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Suburbia

Play trailer Poster for Suburbia R Released Jul 22, 1983 1h 36m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
An overwhelming sense of despair impels a teenager to leave his suburban home and join up with a group of punk rockers.
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Suburbia

Critics Reviews

View All (15) Critics Reviews
Anton Bitel Little White Lies All the kids in the squat - literally branded with the initials TR (for 'The Rejected') - come from broken homes, and are forming their own unruly family together on the edge not just of town but of all their decade's ideological bromides. Sep 6, 2021 Full Review Nathan Rabin AV Club It still shows enormous empathy and sensitivity in capturing the angst and alienation of American youth, making it seem both rooted in a specific time and place and strangely timeless. Jun 9, 2014 Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out A justifiably angry film, fast and full of violent action, though there's plenty of humour too; and the lack of originality is amply compensated for by its manifest sincerity. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com ...lives up to a reputation as a cult classic that offers something unique and engrossing... Rated: 4/5 Sep 8, 2021 Full Review David Bax Battleship Pretension Spheeris' empathy and lack of judgment allow her to conform to the pace of the world she's entered, as opposed to trying to corral it into her own. Feb 12, 2019 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Suburbia is for the most part wretchedly acted and broadly scripted, but it has a raw vibe that can't be denied. Rated: 2.5/4 Feb 6, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mike P Surprisingly edgy troubled-youth and youth-in-revolt type movie from Roger Corman productions; and director Penelope Spheeris...A bunch of homeless runaways come together and form their own little punk gang; "The Rejects"; in Los Angeles, in 1983...And the kids create their own little home in an abandoned single-floor ranch house near the highway; forming their own little found family there...Jumping from tragedy to tragedy essentially; until they unleash their aggressions on the society that victimized them. It's powerful viewing and Spheeris doesn't pull any punches. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/09/24 Full Review Zachary M This movie is brilliant in the execution of showing of the squatter punk life style through a fictitious lense while also showing the actual realities behind this life. The movie is an emotional roller-coaster through and through. The recruitment of actual street youth and punk musicians lends credibility to the movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/14/23 Full Review decadepast d I consider this to be the best Punk Rock film of all time. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/04/23 Full Review euler n Low budget, but very good story. It's about teenagers who are living together and following the punk movement. Their enemies are conservative but hypocritical people. Noboby is innocent, and nobody is evil as well. All of them (punks and conservatives) have their reasons to behave like that, and both make mistakes. But the focus is the punk teenagers and their problems. I'm not sure how to put across this, but this is a moving film about complex situations. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Suburbia-1983-Penelope Spheeris We have a baby mauled by a rampaging Doberman Pincher, a mom who is so dysfunctional that she uses the oven as a liquor cabinet, a girl being sexually assaulted by a group of punk rockers and kid being dosed with drugs and lying in a pile of puke and that's all Within the first 30minutes of this film. Party on Garth! Spheeris, who before making blockbuster films the likes of Wayne's World, directed this amateur acted, I believe only two of these actors ever went on to have a career film, Punk rock fueled angst ridden tale. This movie has an edge that hits upon a realistic angle of the early 80s LA Punk scene that I've never seen depicted in film. The concert scenes are straight out of time capsule. Real punk bands from that era have three separate very realistic sets. Really enjoyed this aspect. Aside from a couple of shots of 80s street scenes the film is largely uninspired in its camerawork and directing. I wanted more of the odd building restaurant shots while driving from the cinematography, This was such a fascinating niche she was documenting I think a little more world building outside of the ramshackle house and the suburban street would have gone a long way. The effort of this movie must be rewarded but the acting is awful and narrative is not strong or gripping. Overall there is enough here to recommend. I give it a B- Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member I have this movie on d.v.d. it is kind of a hard find but you can get it online. I forgot where I got it online, some seedy site that sells hard to find movies probably. Be sure to see a young Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) as he has a role in this film. Very urban/ suburb life of teenagers in the 80's growing up on the streets you will like this film if you like punk rock music as it also has a lot of that in this film. I bought this movie and I did not see it before, I was looking for punk rock/ hard to find movies. I gambled and it became one of my faves. So if that is what you are looking for see this film. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Suburbia

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis An overwhelming sense of despair impels a teenager to leave his suburban home and join up with a group of punk rockers.
Director
Penelope Spheeris
Distributor
New World Pictures
Production Co
Suburbia Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 22, 1983, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 18, 2018
Runtime
1h 36m
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