Starring - Ike Eisenmann (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn, Escape to Witch Mountain), Trini Alvarado (ABC Afterschool Specials, The Frighteners), and Israel Juarbe (Angels in the Outfield, The Night Before)
Release Date - 1982
Genre - Crime/Drama
Tagline - "She's trapped on a street going nowhere. He's young, deadly, beyond the reach of the law. Using other kids to do his dirty work. And he's promising her a way out. But his price could be her innocence...or her life"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)
Rating (out of 5):
I'm seriously impressed by the films that are being brought to light by the ever growing partner labels from Vinegar Syndrome. I've added some seriously fun films to my collection thanks to this. When Vin Syn's partner label Fun City Editions announced the release of the Primetime Panic box set I was all about it. I quickly ordered it but couldn't make time for it until now. After watching the film in the set, Freedom, I quickly jumped on the second film which was the 1984 crime drama Dreams Don't Die starring Trini Alvarado who many of you may recognize from Peter Jackson's The Frighteners.
The film follows graffiti artist Danny (Eisenmann) and his girlfriend Teresa (Alvarado) who struggle to agree on their futures. Teresa wants to leave the city for a better life but Danny wants to stay because of the respect and admiration his pieces give him. Teresa is approached by the underage drug pusher Kirk (Juarbe) who propositions her to help him distribute drugs before she turns 16 because she can't be prosecuted as an adult. She agrees in hopes of saving enough money to move. However, Danny spots her with him and tries to warn her of the dangers she is facing. She refuses to listen and Danny goes back to painting trains before he is busted by a cop. The officer wants to help Danny and tries to encourage him to go to art school. Around this time that same officer busts Teresa and Kirk with a small amount of pot. He tries to scare Teresa straight and succeeds for the most part but Kirk has it in for the officer and soon hires someone to kill him. Heartbroken, Danny and Teresa set out to help the police bust Kirk.
While I really enjoyed Freedom I found myself in love with Dreams Don't Die. It's not horror but as a fan of gangster crime films I found myself pulled into this one. It could have used a little more of the gangster/drug pushing angle but it was still brilliant as is. The acting in this one is great. Eisenmann and Alvarado are great together but the star of the show for me was Juarbe. His portrayal of the young drug pusher was so much fun. He brought so much energy to his role and the character is unforgettable. I also enjoyed the small role from Paul Winfield. He never disappoints and really liked his take on the passionate police officer. The story for this one is a teenage coming of age drama set against inner city struggles and the constant rise in teenage drug trades. I really enjoyed the drama and harsh realities city life brings but I would have loved a little more depth into the crime aspect of the story. It was fun but a little tweaking would have made the film feel completely different but just as fun. Finally, the film, much like the other films in the set, are character driven with no real body counts or bloody practical effects. Overall, Dreams Don't Die is a must see if you are a fan of 80s cinema. It has some seriously fun performances and the story is great. This is another great entry in the Primetime Panic set from Fun City Editions.
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