Pariah

With their unique appearance and built-in yuck factor, the evolution of the skinhead into a movie monster was a natural. In the early 90s, I was blown away by Romper Stomper, which is the Jaws of skinploitation. This is why I am relishing my return to Pariah, as it was the bald-headed stepchild of the skinhead wave. I first heard of it when it premiered at Slamdance in 1998, but by the time it got into theaters the next year, it was lost in the shadow of American History X. Then it wasn’t until 2006 that it finally hit DVD, so it never got to take its proper place in the cinema’s sinister skinhead pantheon.

“…the evolution of the skinhead into a movie monster was a natural.”

Above all else, this is one of the most devastating deconstructions of the skinhead culture ever filmed. Kret exposes what lies beneath the group’s bravado and macho posturing. They always attack as a pack, as that is the only way they can win fights. Everyone toes the line in front of each other, then breaks their own rules when no one is looking. It’s usually one alpha male spewing all the white power bile while everyone else has shown up for beer. The filmmaker peels away the shiny scalp of the chrome dome ideology to expose the dried mound of s**t covered with cobweb tattoos inside.

Pariah follows the path of pure grindhouse; it is not tame in any form. While technically a revenge film, it is also a highly venomous horror picture. Kret vigorously milks the shock factor of the subject from its Neo-Nazi teat. The gross-out factor spills over the bowl and onto the floor. What they say is revolting; you will definitely want to close the windows while watching. What they do is revolting, especially the endless fields of rape. Admittedly, the skinheads on acid scene is slap your third eye hilarious. So is an extra special surprise waiting at the finale, which is still unbelievably awesome. To top it off, there is a chilling allusion to The Great Train Robbery at the end. This is an auditorium of atrocity for those that dare enter; a ferocious 90s indie nightmare that will not fade away.