WFG RATING: A+

A Chaos Productions film. Directed by Jim Muro. Produced by Roy Frumkes. Written by Jim Muro and Roy Frumkes. Cinematography by David Sperling. Editing by Dennis Werner.

Stars Mike Lackey, Bill Chepil, Vic Noto, Mark Sferrazza, Jane Arakawa, Nicole Potter, Pat Ryan Jr., Clarenze Jarmon, Bernard Perlman, Miriam Zucker, and M. D’Jango Krunch.

In the first Throwback Cinema review, we take a look at Jim Muro’s 1987 cult classic revolving around homeless people who are in a world of their own.

In the thralls of New York City, the homeless population have found refuge in a local junkyard run by Frank Schnizer. Some of the bums just want to live their lives peacefully. However, one man thinks he is the real boss of the junkyard and his name is Bronson, a former Vietnam War veteran whose post-traumatic stress disorder causes him to become sociopathic. Meanwhile, one of the bums, Fred, is looking for a drink and the local liquor store owner has found a strange crate in the back of his shop.

Ed finds a crate of locked up booze with a label that reads “Tenafly Viper”. Thinking it is not worth much, he begins to offer the bottles to the bums for only a buck each. Soon enough, there is a good reason why the Viper is one to stay away from. When one of the locals steals Fred’s bottle, he hides and drinks it. The end result is that his body literally starts to melt away. Between the effects of the Viper and Bronson’s reign of terror, those who want peace may have no other choice but to do what it takes to survive. 

This became a cult classic upon its release in 1987 as it may seem like it is just about bums getting killed via meltdowns after drinking a new old school booze. However, it goes beyond that and the duo of Jim Muro and Roy Frumkes (who would later write the underrated 1996 action franchise starter The Substitute) want you to know that homeless people have feelings too. While there are the stereotypes of homeless people, there are a few characters in the film that you can sympathize with, such as Jane Arakawa’s Wendy and Mark Sferraza’s Kevin. 

Mike Lackey’s Fred is one who may suffer from alcoholism and his purchase of the deadly alcohol may be the catalyst for things to come, but we see throughout the film, he’s not exactly a bad guy. As a matter of fact, he too becomes victimized by Bronson’s goons because he owes them money. And once Fred discovers the effects of the Viper, let’s just say in a bold move, he wisely finds a way to get even on one of his tormentors. 

Vic Noto is excellent as the lead villain Bronson. What’s interesting is that not only is he a complete psychopath, we get his backstory of his service in Vietnam where he reveals how he became that way, a rarity for its time. Noto even went on point as to this day, not realizing exactly who his character is as he was cast the day before shooting even began. He even has a moll if you will in the crazed Winette, played with such hilarity and annoyance together by Nicole Potter. One attempt to stop them is done by Bill the cop, played by Bill Chepil, who was in fact a real-life NYPD officer at the time. 

Kudos goes out to Jennifer Aspinall for her great special effects on the film. If that name sounds familiar, it should as she is the designer and SFX artist behind the original Toxic Avenger just three years prior. Along with co-star Mike Lackey, Aspinall really delves into making the effects of the Viper come to life with each victim melting out a different color, something that may have inspired Greg Lamberson for his 2010 awesome sequel Slime City Massacre. In a memorable scene where Lackey can take the credit, Bronson in a fit of rage, goes Lorena Bobbitt on a local bum and it leads to one of the funniest scenes in the film, a game of “keep away” between the bums and the severed part, thanks to Rick Ulfik’s choice of music to use during this scene. 

1987’s Street Trash is a definite must-see for those who love cult classics and definitely those who need a good “WTF” film to break from reality. I don’t know what’s crazier, the melting scenes or the game of keep away with the severed you know what. And there is a thematic sequel coming from director Ryan Kruger coming on November 19, which he used practical effects and shot on 35mm film! 

If you can find the original film, definitely see this!!! 

You see can Street Trash on Tubi, AMC+, and other platforms.