The mystery of Repo Man is how it fares so well, considering how boisterous, belligerent, and ridiculous it is. It marinates in its own brash incomprehensibility, yet it never descends into self indulgent kitsch. Repo Man is in on the joke, reveling in the bizarre little universe it has created. Whether it’s your first or fifth viewing a glaring truth becomes apparent rather quickly: the plot is nonsensical! Aliens? Black Flag apologists shooting up L.A? A radioactively glowing Chevy Malibu? I’ve always maintained that these idiosyncrasies are endearing rather than frustrating.
Exuberant, with a generous portion of stylized counterculture delinquents, raucous dialogue, and seedy street scenes. The film is packed with raw, unbridled glee- infectious to its core. My favorite scenes feature Otto (Emilio Estevez) sulking around L.A, hard-done-by and insolent as only a suburban eighties punk can be. Synthy surf punk permeates the scenes with an indulgent despondency. But the atmospheric veneer of melancholy is just a facade: playfulness abounds just under the surface.
I’ll sum it up in less eloquent terms: Repo Man is one of the most riotous, spirited films you can get your hands on. It is an unequivocal staple for any lover of cult cinema, Los Angeles punk, and mystifying dialogue bordering on the absurd. Below are fifteen compelling reasons to soak in the visual treat that is Repo Man.
1. Emilio’s Earrings – A Riveting Style Statement
2. Sweeping Arizona Highway Views
3. This I Heart L.A. Sticker
4. Leila’s Endearingly Hideous Telephone Booth Outfit
5. LO fI cAR cHASES
6. tHIS pine tREE aIr freshener redundantly placed on a motorcycle
7. Suburban teen lonesomeness circa 1984
8. Seedy L.A. StreetScapes
9. Urban Scenes that provide aesthetic delight
10. free dry included at the coin-op
11. everything being left unsaid in this scene. everything.
12. This Edge city bus
13. Tasteeos and corn flakes, oh my
14. C U at Miller’s partay
15. the radioactive chevy malibu
