Repo Man (1984)

Repo Man goes nowhere fast, and that’s a compliment, because it’s a movie about economic futility and underclass frustration made at a time when trickle-down theory was a hot new policy that hadn’t yet been completely disproven by the ensuing four decades of increasing wealth inequality. Initially intended as a far ranging road movie, budget constraints limited filming to LA, so it spirals, like Dante descending the 9 circles of hell in the Inferno. It has a mythic feel, with young suburban punk Otto led by world weary guides through the city’s underbelly, where they face numerous life or death challenges in pursuit of treasure. But instead of the bombast of Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey, this eminently quotable quest never takes tongue out of cheek and is set to one of the most propulsive soundtracks ever to make theater speakers scream, featuring a slew of iconic early ’80s hardcore cuts that make it the definitive punk rock movie. Made in 1984, Repo Man was intended as a satire of Reagan’s America, when scammy religious hypocrites, conspiracy theorists, and UFO cultists were all still fringe. Today, they run the federal government.

But that’s just my opinion. Let’s watch it together and discuss.

And, fun fact, a version of this jingle appears in the movie. To really immerse yourself in the era, you might want to learn it by heart:

Speaking of refreshments, we’ll have snacks and drinks at our cash bar. (Though, sadly, no generic canned goods, shrimp plates, or dine-and-dash sushi. If you’ve seen the film, you know what we mean; if you haven’t, come and find out.)

—robZ