MovieChat Forums > Basket Case (1982) Discussion > Other movies that feature NYC in the lat...

Other movies that feature NYC in the late 70's - mid 80's?

posted 16 years ago by filmchap
48 replies | jump to latest

I'm sure I'm not the only one that is interested in this period of cinema. And I was wondering if anybody could share with me some other titles, like Basket Case, Driller Killer, The New York Ripper, The Exterminator etc.
Specifically interested in any Exploitation, Horror or Thriller, the grungier the better. Especially ones that feature life from within the 42nd Street Culture.

Thanks in advance.

"I was a daisy fresh girl and look what you've done to me." -Dolores Haze

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi153289497/

[–] jamiepikee 16 years ago

You bet i am.

Taxi Driver and Death Wish are a couple of big budget ones for your list.

Vigalante
The Warriors
Maniac (Amazing film)
Manhattan Baby
Ms 45

New York Ripper is just about my fave film of all time. Not because of the gore, i just like it.

Will list a few more later as i'm at work and my mind has gone blank now.

[–] filmchap 16 years ago

Thanks for the quick reply. I am aware of all of the ones you have mentioned. Although I haven't seen Manhattan Baby, I will be sure to check that one out. The New York Ripper is definitely a prime example of the sleazeiest kind, you can literally smell the garbage on the sidewalks in that one!
Thanks again, any others? Perhaps, dare I say, less 'mainstream'... Any one?

"I was a daisy fresh girl and look what you've done to me." -Dolores Haze

[–] preppy-3 16 years ago

How about "Brain Damage" made by the same director as this one? In my opinion it's better than "Basket Case". I was going to say "Death Wish" but that was mid 1970s.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] metalion_sos 16 years ago

Cruising

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http://www.myspace.com/metalion_sos
http://www.last.fm/user/metalion_sos

[–] cryocore 16 years ago

Street Trash. You wont find a grungier film than this. This has horror, exploitation, and more gross than you can shake a shakey thing at.

We have such sights to show you.

[–] sanss_soleil 16 years ago

Born to win but its early 70s but does show lots of nyc

I love Dustin Hoffman!

[–] yocsmotel 16 years ago

SWEET SAVIOR with Troy Donahue. Also TIMES SQUARE--the movie seemed very flat but had lots of street scenes of the area. You also might research the Blaxploitation genre, several of them were set in the city during that era and have interesting street footage.

[–] yocsmotel 16 years ago

Looking for Mr. Goodbar also has a few glimpses of late '70's "street," although most of it is about the bar scene then.

[–] jarkpart 15 years ago

Here are some less mainstream titles, I love movies from the old New York.

Night of the juggler
fear city
the deadly art of survival
brother from another planet

I made a thread about this exact quest, on the cult movies messageboard. It got deleted somehow but it was pretty useful, I will be checking back here from now on!

[–] filmchap 15 years ago

Thank you Jarkpart.
Great list. I have only seen one of those movies, the Night of the Juggler is a fantastic film that nails the 'time' and 'place' I'm looking for!
I'd heard of Fear City but not the other two on the list. Will be sure to check them out.

"I was a daisy fresh girl and look what you've done to me." -Dolores Haze

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] filmchap 14 years ago

Thanks for the recommendation, this was a terrific film!

"I was a daisy fresh girl and look what you've done to me." -Dolores Haze

[–] partridgestorm 15 years ago

It's not horror, but I like the grittiness of Superfly the most. That movie shows the highs and lows of NYC in the 70's.

Another good horror movie that shows a lot of New York is Brian De Palma's Sisters. Pretty f'ed up movie too.

[–] finefine 15 years ago

variety.

mixed blood (great scene in the menudo store).

smithereens.

they're not horror films, though.

[–] jarkpart 15 years ago

Great additions 'finefine'.
Mixed Blood is pretty insane.
That Menudo store scene is wild.

Another movie by (the mixed blood director) Paul Morrisey is Forty Deuce. Featuring a youthful Kevin Bacon playing a young hustler... Very grimy NYC sleaze.

Also Alphabet City by Amos Poe is pretty cool.

[–] kyngbee 15 years ago

Holy thread resurrection Batman!

Some great suggestions in this thread already but I'd also like to suggest:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085852/

Liquid Sky - One of the weirdest films I've ever seen and about as out there as you can get for early 80's NYC flicks...

Pretty....Pretty....Pretty....Pretty Good!

[–] CounterPaul 15 years ago

^ Ha ha ha, you just beat me to the 'Liquid Sky' suggestion. Recently revisited the quite-bleeped-up 'Basket Case' and was thinking how it would make a fine 'Twisted Tales from the City' sequel alongside LS.

"POWER TO THE PEOPLE WHO PUNISH BAD CINEMA!!!"

[–] monsieurzy 14 years ago

Surprised no one mentioned 'Q', The Winged Serpent...you got to see a cool shot of the cast model of the Statue of Liberty in Midtown Manhattan (stood atop the Liberty Warehouse company for years, my first trip to Manhattan I went to the spot and got some pictures..

[–] chainsaw-rain 14 years ago

TENEMENT: GAME OF SURVIVAL

quite possibly the grimiest depiction of nyc ever. think ultraviolent "the warriors".

and maniac cop too is pretty grimy

[–] ThunderDemon82 14 years ago

Nightmare (1981) aka Nightmares in a Damaged Brain, similar to Maniac with great sleaze atmosphere, Graphic Tom Savini effects, and amazing Times Square Footage, even though the second half takes place in Florida. Not as good or consistent as Maniac but definitely a must see.

[–] mercyfulfate7410 14 years ago

Combat shock (1986). Doesn't get much filthier and low than that. Not sure if you care to see the ghettos (which is mainly what it is) but it's still NY. Just make sure to shower after :)

Life is like a whore in training, each day it blows a little more

[–] MonteCarloMan 14 years ago

Zombie 2 or Maniac

[–] Killer_Wolf 14 years ago

Maniac Cop
I Was a Teenage Zombie

[–] filmchap 14 years ago

Classic Larry Cohen. Love this film. Love the locations. And Michael Moriarty's performance, what a legend.

"I was a daisy fresh girl and look what you've done to me." -Dolores Haze

[–] Frameous 14 years ago

Lots of good ones. I also like this kind of thing, and once started a thread on it. The two I would mention that haven't been said would be Crocodile Dundee and Sid and Nancy. I like both movies anyway (for different reasons), but as I saw them as a kid, I knew that the New York I saw on the screen was a place I wanted to see. Now I hear it is so different, the luster has faded some :(