Savage Streets - Linda Blair

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by Danny Steinmann
USA 1984

When Brenda (Linda Blair, CHAINED HEAT), leader of the high school girl gang The Satins, decides to teach Jake (Robert Dryer, THE BORROWER), leader of the druggie gang The Scars, a lesson for nearly running over her mute sister Heather (Linnea Quigley, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD), she steals the gang's convertible and trashes it. They retaliate by beating and raping Heather, who ends up in the hospital clinging to life. As if that weren't enough to rile Brenda, they kill pregnant Satin member Francine (Lisa Freeman, FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH: THE FINAL CHAPTER). Brenda finds out that The Scars are responsible from guilt-ridden member Vinnie (Johnny Venocur, LORD OF ILLUSIONS) and arms herself with a crossbow, switchblade, and bear traps and goes after the gang one-by-one. John Vernon (who appeared with Blair in CHAINED HEAT the previous year), Sal Landi (COPS AND ROBBERSON), Debra Blee (THE MALIBU BIKINI SHOP), and Marcia Karr (KILLER WORKOUT) co-star. Director/co-writer Danny Steinman (THE UNSEEN, FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH: A NEW BEGINNING) replaced Tom DeSimone (who previously directed Blair in HELL NIGHT) and extensively rewrote the script in a short time. The film starts out nicely with a well-written first fifty minutes or so, but the revenge is not really the "gang war of the sexes" suggested by the posters since Brenda goes it solo (Brenda and Francine are the only members of the gang afforded the opportunity to show how tough they are). The section of the film devoted to her hunting down The Scars is a bit too short and swift (although Blair gets some great lines while tormenting her prey) and the particularly odious Jake's ultimate fate is not quite so thrilling due to obvious stunt doubling and protective wear (or, at least, the editor's inability to better conceal it). Nevertheless, SAVAGE STREETS is R-rated fun that delivers nudity, some vicious violence, and more badass Linda Blair (it would probably make a better double feature with Blair's CHAINED HEAT than her other WIP film RED HEAT). Dryer, Landi, and Scott Mayer are distinct in their vileness, while Venocur is good as the thug who gains a conscience way too late for Brenda's (and our) sympathy. As the unsympathetic school principal, Vernon has less scenery to chew (other than staring down Jake) than he did in CHAINED HEAT and disappear after suspending Brenda. Australian rocker John Farnham provides four strong vocals - including main title song "Nothing's Gonna Stand in Our Way" and "Justice for One" for Blair's getting-ready-for-battle montage - for the film's soundtrack (which was released on LP by MCA Records).

Eric Cotenas

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Theatrical Release: 5 October 1984 (USA)

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DVD Review: Arrow Video - Region 0 - PAL

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the Review!

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Arrow Video Region 0 - PAL
Runtime	1:32:42
Video	1.84:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.73 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate
Audio	English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
Subtitles	none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Arrow Video Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.84:1 Edition Details: • Audio Commentary with director Danny Steinmann • Audio Commentary with producer John Strong and actors Robert Dryer and Johnny Venocour • Audio Commentary with cinematographer Stephen Posey and actors Robert Dryer and Sal Landi • Confessions of a Teenage Vigilante: interview with Linda Blair (16:9; 17:02) • Heather Speaks: interview with Linnea Quigley (16:9; 10:45) • Producer John Strong interview (4:3; 14:04) • Actor Johnny Venocur interview (4:3; 14:15) • Actor Robert Dryer interview (4:3; 5:54) • Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 3:21) • Collector's Booklet • Reversible Sleeve • Double-sided fold-out poster DVD Release Date: June 20th, 2011 Chapters 12

Comments

Although presented in the UK uncut for the first time (the British theatrical release was subjected to 12 minutes or so of cuts), Arrow's transfer of SAVAGE STREETS is an NTSC-PAL conversion with combing (see cap 4) and occasional stuttering during sideways movement. The mono audio nicely renders the film's rock score (which got a soundtrack LP release on MCA Records). Arrow has carried over the extras from the OOP BCI 2-disc set (like the Scandanavian AWE NTSC import, Arrow has included the feature and extras on a single dual-layer disc). It should be noted that both the BCI and AWE releases sported interlaced transfers.

Among the extras ported from BCI are three commentary tracks! Danny Steinman is interviewed by Michael Felsher on the first track. There are quite a few silent passages during the talk, which has just as much info about Steinmann's directing career as the film at hand. Filmmaker David DeCoteau moderates the second commentary track with actors Robert Dryer and Johnny Venocur and producer John Strong. Strong came onto the production after it had commenced shooting and had temporarily shut down. Dryer returns on the third commentary track with cinematographer Stephen Posey (SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE) and actor Sal Landi (moderated by Marc Edward Hueck). Posey discusses the location shoots while - as on the other track - the actors largely have fun watching the film. Interviews with actors Blair, Quigley, Dryer, and a very animated Venocur, as well as producer John Strong are provided along with the film's theatrical trailer. The reversible cover art, double-sided poster, and collector's booklet were not included with the check disc. A new edition of SAVAGE STREETS on U.S. DVD is forthcoming (but no date has been announced as yet).

- Eric Cotenas

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