No Country For Old Skaters

When I was a kid I had a BMX not a skateboard, partly down to the fact that I liked my knees with skins on them. But I was aware of it's existence but I claim to be no kind of expert. That said, I love the style and fashion linked to skateboarding, especially during the eighties. If your tee doesn't give passers by a headache, you need to buy a new one. And denim should never look like it hasn't worked hard for a living. Customised and bastardized until you've made it your own, an ethic I still work with today.

No film better encompasses this vibe than Thrashin'. A west side story set on the skate ramps of Venice Beach where 'The Daggers' rule. Unfortunately 'Hook' the leader of 'The Daggers' younger sister is from outtatown and has a taste for clean cut uncool Valley ramp boys with no piercings (Josh Brolin). This causes no end of embarrassment to 'Hook' when he finds out, and triggers a gang battle the likes of which we have never seen, hot car park pursuits, late night duels by gaslight and a downhill of death. So many music skate montages I lost count. This been on account of the soundtrack being SO rad, with Meatloaf serving up the title track, and Red Hot Chili Peppers & Circle Jerks following. And a cameo from Tony Alva (not singing! - just Thrashin').

If you love to see an uncool underdog sock it to a guy who wears too much hair gel and delibirates over whether he should wear the skull earring or the hoop, then this is most definitely the movie for you. If you loved No Country for Old Men and thought to yourself 'I wonder what this film would be like with teenagers on skateboards?', then again, this movie is definitely for you! If you ever wanted to skateboard down Hollywood Blvd & Vine Street and wanted tips on the route to take or leave your house via a roof ramp instead of the front door, then stop reading because you've found what you're looking for. Buy a copy before it becomes another dvd casualty.

Here come the Daggers!
Peace and Love

Holly xox

Soundtrack Highlight / Staring Down The Demons - Animotion