Romper Stomper (1992) - Episode 43

In this episode, we tackle the incendiary and controversial 1992 Australian movie Romper Stomper, featuring a star-making turn from Russell Crowe as the head of a gang of violent neo-Nazis in rundown suburban Melbourne. 

Hando (Crowe) leads his group of violent young men in a brutal assault on three young members of the city’s Vietnamese Australian community. Later, Hando and his shy, but equally violent, 2nd in command Davey (the late Daniel Pollock in his final role) notice a new girl in their local pub - the traumatised, epileptic, and very impressionable Gabrielle (Jaqueline McKenzie). When riotous retribution for their earlier attack comes their way, the gang’s ruinous ethos starts to unravel their unity, stripping them down to this core trio for an intense finale.

Uniquely, this is the whole panel’s first viewing of this film - picker Patrick having only heard tell of the mark it left on his dad in his younger days. Joining Gali, Devlin and Matt, we discuss the legacy of a film that split the critical community on release, reflect on how the film now impacts new viewers almost three decades removed from its debut, and the choices of then-32-year-old tyro director Geoffrey Wright in his handling of the material.

Please be advised this episode features discussions of racist violence and racist language.

Outro Song - 'Come Together' - Primal Scream (1990)

If you have any questions, comments or ideas for future episodes you can contact us on Twitter @rewindmoviepodcast or @galithegreek

(Gali), (@quilllicker (Devlin), (@PatrickWaggett (Patrick) and @mdridley (Matt), and join our Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/rewindmoviecast/ or email us at [email protected]

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Since 2018, former film school friends Gali, Devlin, Patrick and Matt have tried to distil the essence of their myriad bleary, late night, free-flowing, probably bullsh*t-laden formative movie conversations almost 20 years ago, as they cast their eyes back to former favourites, cult curiosities, and ubiquitous cultural trash alike.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• No. of episodes: 142
• Latest episode: 2024-10-28
• TV & Film

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