“Savage Streets” is one of my favorite Linda Blair Trash fests, a bona fide grind house spectacular that examines the plight of over privileged white kids who all pose as gangs upon night fall. The streets of surburbia become savage every night with the screeches and howls and Danny Steinmann’s youth gone wild cinematic trip is an exploration in to the aimlessness of this crime spree two groups of youths embark on. Part “The Warriors,” and part “The Outsiders,” there is even John Vernon to tangle with, who makes it his mission to take down the group of men terrorizing the school with drug deals.
Among the violent femmes are Linda Blair looking absolutely gorgeous as bad ass leader and all around street tough Brenda, while Linnea Quigley plays supporting as star Blair’s deaf young sister who falls under the ravaging hands of young men seeking their own form of vengeance. Blair and Quigley are of course the exploitation Batman and Robin, packing a wallop for the genre that works well. The rest of the film is pretty aimless and without a purpose, merely spotlighting these two youth groups who are upstanding students by the day and rowdy roughnecks by night. This is practically PSA minded material for After School special, sans the finger wagging and lessons to be had by the protagonist Brenda. The fun turns sour though when Brenda and her friends steal rough Jake’s convertible for a joy ride and trash it.
Brenda’s deaf young sister is spotted in the same school, and Jake and his crew take it upon themselves to have some revenge time with her and murder her best friend, leaving the “Savage Streets” a solid gang picture that spirals in to violent revenge and murder very quickly. Sure, it doesn’t stack up to The Warriors or even Switchblade Sisters, but for a wannabe it sure does pack a punch with some gorgeous women and primo eighties kitsch. And you know this is an eighties film when the angelic faced Linda Blair does her finest in conveying a new tough girl image scantily putting on display her rather impressive bust for the screen alongside her co-stars. “Savage Streets” is a competent meshing of genres and tastes and for what it promises, it’s a surefire cure for eighties nostalgia.