Suburbia (1983) ***1/2

The first time I saw Suburbia (1983) was on VHS about ten years after it was released, as a teenager in the early '90s. I don't believe I'd seen it since around that same time, probably more than 30 years ago now. That's wild to think about. Penelope Spheeris' narrative debut holds up well more than 40 years on. It serves as a snapshot of punk and as a no holds barred coming-of-age drama. The film's heroes are kinda shitheads (misogyny, homophobia, and racism run rampant), but so is just about everyone else (many of whom have it out for them), and you really wish T.R. (The Rejected, as the protagonists dub themselves) could channel their angst into something more useful. The soundtrack and score are great and the mostly non-actors mostly work (Flea is particularly entertaining). There are a few shocking moments that still pack a punch (the first of which feels tacked on, which you can blame producer Roger Corman for).

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