Street Trash (2024) Review

Released in 1987, J. Michael Muro’s Street Trash has become a beloved body horror among genre fans. One of the original ‘melt movies’ – which, for the uninitiated, is a film featuring gratuitous scenes of humans melting – the film ponders what the effects of cheap, poisonous alcohol from the 1920s could have on the population of Brooklyn. When a local convenience store buys a case of cheap but dangerous liquor, the owner decides to sell it to the local homeless people, despite the fact it causes anyone who drinks it to melt away. The cops try to get to the bottom of the mysterious deaths, while also trying to end the reign of Bronson (Vic Noto), a Vietnam veteran who has formed a gang with a group of fellow homeless vets.

Street Trash became infamous for its bizarre and comedic deaths, quickly earning the title of a cult classic. It’s a bold move to remake such a boldly deranged film, yet it’s one Ryan Kruger made in 2024 when they announced they would be remaking it. In its latest iteration, we’re transported to Cape Town in the year 2050, which is starkly divided between the ultra-rich and the displaced citizens. Ronald (Sean Cameron Michael), alongside a group of fellow homeless people, uncovers a government plot helmed by Mayor Mostert (Warrick Grier) to dispel the displaced population with a chemical named ‘V’, a product recreated after ‘The New York Incident’ of the original film.

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In a time where many feel the gap between the elite and the everyday person on the street is becoming wider than ever before, Street Trash feels painfully relevant in the government’s despicable treatment of vulnerable people pushed to the edges of society. It’s in this that the horror of the remake works on two levels – in the shocking and, sadly, believable actions of those that are meant to protect their communities, and in its stomach-turning gore and effects. As you may imagine, the special effects here are mind-meltingly grotesque. The technicolour carnage and slimy slaughters littered throughout the narrative are perfect for any genre fan who loves their flicks to be splattered with guts. But aside from the gloopy elements Street Trash is known for, it stays true to its societal message throughout told through its fun, lovable protagonists fighting against villains that feel so truly evil at all times.

For fans of the original, there are plenty of little Easter eggs to enjoy, but this latest iteration is a fresh introduction for those who haven’t tuned into the cult gem. Though an important message at the heart of the film, the blend between the wild visuals and kills of the original and a stark, political message often feel at odds with each other, and the juggling of multiple themes can make Street Trash feel uneven and messy – and not in the transgressive sense of the original. It doesn’t feel quite as surreal as its predecessor – which could be a positive or a negative, depending on your preference – nor is it as bloody or wildly offensive. At points, it feels like something is missing that made the original work so well against all the odds, but its solid performances and grim special effects make it a thoroughly enjoyable watch for fans of bubbling flesh and oozing wounds.

★★★

In UK Cinemas 10th January, on Digital & Blu-ray 17th February / Sean Cameron Michael, Donna Cormack-Thomson, Joe Vaz / Ryan Kruger / Lightbulb Film Distribution / 18