What a waste of my time!!!

Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Better Late Then Never

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

In Penelope Spheeris's "Suburbia", alienated and unwanted teenagers (and twentysomethings) find a new home for themselves: the "T.R. House" by "The 605". T.R. stands for "The Rejected", and Interstate 605 is a freeway located in San Gabriel, California. "Suburbia" is explained in the film, perhaps incorrectly, as a combining of the words "Suburb" and "Utopia". Leader of the T.R.s is Chris Pedersen (as Jack Diddley); he is the one with the super blond surfer 'do. He rounds-up two rejected teenagers as the film opens… BUT, first things first. Director-writer Spheeris begins the film with a "dog attack"; interestingly, the film will feature a group of Wild Dogs, which threaten the inhabitants of "Suburbia". The parallel/symbolism between the T.R.s and the abandoned dogs should be obvious. Then, we seen Bill Coyne (as Evan Mark Johnson) at home, reading a comic book, with the T.V. playing; his mother comes home and berates him for stealing her liquor, and neglecting his chores. Mr. Coyne decides to runaway from home, saying goodbye to little brother Andrew Pece (as Ethan Johnson); after their mother has a drunken automobile smash-up, Mr. Pace will join his big brother at T.R. House.T.R. leader Pederson finds Coyne after a punk rock concert, "passed out"; his drink spiked, incidentally, by the film's "druggie" Keef (Grant Miner), who is also a member of T.R. They go pick up Wade Walston (as Joe), who lives with his disinterested gay father. Mr. Walston provide the film's "romance" when he hooks up with suicidal Jennifer Clay (as Sheila). Timothy O'Brien (as Skinner) is another important member of T.R. house; he hammers nails in walls, so the inhabitants can hang.Flea (as Razzle) is the most illustrious member of the T.R.s; also known as Michael Balzary, he is the Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist. Ironically, this Flea is good for dogs; and, he attempts to tame the wild ones threatening "Suburbia". Flea also demonstrates a fondness for rats; so, perhaps, he was a fan of the 1970s punk band The Stranglers' IV Rattus Norvegicus? The punk music groups represent the era well; but, the soundtrack could have been improved by more classic punk songs; and, a title song would have been great. The T.R.s should be commended for not watching Wally George "Hot Seat", but they still, however, have awful taste in T.V. shows. Their set should have been traded in for a good stereo. The acting is realistic, and the characters speak Spheeris well; but, the relatively small amount of sex and drugs doesn't ring true. The End is a downer.

I've owned this movie for quite a few years now. Having lived through the UK punk scene around the same time that this movie was made I can relate to a lot of it. If one is expecting a movie that has had a lot of money put into it then maybe this is not your kind of flick. For the budget that this was made with, I feel its a great movie for its time and like a few other movies in that time period its great to look back on.The 'old' America, with the big old gas guzzling cars, buses that had the black cloud of smoke that came out the back of them and the attitude is all part of what WAS back then.I love this movie and I put it on about every six months just to remind me of the past and how different it is now.

If you have any interest whatsoever in punk as a musical and/or cultural phenomenon, you should find this film insulting. The storyline, the acting, and the whole package are just plain DUMB. There's one effective moment in "Suburbia", and we all know what it is (the scene in which D.I. performs 'Richard Hung Himself'); still, it's effective only in that it profoundly disturbs the viewer. The rest of the movie is even more random, stupid, and vicious. "Suburbia" represents what the SoCal punk community (and others) became, not the hopes and possibilities that existed at the beginning. How could a scene that was jumpstarted by a few artistic, tasteful, intelligent people go so disastrously wrong? Ugh.

Wow. Was it 1984 this movie was made? I am getting old. Having live in San Bernardino California and LA Counties during the 80's and 90's as a teen and 20-something; and someone who existed in and around the cast-off, neo-punk and 'Oi!' scenes of the time, I can attest to this being our favorite, and 'most real' look at the trials and successes of the time and scene.I rate this movie high because of the director's realism and poignancy in the presentation. The acting (as it is) remains so convincing that you almost wonder if we are REALLY following around this group of kids and they aren't acting. or are these actors just being, unrehearsed, who they really are.The film is presented as a stark and dark look at runaways and punks. It shows how the family plays the roles too, and is in-your-face with it.If you understand the harsh reality of this film, and realize that this is your voyeuristic, removed opportunity to hang out with the coolest dregs in places most of you would never be admitted to, the film will have images and scenes that will stay with you for the truth they present.Should rent this movie.