Pariah

The California Reich goes totally wretched in the unsung 1998 skinploitation classic Pariah, written and directed by Randolph Kret. David Lee (Davidlee Willson) is a nasty little skinhead who leaves his mom’s house because her boyfriend is black. He arrives at a nest of other skinheads and the women who love them. It is decorated with red photocopies of Hitler, arranged in a giant swastika on the wall. The leader of the pack is the Mein Kampf quoting Crew (Dave Oren Ward), who at one point rapes his girlfriend Sissy (Aimee Chaffin). The skinheads think it is funny that mentally challenged Doughboy (Brandon Slater) follows them around like a puppy dog. They dress him up like a Neo-Nazi action figure, and he is eager to do any vile thing that pleases.

“Steve wants in with this gang of skinheads for just one reason: to wreak bloody revenge upon their bald little heads.”

That includes participating in the gang rape when they find an interracial couple in a parking garage. The white boyfriend, Steve (Damon Jones), after being savagely beaten, is made to watch them take turns on his black girlfriend, Sam (Elexa Williams). When Sam kills herself later that night in the tub, Steve goes berserk. He spends six months studying skinhead culture, shaving his head, and getting Nazi tattoos. Steve starts hanging out where the skins are, but they are leery of outsiders. He starts cozying up to the women in the group, like Angela (Angela Jones), who shoots heroin behind the skinheads’ backs. Steve wants in with this gang of skinheads for just one reason: to wreak bloody revenge upon their bald little heads.

People who are scared of sharks watch shark movies. People who are scared of skinheads watch skinhead movies. Coming up in the 80s, I have had to walk amongst skins many more times than I would have preferred. The city in Australia I lived in was swarming with the boots and braces bunch. You had to watch your step while night tripping in black lipstick. I have always worn my impurities on my sleeve and was at risk of constant bashing by that crowd. They were already harmful to my health, as I was sickened by everything they stood for.