Street Trash

So apparently a remake of the '80s cult classic horror movie "Street Trash" was made in South Africa this year. I just watched it and it's got nothing on that original, and still very unique, movie. If you want a b-grade splatter flick, then I guess this remake might wag your tail. But I found it pretty forgettable.

The original movie didn't really have a plot, which is what made it so cool. Well, that and the fluorescent gore effects. It was just a series of riffs on splatter themes mixed with comedy and a sly wink at the audience that let you know the filmmakers were having fun and wanted us to join in. Considering it's well remembered by cult film fans decades later, I think it's fair to say we did.

This remake has more plot, seemingly, though it doesn't really make sense. It's homeless people again, including a Yiddish-spouting guy who looks a lot like Stanley Kubrick, and another one played by that extraordinary South African actor from the director's previous, and superior, "Fried Barry", who looks like a cross between Bad Boy Bubby and a caveman.

The way his eyes are clear but apparently see nothing, and the way he blinks and stands still like he's patiently waiting for somebody to tell him what to do, reminds me of the character creation screen in a CRPG.

He steals every scene he's in, simply by virtue of him being in it. He doesn't have to do anything, he's just such a bizarre specimen you always find yourself looking at him.

The same can't be said for the guy who plays the main character, unfortunately.

The plot, as near as I can tell, is something to do with a rich South African trying to kill the country's homeless population. I didn't really understand it.

They should have had the guts to make a plotless movie, like the original one was. This movie is unhinged and crazy enough- or seems to want to be - to pull it off. But the plot keeps getting in the way, such as it is.

I have to say that I was not a fan of the 1987 movie "Street Trash", with not actually having watched it before now in 2025, so I wasn't particularly harboring much of any grand expectations to the 2024 version. But still, since it was a movie that I hadn't already seen, and with the years in between and hoping the effects would be improved, of course I opted to check out what director Ryan Kruger had to offer.

The storyline in this 2024 movie was at least a bit more solid than in the 1987 version, however, writers Ryan Kruger and James C. Williamson didn't exactly put together a script of Shakespearian contents. While I did manage to sit through the entire 85 minutes that the movie ran for, I can't claim that I was particularly impressed or overly entertained.

I wasn't familiar with a single actor or actress on the cast list, aside from Gary Green, and that actually spoke well in favor of the movie, as I enjoy watching unfamiliar and new talents on the screen. The acting performances in "Street Trash" were fair.

The effects in the movie were quite good, definitely a major improvement from the 1987 movie. I do like the over-the-top gore and gruesomeness of the effects, as it is something you rarely see in movies. The special effects actually helped carry the movie a great long way, making it all the more bearable to sit through.

Watchable for what it was, but it is hardly a movie that warrants more than a single viewing. It is not a movie that I would recommend to horror fans, unless you are a fan of the 1987 version.

My rating of director Ryan Kruger's 2024 "Street Trash" lands on a four out of ten stars.

Perhaps I'm old school now but the 1987 original had a certain charm to it, gooey effects, a wild script with a band of actors pulling together to bring it to life, for which all with great aplomb.

Rookie Director Jim Muro excelled with his steadicam work capturing every nuanced moment.

Now moving onto Ryan Kruger's remake or sequel or whatever it wishes to be. Despite some lovely little nods to the original, it quickly falls apart, true the effects remain suitable gross but it lacks the sparkle of what made Muro's an everlasting gem.

Poorly scripted with some wild misfires, the storyline is strained with a storyline that pretty much goes nowhere!

I do question why the character of Chef is Jewish when the movie is set in Cape Town, the actor playing Ronald seems to be acting as if he's in another movie, he seems decent enough but he doesn't belong here.

Having been looking forward to this, it'll never be watched again.

Ive just finished watching this remake/sequel and I have to say the dialogue & story are very weak. To me it felt like the script (if there was one) was loosely put together on set, my 10 year old can write better dialogue than this! I enjoyed the director's previous film Fried Barry as it was something I hadnt seen before and wasnt trying to be anything it wasnt so I had high expectations for this film of his.

Sadly this film is a miss for me, didnt like the cast or the FXs, everything was just to obvious however saying that it may pick up a Razzie award which could do it some justice down the road.

There's two types of people in this world. Those that enjoy the original 1986 Street Trash movie and those that don't. This movie is definitely for the first of the two. It's a great example of a remake done correctly. It doesn't just retread the original story. It tells it's own story while taking place in the same universe as the 1986 movie while keeping the same type of humor and body horror. If you've seen the original and enjoyed it for what it is, give this a shot. It probably won't make your "Favorite Movies of 2024" list but, I would say, you'll still find it entertaining and hilarious.