When Street Trash was released in 1987 it was to minimal fanfare and a limited audience. However, the blood-and-guts-heavy, gorefest dark comedy garnered a fervent cult fandom over the years for its over-the-top, but also very cheap special effects and it’s satirical look at the inequality of American society, especially in terms of the homeless. As such, it’s no surprise to see a remake emerge in 2024, although perhaps in the case of Ryan Kruger’s Street Trash, the term “remake” is less appropriate given the reimagining Kruger has given the original concept.
Street Trash follows a group of homeless friends in Cape Town, South Africa in the year 2050. The global economy has essentially collapsed eradicating the working and middle classes leaving only the haves and the have nots – the homeless and the elite. The Mayor of Cape Town, hellbent on eradicating the homeless population, develops a dangerous chemical that causes anyone who inhales it to melt in horrific fashion. This compound begins being delivered to the homeless via drones, resulting in a number of gruesome deaths before Ronald and his ragtag group hatch a plan to stop the Mayor once and for all.
Off the bat it’s important to state that Street Trash is a film that will not be to everyone’s taste. It is not for the weak of heart or stomach with some truly horrifying, gory and overtly silly violence throughout. It’s not realistic gore, but it doesn’t make it any less visceral. However, to a degree that is the point, with the special effects so stupidly elaborate that it’s used as a way to make the whole thing comedic. It’s a truly effective tactic and one that also helps to distract from other areas where the film is lacking, such as believable sets and some of the acting. Speaking of the acting, while there are some less than stellar performances, Sean Cameron Michael provides an unexpectedly compelling turn as the Ronald, the default hero of the story, operating as a really sympathetic, oddly complex character even if his role is really quite one-dimensional. There’s a warmth and a likeability to his performance that gives what should be a schlocky B-movie a surprising amount of heart. Ronald’s relationship with Alex is in some ways at the centre of the film, and by avoiding the well trodden trope of the romantic relationship, it allows for a far more interesting friend/mentor dynamic between the two. It helps that Donna Cormack-Thomson plays really well off Cameron Michael, and the two have a really nice chemistry which helps Street Trash immensely. That relationship really gives the audience a reason to root for the protagonists beyond the inequality that is being forced upon them.
Thematically, Street Trash seems to be aiming for stinging political satire, but it’s sledgehammer subtle approach means it feels at times as though the audience is being beaten over the head with the metaphor. Relocating the events to South Africa and showing a divided society echoes the apartheid that so many suffered in the region, and parallels the economic division in modern society by demonstrating the extreme version of that divide. Despite that less than subtle approach, it is effective and does get its point across well, and while subtlety maybe lacking, perhaps that’s not a bad thing given the outlandish aesthetic nature of the film. The surreal and mind-bending aspects of certain characters and plot points only add to this, and a create an overall picture that’s so fun, it might well melt your face.
Street Trash is certainly a spectacular watch. The melting effect and the general gore is incredible, with a lot of love and attention having clearly been paid to building upon that aspect of the original. It’s a love letter to the 1987 version but also has its own story to tell with Ryan Kruger providing a fresh take on a topic as relevant today as nearly 40 years ago.
Street Trash will be in UK Cinemas from 10th January and on Digital & Blu-ray from 17th February
