Street Trash

So apparently a remake of the '80s cult classic horror movie "Street Trash" was made in South Africa this year. I just watched it and it's got nothing on that original, and still very unique, movie. If you want a b-grade splatter flick, then I guess this remake might wag your tail. But I found it pretty forgettable.

The original movie didn't really have a plot, which is what made it so cool. Well, that and the fluorescent gore effects. It was just a series of riffs on splatter themes mixed with comedy and a sly wink at the audience that let you know the filmmakers were having fun and wanted us to join in. Considering it's well remembered by cult film fans decades later, I think it's fair to say we did.

This remake has more plot, seemingly, though it doesn't really make sense. It's homeless people again, including a Yiddish-spouting guy who looks a lot like Stanley Kubrick, and another one played by that extraordinary South African actor from the director's previous, and superior, "Fried Barry", who looks like a cross between Bad Boy Bubby and a caveman.

The way his eyes are clear but apparently see nothing, and the way he blinks and stands still like he's patiently waiting for somebody to tell him what to do, reminds me of the character creation screen in a CRPG.

He steals every scene he's in, simply by virtue of him being in it. He doesn't have to do anything, he's just such a bizarre specimen you always find yourself looking at him.

The same can't be said for the guy who plays the main character, unfortunately.

The plot, as near as I can tell, is something to do with a rich South African trying to kill the country's homeless population. I didn't really understand it.

They should have had the guts to make a plotless movie, like the original one was. This movie is unhinged and crazy enough- or seems to want to be - to pull it off. But the plot keeps getting in the way, such as it is.

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.

Forced out onto the streets, a homeless woman meets up with a friendly group of people stuck in a situation like her and sets about trying to help them overcome the exploits of a tyrannical mayor looking to wipe out the homeless population with a special body-melting chemical.

This was a rather disappointing if still watchable enough genre effort. Among the best aspects of this one is a rather strong and topical storyline that manages to hit on a very current aspect of society. The series of political satire attempted here involving the plight of the homeless and how they're left on their own despite the protestations and promises of the rich to provide and care for them in their campaign speeches talks about the current issues involving what to do with the homeless in the real world. The poor are left to fend for themselves in the broken-down, rat-infested slums they are shown to live in and are unable to care for themselves or each other even though there's a real effort made to bring about a sympathetic vibe to them compared to the more antagonistic approach given to the political rantings of the authorities that prove them to be in control of society and doing what they can to keep themselves in power to spite the homeless. It's a solid enough take that offers a decent enough starting point for everything. This starting point offers a great display of body meltdowns and disintegrations that are featured throughout here. The goopy, viscous-style effects are quite fun with the multi-colored liquids emerging from every orifice possible as the skin melts down and falls off or limbs drop to the ground making for a great touch here bringing about no shortage of graphic and bloody sequences. Whether it's just random passersby on the streets who we get to see the effects of the chemical or the friends who are trying to fight back against the corrupt authorities in their way as they try to carry out their special plan to wipe out the homeless on the streets, the scenes here provide a fun series of ideas depicting the various stages of their bodies getting dismembered and falling apart which are wholly cheesy and silly to witness as the physical approach keeps everything immensely fun. Mixed in with some brutal hand-to-hand Action and shootouts to be quite enjoyable, there's plenty to like with this one at points. That said, there are some factors here holding this one back. That mostly centers on the film not being all that interesting when it's not dealing with the body meltdowns or the Action scenes as the fight for human rights and equality is not that interesting to see play out. The pacing in the first hour is quite bland as we get plenty of their day-to-day lives, the political satire of the war against them by the elites, and the discovery about everything going on that comes with this particular story that never really delves into the horror of any kind which leaves a feeling more in line with a high-energy Action film than horror. Focusing on shootouts, gun-battles, and the occasional use of the gas to melt people down as a way of helping them achieve their mission than anything else, this might not be a genuine issue but can easily be a factor to drag this down in the end.

Rated R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

I have to say that I was not a fan of the 1987 movie "Street Trash", with not actually having watched it before now in 2025, so I wasn't particularly harboring much of any grand expectations to the 2024 version. But still, since it was a movie that I hadn't already seen, and with the years in between and hoping the effects would be improved, of course I opted to check out what director Ryan Kruger had to offer.

The storyline in this 2024 movie was at least a bit more solid than in the 1987 version, however, writers Ryan Kruger and James C. Williamson didn't exactly put together a script of Shakespearian contents. While I did manage to sit through the entire 85 minutes that the movie ran for, I can't claim that I was particularly impressed or overly entertained.

I wasn't familiar with a single actor or actress on the cast list, aside from Gary Green, and that actually spoke well in favor of the movie, as I enjoy watching unfamiliar and new talents on the screen. The acting performances in "Street Trash" were fair.

The effects in the movie were quite good, definitely a major improvement from the 1987 movie. I do like the over-the-top gore and gruesomeness of the effects, as it is something you rarely see in movies. The special effects actually helped carry the movie a great long way, making it all the more bearable to sit through.

Watchable for what it was, but it is hardly a movie that warrants more than a single viewing. It is not a movie that I would recommend to horror fans, unless you are a fan of the 1987 version.

My rating of director Ryan Kruger's 2024 "Street Trash" lands on a four out of ten stars.

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.