GIRL TRASH: CELEBRATING THE GODDESSES OF EXPLOITATION CINEMA

GIRL TRASH continues with SAVAGE STREETS (1984) where we’ll be crowning Linda Blair a GIRL TRASH GODDESS and tracing the well-worn path from controversial child star to exploitation queen.

SAVAGE STREETS is that most powerful of molotov cocktails, an iconic screen star giving her all in material that feels like a distillation of everything that ‘80s exploitation cinema threw at the screen (for better and worse). Of course, a ‘rape revenge’ film from a director with previous work for the Playboy channel would hardly seem the most promising credentials. But despite its issues, we’d risk walking down those savage streets any day if it meant we could hang out with the girl gang at the heart of the story. Co-written by LA video art pioneer Norman Yonemoto, it is of course possible that SAVAGE STREETS might just be more than its big-hair looks.

Brenda (Linda Blair) is the leader of ‘The Satins’, a close-knit girl gang who like to hang out on Hollywood Boulevard, window shop for crossbows (Chekov’s crossbow!) and collectively take care of Brenda’s deaf sister, Heather (played by future scream queen, Linnea Quigley). After a run-in with the local gang of drug dealers, ‘The Scars’, Brenda and her friends become the targets of their terrible violence. Come for the usual exploitation fare: catfights in the women’s showers, topless bath ruminating, and general male-gaze a-go-go, but stay for the Satins and the mesmerising energy of their ride or die friendship… and to watch the bad guys burn, of course.

Content warning: This film contains a lengthy scene of sexual assault, other scenes of violence against women, discriminatory language, and stereotypical depictions of deafness and disability.

/// GIRL TRASH celebrates the femme filmmakers of trash and exploitation cinema, hosted by Zodiac Film Club and Token Homo. All films are served with introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50 + fees. Adults 18+ only. Follow @zodiacfilmclub and @tokenhomo on Instagram for info and updates. Please contact the venue for access information. ///

Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/film-hub-london