Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Suburbia Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 2, 2019

Penelope Spheeris is one of the only filmmakers to attend Punk University. The helmer of the 1981 documentary, “The Decline of Western Civilization,” Spheeris spent a substantial amount of time covering the punk scene, getting into the subculture to dissect its music and fanbase, trying to understand what made the movement tick. Such an education clearly dominates the creation of 1983’s “Suburbia,” with Spheeris heading back into the mud pit of neglected youth, this time using dramatics to help sort through young characters trying to make sense of their rotten lives. “Suburbia” has the electricity of “The Decline of Western Civilization” at times, but it’s also clumsy work from an inexperienced writer/director, with Spheeris getting carried away with tragedy and confrontational behavior, trying to make a point about generational hostility that never comes together as profoundly as she imagines. It’s a helluva time capsule, but not something that’s particularly heartbreaking.

In the outer rings of Los Angeles, the T.R. gang has set up shop in an abandoned area of tract housing. Jack (Chris Pedersen) and Skinner (Timothy O’Brien) are the leaders of the group, inhabiting parental roles for a collection of runaways, including Skinner (Flea), Evan (Bill Coyne), and newcomer Shelia (Jennifer Clay), who’s escaping her sexually abusive father. Creating a home where there’s no discipline, the T.R. gang fills their day with theft to keep supplies up, hours of television, and punk rock concerts at the local club, giving them an outlet for their aggression and an identity to live for. Not everyone is excited about their kids and their troubling behavior, with “Citizens Against Crime” members Jim (Lee Frederick) and Bob (Jeff Prettyman) increasingly hostile to the illegal residents, keeping local cop William (Donald V. Allen), who’s also Jack’s stepfather, concerned about violence breaking out.

Spheeris doesn’t submit a refined approach to “Suburbia.” It looks very much like an early film from somebody just getting used to the process. Tonal shifts are quite extreme, with Spheeris actually commencing the tale by following Shelia as she tries to thumb a ride on the highway, soon picked up by a single mother and her baby. They immediately get a flat tire, go to find a nearby telephone booth, and the child is soon eaten by a wild dog. That’s the first thing that happens in “Suburbia.” That’s Spheeris’s idea of a welcome mat. It’s brutal, and not something that encourages the viewer to spend more time with the effort, but the dogs are eventually returned to, acting as symbols of wild savagery in the condemned area where the T.R. gang lives, becoming dangerous predators for some, pets to Razzle, and target practice for Jim and Bob (Spheeris gives up when naming the villains). It should be noted that the movie has other incredibly bleak scenes and additional cruelties and tragedies to share, but nothing really tops the first five minutes in terms of shock value, which the helmer seems eager to dish up to make her mark as quickly as possible.

“Suburbia” basically follows Evan’s entrance into the T.R. gang, ditching his alcoholic mother to join Jack in their dilapidated dwelling, and there’s Shelia, who gets over the toddler mauling quickly, finding a haircut and acceptance from the group, sharing her life story, which contains neglect and abuse. Such treatment is common amongst the kids, with Spheeris trying to make the case that the punkers aren’t bad citizens, just programmed incorrectly by terrible guardians who are selfish, destructive, and hateful. It’s a potent subject, and “Suburbia,” while crudely made, gets to the heart of some of these broken individuals, showcasing the allure of the T.R. gang and the shaky stability they provide just by being there for one another. The community spirit is understood in the screenplay, with the unit bonding during runs of garage thievery, stealing supplies from unattended refrigerators and freezers, and there’s time in the club, with Spheeris giving bands like D.I., T.S.O.L., and The Vandals opportunities to strut their stuff onstage in lengthy performance clips, while the crowds go wild, eventually sexually assaulting a young woman. They’re one big happy(?) family, soon adding youngster Ethan (Andrew Pece) to the line-up, giving the brood an offering of innocence that taps into their bruised sense of self-worth.

Suburbia Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Listed as a "New 4K scan of the original film elements," the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Suburbia" is dealing with inherent cinematography limitations, giving the feature a softer look for its Blu-ray debut. However, there's some frame stabilization displayed throughout the viewing experience, which tips a few scenes into brief blurriness, giving the frame a slight shaky quality as well. It's not pronounced but it's there, working hard to keep the image together. Detail isn't strong, but some sense of life inside the house and on the streets is found, with harsh costuming and neighborhood dimension coming through adequately. Certain close-ups also retain skin textures, picking up on the weary, unwashed state of the kids. Colors are tastefully refreshed, indulging in vivid reds and blues, giving city visits and punk clubs some punch. Household spray paint work also brings out bolder hues. Community greenery is appealing, and skintones remain natural. Delineation is thicker but not solidified.

Suburbia Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix is obviously not created with ideal dimension in mind, or any dimension for that matter. It's more of a cocophony of sound, which fits the mood of the movie. Dialogue exchanges aren't defined, but performances are easily to follow, battling the production's limited resources. Music is noticeably louder, with stage performances roaring to life with pure punk energy that brings the track close to distorted highs, but never falls apart. It's a full court press of noise, but there's some management from the original track. Sound effects aren't sharp but intensity of body blows and squealing tires are noted. Hiss and pops are common, some quite loud at times.

Suburbia Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features writer/director Penelope Spheeris.

• Commentary #2 features Spheeris, producer Bert Dragin, and actress Jennifer Clay.

• Still Gallery (1:10) offers some publicity snaps.

• T.V. Spots (:44, SD) present two commercials for the film, titled "Rebel Streets."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:52, SD) is included.

Suburbia Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Spheeris makes Jim and Bob the bad guys, but the line of proper conduct is blurred throughout "Suburbia." William is a tired but well-meaning cop, but the kids are no saints, openly engaging in theft and antagonism during the picture, while one scene showcases their mockery of a physically disabled market owner, happily ruining food items right in front of him. Still, the screenplay sides with the punks, highlighting their rough treatment and calloused spirit, with Spheeris trying to provide a voice to a segment of the population typically discarded without a second look. The effort is there and the message is necessary, but "Suburbia" isn't particularly well-thought-out or cleanly executed, often lurching from one extreme to another. It's fatiguing, but there's more to embrace about the feature than harsh melodrama, as the director finds the full force of punk music in the movie, and her vision for unity is distinct, only hampered by the amateurish aspects of the production, including the acting. It's not a film that's clearly realized, but it does have raw power at times, and true concern for its characters as they struggle to make sense of a world they've grown to resent.