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[tab title="Movie Review"]

Streetwalkin'

“Mommy, can we come home?”

With those words, Cookie (Melissa Leo) and her kid brother Tim (Randall Batinkoff) plead to return to their mother’s house.  They’ve been kicked out because her new man hates them both.  Their request is denied, so the two wander the bus station as strangers pass them by. 

"delivers an engaging and surprisingly feminist approach to life on the streets and, damn, that soundtrack absolutely KILLS"


Only one of the strangers - a tall and smooth-talking Duke (Dale Midkiff) - decides to pay Cookie some attention . . . and for good reason.  He’s looked her up and down and knows that Cookie has the goods to make it on the streets of New York City as one of his prostitutes.  

Cue the theme song!  Because as Sylvia St James starts singing the opening banger, there’s no turning back as Cookie takes to the streets in Streetwalkin' this prostitution themed thriller.  Tim is not so quick to jump on the Duke bandwagon and he points out how similar he is to their mother’s boyfriend, yet Cookie - liking the money she’s making - is oblivious to it all, preferring to remain clueless to what Duke is capable of.

But all that changes when Heather (Deborah Offner) tries to leave his clutches and gets a beatdown that leaves her bruised and scarred.  No longer can Cookie deny that Duke is a threat to her and Tim.  Unfortunately, it is after Duke and Heather have had relations . . . while Heather lies bleeding on the floor.  Damn!

Written and directed by Joan Freeman (Satisfaction), this Roger Corman production takes a socially conscious look at the streets with amped up sex and hard-hitting violence.  This ain’t no Pretty Woman world.  No, in Streetwalkin we get humiliation, abduction, addiction, and lots and lots of grime as a spotlight is cast on the Big Apple’s neon-soaked world of sleaze and smooth-talking pimps.  Streetwalkin'

With no one to turn to, Cookie approaches Jason (Leon Robinson), another pimp, and soon she’s got more troubles than she can handle as Jason’s gang messes up the hit and the psychotic Duke comes gunning for sweet, sweet revenge in a stunning climax which STILL sizzles.  Sometimes B-movies age with finesse and sometimes they age poorly.  Streetwalkin - thanks to some seriously GREAT performances - absolutely stuns with its engrossing story, co-written by Robert Alden, and its solid direction.

But get a load of that cast!  Co-starring Antonio Fargas. Julie Newmar, Khandi Alexander, Annie Golden, and Julie Cohen, Streetwalkin delivers an engaging and surprisingly feminist approach to life on the streets and, damn, that soundtrack absolutely KILLS with sparking hooks and grooves as pimps square off in trash-filled streets.

Times Square hooking with a pulse.  Streetwalkin is now on blu-ray thanks to Scream Factory, but it is only available through their website.  It is limited to just 1000 units and is definitely worth owning.

1/5 stars

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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

Streetwalkin'

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Home Video Distributor: Shout Factory
Available on Blu-ray
- July 28, 2020
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles
: Englishh
Audio:
DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

She turned to night-walking to survive the streets. Now she's running through the streets to survive the night.  Academy Award–winning* actress Melissa Leo (The Fighter) stars as Cookie, a teen runaway who escapes her abusive stepfather and heads for the Big Apple along with her younger brother. When she arrives at the Port Authority bus terminal, Cookie meets a charming but sadistic pimp named Duke (Dale Midkiff, Pet Sematary). With nowhere to go, Cookie is soon working for Duke, who introduces her to the harsh, brutal life of a prostitute. A harrowing, fast-paced ride through the lurid streets of New York's terrifying underbelly, Streetwalkin' also stars Antonio Fargas (Starsky And Hutch), Julie Newmar (Batman), Leon Robinson (Cliffhanger), Randall Batinkoff (Kick-Ass) and Khandi Alexander (Treme).

Video:

Framed in detail-heavy 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Streetwalkin looks crisp and dynamic.  The scan of the original film is crisp and bright, adding a lot of pop to the city and interior locations used in this pimp vs. hoes story. Colors absolutely pop. Locales, usually at night in the city, are vibrant and the neon shines explicitly thanks to solid colors. The city is full of depth and well-defined shadows and even the streetcorners look great. Black levels are solid and deep. Presented in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the 1080 transfer looks great.

Audio:

A sharp and, at times, pounding DTS-MA Stereo track is offered.  Turn it up and enjoy the tunes!

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • Of particular interest is the feature length commentary with Director/Writer Joan Freeman and Producer/Writer Robert Alden which gives fans a solid look at the filming and the performances of the shoot.

Special Features:

There is a theatrical trailer to round out the release.

  • Theatrical Trailer

Blu-ray Rating:

  Movie 4/5 stars
  Video  4/5 stars
  Audio 3/5 stars
  Extras 2/5 stars

Overall Blu-ray Experience

3.5/5 stars

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[tab title="Film Details"]

Streetwalkin'

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime:
86 mins
Director
: Joan Freeman
Writer:
Robert Alden, Joan Freeman
Cast:
Melissa Leo, Dale Midkiff, Leon, Julie Newmar
Tagline:
She dropped out of high school this morning ... Tonight she's a Times Square hooker.
Memorable Movie Quote:
Theatrical Distributor:
Concorde Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date:
May 17, 1985
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
July 28, 2020.
Synopsis: She turned to night-walking to survive the streets. Now she's running through the streets to survive the night.

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[tab title="Art"]

Streetwalkin'

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