Originally posted on 7/24/18
A deliberate throwback to the cheap straight-to-VHS sexploitation trash of the 80s and 90s, STREETS OF VENGEANCE (Olive Films, 2 discs, 2017) is so true-to-form that you almost expect to see the Vestron Video logo tacked on at the start.
(As with the previous "Mankillers", the box for this title from Olive's "Slasher Video" line looks like something you'd see decades ago on a video store shelf.)
What we do get, along with some nostalgic simulated-videotape imperfections, is a framing device recalling USA's "Up All Night" (here called "All Nite Long") with a hyper-excited bimbo hostess squealing about tonight's feature, "Streets of Vengeance." (Also included is a hilarious fake trailer for a film called "Slashlorette Party.") This time, however, the sex and violence are not only not edited out, but ramped up to eleven.
The film proper covers all the bases: porno actresses, strippers, and other "sex workers" are falling victim to horrific slasher murders that turn out to be the work of a cult of misogynistic "men's rights" fanatics who resent women exercising their sexual influence over men.
Terrorized and almost murdered herself, former porn star and current porn entreprenuer Mila Lynn (Delawna McKinney) strikes back by rounding up a gang of likeminded babes, with the help of a portly magazine writer named Brian (Anthony Iava To'omata) who's in love with her, to track down the murderous male chauvinists and go to war with them.
Much of this has the cheap look of a rock-bottom budget, which isn't surprising since the approximate cost of the film was an astounding $4,000. This is mostly evident in the interiors, and even then the film has a glossy neon-on-black look similar to that of "Liquid Sky."
As for the exteriors, co-directors (and co-writers) Paul Ragsdale and Angelica De Alba manage some eye-pleasing photography that almost nudges this raucous revenge flick into contemplative art film territory.
Former X-rated star Ginger Lynn Allen appears in a pivotal role, as do some other current adult actresses with whom I am not familiar. (I quit watching porn when it stopped being like it was in "Boogie Nights.")
The climactic clash between bimbos and misogynists has the expected amounts of bad fight choreography (somehow all these porn actresses have suddenly acquired martial arts skills), fake-o violence and gore, splendidly excessive overacting, and some surprises as to who's actually the big cheese behind the bad guys.
It's all just as tawdry, tacky, and titillating as it sounds, but it's also a good deal of goofy and fairly funny entertainment when it isn't taking its skewed social/sexual politics too seriously.
When it indulges in being a self-important political tract it's pretty much full of itself. But as pure exploitative trash, STREETS OF VENGEANCE matches its 80s and 90s predecessors in bouncing boobs and hack-em-up splatter (especially during the lurid lapdance castration scene), and basic dumb fun.
Buy it at Olive Films
TECH SPECS:
Rated:nr (not rated)
subtitles:english (optional)
Video:1.78:1 aspect ratio; color
Runtime:101 mins
Year:2017
UPC:887090703901 (DVD), 887090704007 (Blu-ray)
Cat #:ME039 (DVD), ME040 (Blu-ray)
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Disc One:
Movie
Audio commentary with writer/director Paul Ragsdale, producer Angelica De Alba and cinematographer Dan Zampa
Disc Two:
Making of “Streets of Vengeance” featurette
Cast & crew interviews
Outtakes
Bloopers
Photo galleries
Music videos
Trailers
“Slashlorette Party” trailer
“Tough Guys” trailer
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