood. Writer/director Penelope Spheeris's extremely raw and rough-around-the-edges low-budget indie drama astutely captures the profound sense of burning anger and acute alienation that were key hallmarks of the 80's punk scene. Moreover, Spheeris neither glorifies nor vilifies the punks; instead she shows these sullen malcontents in a blunt and brutally honest warts'n'all manner that's both nonjudgmental and compassionate, but never sappy or exploitative. Better still, Spheeris does a commendable job of precisely nailing why these kids are so bitter and rebellious by showing that they are the toxic products of such things as poverty, prejudice, and broken dysfunctional families. Granted, the acting from the cast of mostly unprofessional thespians is admittedly crude and amateurish, but the kids are nonetheless believable in their roles, with stand-out contributions from Chris Pederson as charismatic punk leader Jack Diddley, Jennifer Clay as the hard-bitten Sheila, Timothy Eric O'Brien as the surly Skinner, Flea as the rowdy Razzle, and Grant Miner as zonked-out druggie Keef. Don Allen is likewise solid as pragmatic police officer William Rennard. Timothy Suhrstedt's no-frills cinematography gives the picture an appropriately gritty and unpolished look. Alex Gibson's bluesy thrashin' score and the first-rate punk music soundtrack are both on the money excellent and effective. The shocking downbeat ending packs a potent punch. A very powerful and praiseworthy exploration of an interesting and often misunderstood youth subculture.

The most accurate depiction of the punk scene ever in amovie

[Brendan3 · 28 October 1999]

I grew up in the early 80's hardcore punk scene in NYC and like most punks at the time had seen Penelope Spheeris' DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION (the best punk documentary ever made) and was impressed when SUBURBIA(later renamed The Wild Side) came out in a few theatres. It was, and still is, the most accurate depiction of what being a hardcore punk was like. Okay, as a film, the production was shoddy, the acting was sub par, and the story was weak. But most of the actors were local punks. . The depiction of the punks was right on the mark....the clothes, the attitude, the music, the just hanging out, etc. Unfortunately, all the new kids who just got into punk in the last decade think this movie is all wrong. Even one of the commenters on this site mistakenly complained that this movie has it all wrong and punks aren't like that. Well guess what kids? The punks in this movie not only acted like real punks, most of them were real punks. (before you were) The scene has changed over the years. This movie is accurately representative of what it was like back in the original (real) scene days during the Reagan administration.

A very good film

[orlanthrex · 7/10 · 10 August 2004]

Suburbia is one of my favourite films. Its cheap in places with tacky sounds, however that only adds to its charm. The characters have appeal and the situations seem real. There is nothing pretentious about it, the protagonists are not made out to be either good or evil, just drifting teenagers who don't think through what they do. The director draws us along with some sympathy for the TR even when they are up to no good, as its clear that deep down they don't actually mean any harm to anyone. A lot of people have rated this film with 10's, I can't see that (and gave it a 7) as it is still basically a cheap B movie. But definitely a good one.

Flawed, but

[thismortalsoil · 7/10 · 4 December 2005]

Despite the low budget and poor acting, this movie is one of my favorites. I really felt sympathy for the TR kids. I knew some people who were like them, and I even identified with some of them. There was a time in my youth when my friends and I all had a crash pad we could run off to if things got unbearable at home. Another highlight of the film were the excellent performances by TSOL, DI, and the Vandals. It's neat to see how far the 'scene' has come. Many still argue that punk is 'dead', I will not comment. TR kids were angry, poor, outcasts trapped in a world of disappointment, anguish and rejection. They weren't the best of people, one dealt in drugs, others were burglars. They're anti-heroes, showing what life was like "when punk rock was dangerous". This movie is funny at times, with comic relief in the form of a young Flea (before his stint in the Red Hot Chili Peppers) stealing the show in every one of his scenes. There are others that seem just for shock value, such as in the opening scene when a young child gets mauled by a wild dog. All flaws aside, I think that if you're into punk rock, you should at least check out Suburbia.

Takes me home

[phorever · 10/10 · 9 July 2008]

I love this movie even more now then I did back then. I think this should be a mandatory watch before your first purchase at Hot Topic. This movie gives me an odd sense of comfort when I watch it…something I can't find anymore. I wasn't a "TR Kid" (figuratively speaking), but I knew them all, I hung out at the "TR House"…you were always welcome there. They were my friends, my family, they were as accepting of you as you of them…someone always had your back…another thing you can't find anymore.

But enough reminiscing. I recommend this movie to anyone who was in the scene back then…but you guys have seen it. I also recommend this movie to all the new school kids who think they get it. Punk isn't what you wear, punk is who you are.

An interesting coming-of-age drama that has a raw vibe that can't be denied.

[mwilson1976 · 6/10 · 16 June 2020]

Misanthropic punk runaways take over an LA suburb slated for demolition and try to build the kind of supportive, loving family they never had at home in this interesting coming-of-age drama written and directed by Penelope Spheeris, and produced by Roger Corman. "The Rejected" as the gang call themselves encounter hostile neighbors who do not want fringe people living near them, and a redneck gang of vigilantes who try to chase the punks away. Aka The Wild Side and Rebel Streets, it is the first of two youth movies made by Spheeris in the 1980's. She cast real-life punks to play the kids - including the future Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea,and included sets by scene luminaries like D.I performing "Richard Hung Himself", T.S.O.L. performing "Wash Away" and "Darker My Love", and The Vandals performing "The Legend of Pat Brown". It was filmed at an abandoned housing tract in and around the cities of Downey and Norwalk in California known for its gang violence and "drug houses", and in the early days of Metallica, then-bassist Ron McGovney hosted auditions/rehearsals and made demos in a house in the same tract. Even though for the most part Suburbia is wretchedly acted and broadly scripted, it has a raw vibe that can't be denied.

One of my favorite movies!

[jensav · 10/10 · 4 June 1999]

I love this film. What can I say? Yes, the acting is bad, but this would be because for the most part, these kids are actual street kids and not "actors". So, get past the low budget and the bad acting for a second and look at the story. Kids (punks) who live in an abandoned house and are rejected by society. How much more realistic can you get? This movie is a cult classic, and for those into punk, a must-see! Why? Because it has performances by D.I., The Vandals and others. Also, you can catch Flea in what's probably his first film, credited as something like Mike B. The Flea. Check it out!!

All Punks Go to Heaven

[wes-connors · 6/10 · 16 December 2007]

In Penelope Spheeris's "Suburbia", alienated and unwanted teenagers (and twentysomethings) find a new home for themselves: the "T.R. House" by "The 605". T.R. stands for "The Rejected", and Interstate 605 is a freeway located in San Gabriel, California. "Suburbia" is explained in the film, perhaps incorrectly, as a combining of the words "Suburb" and "Utopia". Leader of the T.R.s is Chris Pedersen (as Jack Diddley); he is the one with the super blond surfer 'do. He rounds-up two rejected teenagers as the film opens…

BUT, first things first. Director-writer Spheeris begins the film with a "dog attack"; interestingly, the film will feature a group of Wild Dogs, which threaten the inhabitants of "Suburbia". The parallel/symbolism between the T.R.s and the abandoned dogs should be obvious. Then, we seen Bill Coyne (as Evan Mark Johnson) at home, reading a comic book, with the T.V. playing; his mother comes home and berates him for stealing her liquor, and neglecting his chores. Mr. Coyne decides to runaway from home, saying goodbye to little brother Andrew Pece (as Ethan Johnson); after their mother has a drunken automobile smash-up, Mr. Pace will join his big brother at T.R. House.

T.R. leader Pederson finds Coyne after a punk rock concert, "passed out"; his drink spiked, incidentally, by the film's "druggie" Keef (Grant Miner), who is also a member of T.R. They go pick up Wade Walston (as Joe), who lives with his disinterested gay father. Mr. Walston provide the film's "romance" when he hooks up with suicidal Jennifer Clay (as Sheila). Timothy O'Brien (as Skinner) is another important member of T.R. house; he hammers nails in walls, so the inhabitants can hang.

Flea (as Razzle) is the most illustrious member of the T.R.s; also known as Michael Balzary, he is the Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist. Ironically, this Flea is good for dogs; and, he attempts to tame the wild ones threatening "Suburbia". Flea also demonstrates a fondness for rats; so, perhaps, he was a fan of the 1970s punk band The Stranglers' IV Rattus Norvegicus?

The punk music groups represent the era well; but, the soundtrack could have been improved by more classic punk songs; and, a title song would have been great. The T.R.s should be commended for not watching Wally George "Hot Seat", but they still, however, have awful taste in T.V. shows. Their set should have been traded in for a good stereo. The acting is realistic, and the characters speak Spheeris well; but, the relatively small amount of sex and drugs doesn't ring true. The End is a downer.

A bunch of punks make some friends.

[triggerhappyguy · 5/10 · 19 October 2014]

Let me start off by saying that this film had a lot of potential. The last 20 minutes of the film was terrific! The end of the film was exciting, tense, and I really rooted for the seemingly misunderstood bunch of misfits. It's a shame, because the rest of the film they annoyed the hell out of me. Don't get me wrong, nearly every character in this film was dislikable - from the aforementioned punks to the neighbourhood folk who have it out for them. The only nice person in the film was the police officer (Don Allen). I'm not saying every film should have a pleasant character in it, but considering the ending of the film, it just made it harder to root for the main characters.

I thought this film would be about a group of punks who aren't accepted because they're different... I've been in the same situation myself when I was younger. However, the punks just go around being stealing food from people's houses, spray painting shops, degrading a women at a gig, and just generally being dicks to everyone. As I said, there were other characters in the film that were dislikable, but they were secondary characters. The punks were the main focus throughout, but the film didn't even manage to successfully create lovable anti-heroes out of them.

One of the main problems of this film is that it has that Roger Corman stink about it. Sure, it's low budget, but it had some Corman trademarks thrown in there such as: bad day-for-night shots, terrible acting, and painfully long padding scenes. Did we really need 5 full songs being performed in the film? I like all the bands featured, but it just became a chore to sit through... if I wanted to watch a live gig I'd go to a club, or check the Internet. I was surprised the infamous Corman castle didn't make an appearance! Granted, the blame can't be dumped on Corman, seeing as it was Penelope Spheeris in the director's chair. Spheeris is a hit-or-miss director: when she's in the zone, she can create a great film, but this was not one of them. Although her involvement does explain the bad acting, as she knew a lot of kids and bands in the punk scene after making a great documentary about the L.A. music scene. I can understand wanting to use unknowns in a film a film to make it feel authentic, but the acting was painfully bad! The turning point of the film is when the punks lose a friend, and it really hits them hard. They begin to realise they're not infallible. The characters started to feel human... they weren't trying to being tough, or raise hell. They just wanted to mourn a friend, something we can all relate to at some point. Because of their previous actions, and a little sprinkling of prejudice, the punks aren't wanted at the funeral. At this point, it's understandable, as they've been complete tools to everyone. When the punks make one last revolt at the end of the film, it becomes clear what's going to happen. Nevertheless, the ending hits hard. Good stuff.

I can't recommend this. If you're interested in the punk movement, there's plenty of better films you could watch. I'd start with the closest link to this film; Spheeris' previous film, The Decline of Western Civilization.

Good stuff.

[Hey_Sweden · 8/10 · 2 April 2014]

Writer & director Penelope Spheeris certainly knows her way around this sort of material, having previously made the landmark documentary "The Decline of Western Civilization". She treats her subjects with sensitivity; while not really condoning their actions, the film does let you know where these kids are coming from: a society that's let them down in one way or another, or which has failed to understand them. This is low key and believable, with some potent and emotional moments and fine performances by the young cast. This is as good an example of "punks on film" as one is apt to see.

Spheeris does wonders with her low budget, creating a narrative that's absorbing and entertaining if undeniably disturbing at times. This movie *is* going to lose some viewers early on due to a scene with an infant, but some of those who don't immediately turn it off will find something pretty interesting and visually arresting. The concert performances by punk groups T.S.O.L., The Vandals, and D.I. add to the experience.

Young Bill Coyne is front and centre as Evan, a teen who flees his alcoholic, judgemental mother, and hooks up with a pack of punkers who all squat in an abandoned home near an L.A. freeway. It's a filthy, run-down, vermin infested place, but they call it home. An uptight group who dub themselves Citizens Against Crime vow to combat the kids, whom they see as merely a menace to polite society. And things take a real downturn when our protagonists attend a funeral, believing that they have every right to be there.

The punks are a fairly colourful bunch, and they include characters such as Razzle (played by future Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea), runaway Sheila (Jennifer Clay), drug addicted Keef (Grant Miner), and charismatic leader Jack (Chris Pedersen). Their stories do keep one watching, even if there are moments that are off-putting. The finale is a real heartbreaker.

Overall, this is enjoyable to watch.

Eight out of 10.

Too darn funny!

[CBrick · 6/10 · 4 June 1999]

Why is it funny? It's the horrible acting, the almost as horrible script, and then sprinkle in some punk bands and you've got me laughing. (Nothing against punk, mind you.) From the beginning of the movie when a kid gets snatched by a wild doberman the "special effects" are world class, if it's an Ed Wood movie! If you can appreciate the absurdity of a bad movie then this is the movie for you!

Hot mess with punk scenes

[mikeburdick · 4/10 · 4 February 2023]

Undoubtedly, Penelope Spheeris has captured some of the most raw and authentic L. A. punk scenes ever filmed. My problem is pretty much everything that takes place outside the club: the character development, the story, the writing, the acting, like all of it.

'Suburbia' is basically a series of punk performances, by some of L. A.'s great acts, like The Germs, TSOL, The Vandals, strung together by a loose story of a group of young punks who all left their homes to live in a derelict house.

Admirably, Spheeris uses street casted talent and real punk musicians, like a young Flea, to play the various roles. Unfortunately, none of them are very good. The characters are characterless, almost interchangeable. The dramas are fairly predictable, with lots of fights, theft, drugs and general mayhem.

I also found it somewhat frustrating trying to figure out the intent of 'Suburbia'. Is it meant to be a cynical nihilistic B camp film along the lines of 'Toxic Avenger', a rebellious comedy like 'Animal House', or a poignant drama like 'Trainspotting'?

It does some similarities with 'Trainspotting', the energetic music and celebration of mindless mayhem, the tragedy that comes out of youthful idiocy, but unfortunately without the great writing, acting and character growth. The moments that could have been poignant and shed light on the human condition seem to just be thrown away as we move on to the next scene of our madcap gang gleefully running through the streets.

All in all, my recommendation is to skip the whatever and cut straight to the music scenes. Then go watch 'Trainspotting'.

Punks as actors, not actors as punks - excellent.

[frankbell · 4 December 2000]

During my career as an "angry youth," this film, along with "Made in Britain," (Tim Roth) "Clockwork Orange," and "River's Edge," were required viewing. Penelope Spheeris did a class-A job of depicting what it was like to be young and different in a time in America when outward weirdness invited violence by jocks or other assorted meatheads. Kids who dye their hair blue and get their eyelids pierced at the mall in 2000 should watch this film and see what the consequences for "expressing one's self" were for old schoolers who think Marylin Manson is nothing more than a cheap Vaudeville rip-off artist. Think the type of stuff depicted in this film doesn't still happen? Think again - the killing of punker Brian Deneke in Texas a few years ago will shatter that notion. This film is kind of hard to find on video. You generally won't find it at Blockbuster. Try the mom & pop places.

Problematic but still enjoyable

[colinesq-859-519335 · 7/10 · 17 November 2022]

If we set aside the blatant homophobia, the casual racism, and two scenes with very strange depictions of sexual assault against women, between all that there is still a watchable movie.

Obviously there are problems with this film and if it was given a modern retelling then I hope they would address this issues better. That being said, there is quite a lot to enjoy in this film. It is edgy and has a very unique style. There are performances by The Vandals, T. S. O. L. and. D. I. That will bring you back down memory lane to the old punk shows.

Flea and a few others give a great performance even though many of the others can't act.

The story tackles a few serious issues like disenfranchised youth in a capitalist suburban community, sexual abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, suicide, animal rights.

This film was directed by Penelope Spheeris who went on to direct Wayne's World many years later. Knowing this I will probably check out her other films.

One of the greatest movies about Punk Rock and/or Street Kid's ever produced.

[therskybznuiss · 7/10 · 17 May 2021]

Penelope Spheeris is behind some great projects - this is my favorite, no doubt

It takes on some of the most serious issues in a deeply legitimate and personal nature, and it's production is next to unmatched in any of the world of fiction - with many of the key figures and band's of So Cal's early punk scene.

The love and the essence of this movie, if not the b-style production make it one of my favorite movies done in the exploitation fashion.

Blast from......

[reg-71 · 9/10 · 21 October 2004]

I recently rediscovered this movie in a bargain bin. When I was growing up in Dublin this was the movie we all watched when one of our parents went out and we could sneak in some beer. One night I couldn't afford beer and bought a jar of coffee instead . I watched the movie 5 times that night!!

I was nervous putting on the movie. (I had found Sid And Nancy a few weeks previously and found it absolutely awful.) But it was like a trip down a familiar path. This movie is Quality. The acting is awful, the message is non-existent and did I mention the acting is awful, but it doesn't matter .Its a perfect snapshot of what it was like to be a young punk anywhere in the eighties and pre Nirvana nineties. The fact that not one band gets to finish a set was true a lot of the time, (usually because of idiots like the TR kids!!!) The kids are not meant to be role models they are meant to be lost kids who lash out as kids are wont to do

.This movie isn't meant to be over analised . For anyone who's in their mid 30's and had any interest in Hardcore/Punk during their teens should own this movie. Reg

Boring clichés

[rainking_es · 3/10 · 17 May 2008]

Penelope Spehhers' "Suburbia" is just like "The Goonies", but so boring and typical, and instead of a bunch of mid-class kids we got a bunch of homeless punk kids playing the neighborhood's bad guys. Maybe Sphheris wanted to make sort of a denounce of all those kids who live in the streets, but she just idealizes that way of life. Come on, this has nothing to do with REAL margination and poverty. The movie is just an excuse to show some punk rock bands playing and some scenes of street vandalism... and that's OK only if you do it in style, but this is not the case.

*My rate: 3/10

Suburbia - A good movie

[johnnyboy1-1 · 10/10 · 29 January 2006]

I've owned this movie for quite a few years now. Having lived through the UK punk scene around the same time that this movie was made I can relate to a lot of it. If one is expecting a movie that has had a lot of money put into it then maybe this is not your kind of flick. For the budget that this was made with, I feel its a great movie for its time and like a few other movies in that time period its great to look back on.

The 'old' America, with the big old gas guzzling cars, buses that had the black cloud of smoke that came out the back of them and the attitude is all part of what WAS back then.

I love this movie and I put it on about every six months just to remind me of the past and how different it is now.

ridiculously awful

[TristramShandy · 2/10 · 23 July 2020]

If Mystery Science 3000 used crappy melodramas rather than science fiction movies to spoof, this would have been used decades ago. Every plot point can be seen coming five minutes before it happens. You could pull fifteen people off the street, give them the script for five minutes, and have more emotion and believability in their acting than these losers do. You can't get more wooden or laconic in performances. Add to the fact that it is blatantly sexist, racist, and homophobic within the first ten minutes, and you have a completely irredeemable movie. I grew up on SST, Dischord, Touch and Go and the like, but the punkers are no better than the townies in this dud.

Punk Side Story

[XjwalkX · 31 October 1998]

"Suburbia" is the definitive punxploitation film of the 80's, one of Hollywood's few explorations of that counter-culture. Director Spheeris, who also did "Dudes" and "Decline of Western Civilization" before going mainstream, knows enough to make a perfectly romantic (if not realistic) version of punks and skins living in the 80's: complete with shows (on a rickety sound stage, but there's a better circle pit than you're likely to find today), fights with rednecks, squatting, and dealing with a decade where every jock didn't have an eyebrow ring and green hair. You know what? Chickenbutt.

An ambitious first effort

[Baroque · 8/10 · 4 June 1999]

While arguably not Spheeris' best work, it was her first, and in my opinion, most ambitious. The film was shot on a threadbare budget with non-professional actors, with most of the action taking place in an abandoned tract house in a suburb slated for demolition (the area is now a highway). The punk rockers are outcasts from society who attempt for form a "family" of their own, that they call "The Rejected" (The irony of it all, outcasts being anti-social together). The film bogs down at times, and often relies on reversed clichés, but was a very good effort for a documentary film-maker who was making her first dramatic feature (Some of the themes of being an outsider were used, with greater success, in Spheeris' feature DUDES). Yes, it could be called "punxploitation", but I was one of those scruffy kids with a ragged haircut and ripped jeans when this film was released, and I identified with it. (Not to be confused with Richard Linklater's "subUrbia").

This is the Real McCoy

[nameo-37461 · 10/10 · 21 February 2020]

What Penelope accomplished here on her budget could only have been done with great inside connections and charisma. The Walking scene on the cover is one of the best movie moments ever made - no exageration. So much is communicated there without a single word spoken. Watch it!