''Savage Streets'' is a 1984 American

teen Adolescence () is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age of majority). Adolescence is usually associated with the te ...

vigilante Vigilantism () is the act of preventing, investigating and punishing perceived offenses and crimes without legal authority. A vigilante (from Spanish, Italian and Portuguese “vigilante”, which means "sentinel" or "watcher") is a person who ...

action film Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include l ...

directed by Danny Steinmann and starring

Linda Blair Linda Denise Blair (born January 22, 1959) is an American actress and activist. She played Regan MacNeil in the horror film ''The Exorcist'' (1973), for which she won a Golden Globe Award and received a nomination for an Academy Award. The fil ...

. The film premiered on October 5, 1984.

Plot

After nearly being run down in the street by a gang known as the Scars, Brenda (Linda Blair) and her deaf-mute younger sister Heather (Linnea Quigley) and their friends trash the car of the gang leader, Jake. Jake exacts his revenge by getting his cohorts to gang-rape Heather. A fight between Brenda and her friends and the Scars at a local nightclub results in Brenda's pregnant, soon-to-be-married friend Francine being murdered by the Scars, who throw her off a viaduct. When Brenda learns who is responsible for Heather's rape, and that Francine is dead and the Scars are responsible, Brenda arms herself and sets out to avenge them. Finding them at a nearby warehouse, Brenda impales one of the gang members, Fargo, with an arrow; kills another, Red, by snapping a bear trap shut upon his neck; and then begins to torture Jake with arrows shot into his thighs and a hunting knife as he hangs by his feet from a gate. However, he then manages to free himself and attacks her. The showdown ends in a nearby paint store; as a burglar alarm blares, Brenda douses Jake in paint and then sets him on fire with a cigarette lighter that she has previously had difficulty getting to produce a flame, just before the police arrive. The movie ends with Brenda (who is presumably facing charges for the murders of Fargo, Red and Jake), Heather and their surviving friends visiting Francine's grave, and Brenda comments, "At least we set things right," to which her friend Stevie replies, "No, Brenda. ''You'' set things right."

Cast

as Brenda *

Linnea Quigley Barbara Linnea Quigley (born May 27, 1958) is an American actress, film producer, model, singer, and author. She is best known as a B-movie actress, and is often referred to as a " scream queen" due to her frequent appearances in low-budget horro ...

as Heather * Robert Dryer as Jake *

John Vernon John Keith Vernon (born Adolphus Raymondus Vernon Agopsowicz; February 24, 1932 February 1, 2005) was a Canadian actor. He made a career in Hollywood after achieving initial television stardom in Canada. He was best known for playing Dean Wormer ...

as Underwood * Sal Landi as Fargo * Johnny Venocur as Vince * Scott Mayer as Red * Debra Blee as Rachel * Lisa Freeman as Francine * Marcia Karr as Stevie * Luisa Leschin as Maria * Ina Romeo as Stella *

Suzee Slater Suzanne M. Slater, also credited as Suzee Slater, is an American former actress and model best known as Leslie Todd in the horror film ''Chopping Mall''. She had several minor roles in movies and television in the late 1980s and early 1990s befor ...

as Fadden's Girlfriend

Reception

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' described the film as having "deliciously vulgar dialog and well-directed confrontation scenes." ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corpora ...

'' awarded the film one star and said of star Linda Blair "This is Blair's best performance since ''

The Exorcist ''The Exorcist'' is a 1973 American supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin and written for the screen by William Peter Blatty, based on his 1971 novel of the same name. It stars Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty ...

'' (1973), but that's not saying much." Carol J. Clover in ''

Men, Women, and Chainsaws ''Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film'' is a non-fiction book by American academic Carol J. Clover, published in 1992. The book is a cultural critique and investigation of gender in slasher films and the appeal of horror ...

'' found Linda Blair unconvincing in her role as a female avenger in her role as Regan MacNeil.

Awards

Razzie Awards * 1986 -

(Winner) - Worst Actress Saturn Award * 1985 -

(Nominated) - Best Actress * 1985 -

(Nominated) - Best Supporting Actress * 1985 - Danny Steinmann, Norman Yonemoto (Nominated) - Best Screenplay

Soundtrack

The soundtrack featuring the theme song "Justice for One" performed by John Farnham was never officially released to the public but may be found on rare promos which were sent to DJs at the time of the picture's release. The reason for the "non-release" was marketing. Some copies of ''Savage Streets'' LP, complete with Linda Blair as the main character "Brenda" on the cover, have made it onto online auctions and are stamped "demo only". These releases were put out by the Curb Records group and are now highly sought-after due to Farnham's increased popularity.

Home media

On September 23, 2008, ''Savage Streets'' was released in a 2-disc set "Special Edition" by Bryanston Distributors / Motion Picture Marketing in association with BCI Eclipse / Navarre Corporation with Special Features produced by Red Shirt Productions and Code Red.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Savage Streets 1984 films 1980s action thriller films American action thriller films American independent films 1980s English-language films Films directed by Danny Steinmann Films set in Los Angeles American rape and revenge films American vigilante films 1984 independent films 1980s vigilante films Golden Raspberry Award winning films 1980s American films