WFG RATING: A+

Cineverse, Bloody Disgusting, and Vinegar Syndrome presents a Not the Funeral Home production in association with Protagonist and Stage 5 Films. Directed by Ryan Kruger. Produced by Ryan Kruger, David Franciscus, Justin A. Martell, and Matt Manjourides. Written by Ryan Kruger and James H. Williamson; based on the 1987 film written by Roy Frumkes and Jim Muro. Cinematography by Fabian Vettiger. Editing by Stephen Du Plessis.

Stars Sean Cameron Michael, Donna Cormack-Thomson, Joe Vaz, Gary Green, Lloyd Martinez Newkirk, Shuraigh Meyer, Andrew Roux, Warrick Grier, and Suraya Rose Santos. 

From the director of Fried Barry comes this spiritual sequel to the 1987 cult classic and it is just as fun and wild as its predecessor.

The city of Cape Town, South Africa has a problem. Homelessness has been running rampant in the city. Tired of the chao ensuing and connecting to poverty, the government has decided to do something about it. Using random bums as guinea pigs, the government are testing out a new brand of nerve gas that will cause immediate liquidation of the oppressor…literally!

Meanwhile, Ronald, a heroic homeless person, had saved a young woman, Alex, from the clutches of the Rat King, the self-proclaimed boss of the homeless. Taking Alex in, Ronald introduces her to his own little group, including rotund mentor Chef, drug making duo Wors and Pap, and 2-Bit, who tends to have hallucinations of a blue ghoul named Sockle. When Ronald discovers the government’s plan, he decides to take action but when he is kidnapped by the Mayor, Alex decides to lead an assault on the government and needs all the help she can. 

The original 1987 film, created by Roy Frumkes and Jim Muro, was a wild ride to show that homeless people are not always the stereotypical bad guys looking for trouble or money and yet, they had to deal with a liquor that causes them to melt as well as a sociopathic self-proclaimed boss who torments the others. Kruger pays homage to the original as he considers this a sequel rather than a reboot, but adds a major change in the enemy being the corrupt government.

Another major change is the Tenafly Viper itself. In the original film, it is a tainted liquor found inside of an old crate in the back of a store. Here, it becomes a new type of nerve gas meant to wipe out the homeless population so the elite nouveau riche can live in prosperity. However, paying respect to his love of the original film and 80’s horror, Kruger not only used all practical effects and zero CGI, but he shot the film on 35mm, giving it that 80’s old school look that the past and present generations appreciate today.

It seems like Sean Cameron Michael can elevate any film, no matter the size of the role. After teaming with Green and Kruger on the very underrated Fried Barry, Michael takes lead in the role of Ronald. Michael, an actor who pulled off some very vicious roles such as Mr. Peterson in Triggered and as mob boss Arend Brown on the Netflix series Ludik, proves he can be hilarious and pulls it off nicely here. He even breaks the fourth wall at one point giving a thumbs up to the audience. In one glorious move, a decapitation leads to a rainbow geyser of blood rather than just being red. That’s how great the effects are! 

Donna Carmack-Thomson is great as Alex, a young woman who joins our fearless (or fearful) homeless crew which includes the hilarious duo of Wors and Pap, played by Lloyd Martinez Newkirk and Shuraigh Meyer respectively; and Fried Barry himself, Gary Green, as the always high 2-Bit, whose drug use leads to him having an imaginary friend in a blue ghoulie like creature named Sockle, voiced by none other than Kruger himself. Joe Vaz is also great in the role of Chef, who serves as an occasional mentor and brother to Ronald. Michael’s Triggered co-star Suraya Rose Santos makes the most of her screen time as the enigmatic Rat King, who unlike Bronson, isn’t completely psycho but does have some loonies in her group. 

Street Trash is just as awesome as its 1987 predecessor in its own nutty way! Sean Cameron Michael and cast are excellent and at times, very funny, and the fact Ryan Kruger shot the film on 35mm and using all practical effects gives it that great 80’s style of horror in a modern era. This is definitely one of the must see horror films of the year! 

Street Trash hits Digital on November 19 with a Screambox release set for December.