#193. Street Trash (1987) - New York State of Mind

Directed By: J. Michael Muro

Starring: Mike Lackey, Bill Chepil, Vic Noto



Tag line: "Things in New York are about to go down the toilet..."

Trivia:  Bryan Singer worked as a production assistant on this film








The opening sequence of Street Trash is really quite impressive: we follow a hobo named Freddy (Mike Lackey), who is on the run from a number of people  (including a guy from whom he stole a bottle of booze). The camera tracks along as Freddy runs through the streets of New York, dodging danger at every turn until finally eluding capture by jumping into the back of a garbage truck.

Director J. Michael Muro utilizes a number of exciting shots to keep up with Freddy on his survival run, and it's a wonderful introduction to the world of this film. But be warned: Street Trash is not a movie you'll remember for it's innovative camera tricks or snappy direction. Simply put, no amount of creativity can draw your attention away from a street person melting into a pile of bubbling goo.

Centering on a group of homeless who reside in a New York City auto wrecking yard, Street Trash will quickly have you squirming in your seat. The carnage begins when a Manhattan liquor store owner (M. D'Jango Crunch) stumbles upon a case of “Viper”, a liquor he found hidden beneath the stairs of his storeroom. Sensing an opportunity to make some fast cash, he starts selling his new-found wares to the local street bums for $1 a bottle. Unfortunately, 'Viper' does have one rather unfortunate side effect: anyone who drinks it starts to melt.

And it's a slow, agonizing death, too. The first poor guy to take a sip of 'Viper' actually stole his bottle from Freddy (who himself stole it from the liquor store only moments earlier). Sneaking away to a corner of the junkyard, the doomed hobo takes a seat on a discarded toilet, then downs his first gulp of the toxic elixer. First, blue liquid oozes from his mouth, which soon changes to red when it starts seeping through his skin. His outer layers melt away and his leg bones snap, separating his feet from the rest of his body. Soon, he's a quivering mass of jelly, slowly slipping into the toilet. As on-screen deaths go, this one is pretty original in how gross it gets, and it won't be the last (or even the grossest) we'll witness.

Prior to directing Street Trash, J. Michael Muro had spent most of his career working as a cameraman, and his visual prowess serves him well in this film. The various camera tricks he throws in from time to time bring a real excitement to the movie, not to mention a genuine sense of fun.

At least as much fun as you can possibly have watching street people melt in front of your eyes.