`Thrashin' `

Thrashin', also known as Skate Gang, is a 1986 skater drama film. The film is directed by David Winters, and stars Josh Brolin, Robert Rusler, and featuring Pamela Gidley. It has appearances from many famous skaters such as Tony Alva, Tony Hawk, and Steve Caballero.


Plot summary
Corey Webster (Brolin) is an amateur skateboarder from out of town staying in Los Angeles with friends in hopes of competing and winning a downhill competition which he has been training for. During his stay in LA he falls in love with a beautiful blonde girl named Chrissy who just happens to be the younger sister of Hook, the leader of "The Daggers," a tough punk rock skateboard gang in the Los Angeles/Echo Park/ Venice Beach areas.

Corey and his crew "The Ramp LOCALS!" often have confrontations throughout the movie because of Corey's disobedience to Hook when asked not to come around or call Chrissy again. Corey, of course, being the hero, disobeys and is chased on skateboard through city streets and a parking garage by members of "The Daggers." He nearly escapes by boarding a bus and exiting through the back door and onto the roof while the rival gang members search the cabin of the bus. Through all of that memorable scene the Circle Jerks song "Wild In the Streets" is played, showcasing the connection between '80s hardcore punk rock and skateboarding culture. (Vice Squad, DEVO and Siouxsie and the Banshees T-Shirts can be seen on skateboarders throughout the film as well.) Upset at Corey, The Daggers find The Ramp LOCALS' halfpipe and burn it to the ground, thus creating more drama between the two skate crews.

Corey and Hook later meet up that night after an earlier confrontation at the "Dagger House" (a punk rock house overrun with daggers and graffiti, quite common in the 1980s throughout Los Angeles communities). The rivals joust in a remote location until Corey is injured and the police arrive. With Corey's arm broken he is convinced he cannot compete in the downhill, and places the blame on Chrissy, who wasn't there to assist him in his time of need. An emotionally upset Chrissy packs her bags and gets on a bus to Indiana later that night while Corey mopes around. He starts to miss Chrissy and begins to practice skateboarding. With a broken arm he has to be very cautious and proves to not be able to perform stunts as well. Chrissy exits her bus on the highway and hitch-hikes back to Los Angeles just in time to see Corey and Hook battle it out in the last turn of the downhill race. Hook falls over the side of the road and Corey speeds through the finish line at 63 mph onto a ramp and into a crowd of fans who cheer him in victory. He is awarded a professional contract with Smash Skates and enough money to rebuild the destroyed ramp burnt by the Daggers. Chrissy and he are given the OK by Hook to be friends because Corey proved himself to be worthy and respectful, and Hook for the first time is looked at as respectable as well.

Soundtrack
It also shows a performance from the original incarnation of Red Hot Chili Peppers, with Jack Irons and Hillel Slovak, as well as music by Devo and Meatloaf.

Behind the scenes
The director ( David Winters) was upset enough, after being over-ruled on a casting decision for "Thrashin'", he made the professional decision to control all aspects of future projects. Winters went on to found Action International Pictures, and to purchase Handmade Films. Josh Brolin was ultimately cast, but Winters' choice was a pre- "21 Jump Street", Johnny Depp. Conversely, Brolin had turned down the role of Thom Hansen on Jumpstreet, which ultimately went to Depp.


Continuing Reaction to Film
Sixteen years after initial release, the MTV series Jackass, in a February 2002 episode, played homage to the "jousting scene" with "maces and man-purse" in the film. The Board Sport industry continues to describe this film as "legendary".


Main Cast
Josh Brolin .... Corey Webster
Robert Rusler .... Tommy Hook
Pamela Gidley .... Chrissy
Brooke McCarter .... Tyler
Josh Richman .... Radley
Brett Marx .... Bozo
David Wagner .... Little Stevie
Chuck McCann .... Sam Flood
Tony Alva .... T.A.
Mark Munski .... Monk
Sherilyn Fenn .... Velvet
Gary Goodrich ... Skate Club announcer
Rocky Giordani .... Skate Club bouncer
Steve Whittaker .... Bus driver
Per Welinder .... Himself