Suburbia

Re-released as part of the 'Roger Corman's Cult Classics' line, writer-director Penelope Spheeris' 1983 Suburbia offers a grim and grisly depiction of L.A.'s early '80s punk rock scene. Spheeris (who also wrote and directed 1981's The Decline of Western Civilization) opens with a suburban woman picking up hitchhiker Sheila (Jennifer Clay), after which she faces the horror of having a Doberman attack her infant daughter (whether Sheila provoked the incident or not is unclear). Following this disturbing prologue, the narrative shifts to Evan (Bill Coyne), who decides to flee from the home of his booze-soaked mother. On his first night alone, Evan meets bleached-blond Jack (Chris Pedersen), who invites him to join a band of disaffected runaways living together in an abandoned house in a sketchy part of town. The group, known as 'The Rejected,' includes Sheila, Skinner (Timothy O'Brien), and Razzle (Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers). Just as Evan finds a new 'family,' however, rednecks begin shooting the mangy dogs that hang around nearby, suggesting that the teens may soon face similar treatment. With their flat but effective line readings, it's not surprising that most of the cast did not go on to acting careers, but they do add the verisimilitude Spheeris was seeking. DVD extras include two audio commentaries (one an older track with Spheeris; the other a new effort with Spheeris, producer Bert Dragin, and Clay), and a photo gallery. Recommended. (K. Fennessy) [Blu-ray Review—Feb. 12, 2019—Shout! Factory, 94 min., R, Blu-ray: $29.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1984’s Suburbia features a decent transfer with DTS-HD mono audio. Extras include audio commentaries (one by writer-director Penelope Spheeris, the other by Spheeris, producer Bert Dragin, and costar Jennifer Clay) and a stills gallery. Bottom line: this ’80s cult punk drama makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]