What’s Aged the Best?
Erotic engagement; New York; killer voices; soundtrack; apartments; clubs; Mercedes; police critique; Ted; Remar; costumes; title card
In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 00:05:00Read transcript
- The club scenes are praised for erotic engagement and reciprocal looks rather than detached tourism, illustrating cruising through eye contact.
- The movie captures layered New York nightlife and the descent from ordinary streets into unknown enclosed spaces; it is praised as of a place rather than merely shot there.
- The killer or killers are creepy, and the conspicuously different dubbed voices can heighten that creepiness despite sounding bad.
- The gritty mostly punk soundtrack lends legitimacy despite largely unfamiliar songs; it is distinguished from a disco soundtrack and linked to emerging post-punk/no-wave music.
- Karen Allen’s presence and apartment are appreciated, with real buildings and apartments making the city convincing rather than repeatedly reused sets.
- Burns removing window-fan slats and the informal rules of apartment leasing feel specifically New York.
- The clubs feel authentic: Anvil, Ramrod, Wolf’s Den, Cockpit, Eagle’s Nest/Eagle, plus unnamed policeman and American-flag bars.
- Martino Perry’s Mercedes is admired, including casually parking where a space should not exist.
- The film’s view of police power and lawlessness remains relevant.
- Ted’s boy-meets-boy play synopsis, ending with an analyst, is enjoyed.
- James Remar’s committed performance is praised alongside The Warriors and 48 Hrs.; a neighborhood sighting prompts an anecdote about being too intimidated to approach him.
- Burns’s wardrobe progresses from khakis and work shirt to makeup and studded leather, visibly tracking exploration that may go unnoticed on a first viewing.
- The title card is praised alongside the other Naughty November films’ striking title sequences.