Shredder Orpheus (1990) User Reviews

Seattle skate

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 31 October 2020]

As we near the close of the Scarecrow Video Psychotronic Challenge, finding a movie shot in Seattle was a real, well, challenge. I didn't want to do something easy, like Practical Magic, which isn't really a psychotronic film either. And I'd already posted about Fear, The Changeling, Class of 1999, Ghost Dad and The Night Strangler, so I really wanted to find something left of center.

Enter Shredder Orpheus.

Made more than thirty years ago about a future that has never happened, this is a group of skaters and musicians that created something that has never been created before or since, a skate-rock opera.

Skateboarder/guitarist/revolutionary Orpheus and his gang of skaters must go from the Gray Zone into, well, Hell itself to save the world and his girl from the threat of television. Beyond showing a snapshot of Seattle's counterculture - which would be its culture, right? - of the past, this movie also features a soundtrack created by Roland Barker (Ministry, Revolting Cocks), Bill Rieflin (Ministry, King Crimson), poet/performance artist Steven Jesse Bernstein, guitarist Dennis Rea and multi-instrumentalist Amy Denio. Robert McGinley was the auteur behind this movie, writing, producing, directing and starring in it. He's still making cyberpunk films, as he put out Danger Diva in 2017.

How many post-apocalyptic skater industrial takes on the story of Orpheus and Eurydice are you going to find? Probably, well, exactly one. I'm sure that if you live in Seattle and don't have a copy that Scarecrow probably has more than one available for rent.

The Orpheus/Eurydice legend gets a strange go-round.

[EyeAskance · 20 March 2008]

In a bleak alternate world where urban skateboarding miscreants live in a shanty-town of metal shipping cars, young musician Orpheus and beautiful dancer Eurydice are in love. Meanwhile, the evil forces of Hell(broadcasting to televisions everywhere on a pirate network) have set their sights on Eurydice, and intend to have her for their own.

Here we have a smartly made low-budget production, surprisingly well handled for an obviously very minor-league project, and the largely amateur cast performs acceptably. The post-punk, otherworldly mien is variably redolent of oddball cult titles like THE DARK BACKWARD, FORBIDDEN ZONE, and LIQUID SKY. I found myself quite enjoying SHREDDER ORPHEUS and all its skate-punk nihilism, despite its forgivable shortcomings.

Certainly not for all tastes, but a worthy watch for fans of off-road amateur obscurities - 5.5/10.

Worth seeing, just because of how painful it is.

[newton_nicodemus · 1/10 · 25 June 2001]

Wow. They told me it was bad, but I had no idea.

We've started a tradition. We found one copy of this movie, and we just pass it from person to person. Whoever has the movie watches it, and then passes it to someone else deemed worthy of seeing this unique, creative, horrible movie. Hopefully it'll travel 'round the world a few times.

It's painful. Really painful. It's even beyond so bad it's funny. Well, okay, sometimes it's so bad it's funny. But most of the time it just gives you that feeling that there's something sucking at your brain from the inside.

Wow. Watch it, then pass it.

Nonsensical and grating

[tarbosh22000 · 2/10 · 4 April 2011]

"A Skate-Rock Adventure of the Deadly Kind" A wise man once said, "you can't intentionally make a cult film". A director can't wake up and say "I'm going to start to make a cult film today". That's not up to him to decide. Sadly, director/writer/star Robert McGinley had to learn this lesson the hard way with Shredder Orpheus.

A modern-day (futuristic?) retelling of the Orpheus legend, but with "rock" music and skateboarding, it seems McGinley was going for a Street Trash (1987) meets Liquid Sky (1982) meets Brazil (1985) meets Repo Man meets Jean Cocteau's Orpheus (1950) sort of thing. Apparently, in the future, bums and vagrants live in a trailer park-like section of town (Seattle or places near Seattle from what we can gather) called "The Gray Zone". The most radical dude in the Gray Zone is, naturally, Orpheus (McGinley). He is the singer/guitarist for the hottest band in town, The Shredders. When his girlfriend Eurydice (Murphy) unexpectedly dies, Orpheus, with his lyre in hand (actually a futuristic "guitar" that doesn't look or sound anything like a guitar, said to be designed by Jimi Hendrix before he died, which is just insulting. There's no need to drag Hendrix into this), makes his descent into the underworld, represented by the EBN, or "Euthanasia Broadcast Network". Here, hell is a TV station that brainwashes the populace. Will this "Shredder Orpheus" be victorious? You might think that what we just described might be good. Maybe on paper it is, but the headache-inducing colors and music are eye-sores and ear-sores. There are no likable characters and the whole thing has this smirky, annoying vibe of "we're trying to be funny and smart" which falls completely flat. It feels like a student film made specifically for public access TV. It's grungy, and the only reason we watched it is because it was released by AIP. Troma must have passed.

The movie is nonsensical and grating. It really tests the patience of viewers. It's not enjoyable to watch, it's more like a battle to get through. Maybe that's why AIP picked it up, it reminded them of their war films. One of the main detriments is that there is no main star you can get behind. There's no Robert Z'Dar, no William Smith, no JAY ROBERTS JUNIOR for crying out loud. Without a powerful main star presence, the film is anchorless and aimless. Teachers can't even show it to their students if they were learning about Greek myth Shredder Orpheus is for AIP completists only.

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This Movie Sucks

[party pat · 1/10 · 12 August 2005]

I found this movie at the flea market for cheap. I was so psyched because I thought it was a skateboarding movie. I got home put it on, the previews rules and the opening scene with the old guy rolling down the street on the skateboard was awesome. At that moment I realized it was a post-apocalyptic movie but I still had high hopes for it. This movie was awful. A friend of mine was stoned out of his mind when we watched it and even he thought it was horrible and a waste of being high. I kept falling asleep during the movie because it was so boring and the music was utterly awful. I don't know if during the apocalypse all the good music, and all the music that is only kind of crappy is destroyed and everyones memory of how to play it is wiped clean but I think I would rather die than have to endure that crap. Also what the hell was up with the TV studio? I can only assume that this movie was adapted from an old Greek play, with the names and title, but some plays are not meant to be adapted into a futuristic sci-fi setting. Or at least not by the people who were involved with this movie. If you are forced to watch this movie, I can only suggest bringing a hand gun and finishing yourself off before the end. It would be a good movie to kill yourself too, everyone will understand why.

Good for a cheap laugh and has some good trick skating in it.

[vunico · 10/10 · 25 June 2000]

This movie is one of my favorite cheesy movies. I stumbled upon this movie in a video store started in a trailer in the small town I live. (The store only lasted about 6 months max.) I've never been able to find a place to rent it again. I'll never forget the beginning when the "rock star/skater" sings a rock version of "Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I think I'll eat some worms." It's all very simple but fun. Don't completely take my word for its entertainment, I haven't seen it in nearly ten years (I was 13 at the time) although my tastes have generally stayed the same.

Dated, Different, Fun

[dkeizer05 · 7/10 · 20 December 2020]

I too have not seen this film since I was a teenager and I'm not going to go all out and call it a perfect film but I feel like it should be more of a "cult classic" than it is.

Shredder Orpheus is a retelling of the tale from Greek mythology where Orpheus sneaks down into Hades to reclaim his dead gf, Eurydice. Except this one is set in a dystopian (post apocalyptic?) future where everyone lives in a city of shipping crates except for the wealthy plutocrats who are connected to the government propaganda network.

I remember it having a great concept, some awesome costumes, a cool if dated techno/goth soundtrack and decent world-building given its low budget.

Drawbacks were mainly the acting abilities of the no-name cast and a story that only vaguely makes sense. I remember feeling like the climax of the film happens about 2/3 of the way into the tale and further story being somewhat pointless.

This film may qualify as a "vanity project", having been written, directed and starring... what's his name, Robert McGinley? But it's definitely watchable, more so than most films that qualify in that genre. I think he may have even done the music.

I'd recommend this to any fan of skateboard movies, techno/industrial/goth music and fashion, or anyone looking for a lost gem in the dystopian future genre.

Skateboard Punk Guitar Hero

[jimmyzip · 10/10 · 26 April 2001]

Skateboard punk mythology about rock guitarist who goes to weird television underworld to rescue wife, Eurydice. Orpheus lives in a shipping container village but has a slick skateboard and kick ass guitar instrument designed by JIMI HENDRIX that blows Hades and underworld minions away. Music by members of MINISTRY and lead performance by legendary Seattle poet, JESSE BERNSTEIN. Available at video specialty stores in cult, horror or sci-fi sections.

Seattle cult favorite

[wondermammal-1 · 7/10 · 22 August 2006]

This movie is a retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Euridyce. A model happy couple who love each other dearly. She dies tragically (and too soon), and Orpheus embarks an a dangerous quest to hell to win her back. Things don't turn out well for him, in the tradition of the classic myth. Reason this is a cult classic for me: It was made in Seattle. It features the famous Stephen Jesse Bernstein, the Metaphonics, lots of skateboarding in parking garages, as well as Goths ruling in hell, and post apocalyptic train car ghetto's. I saw it when it premier'd at the Neptune in Seattle long ago. It is very very bad but i still loved it. I wish i could find a copy. What I loved most about the movie was the Metaphonics, but I don't know whatever happened to them either. MAybe they are still banging on metal in some junkyard somewhere.

Robert McGinley.... a man way ahead of his time.

[jrtullne · 2 May 2003]

Shredder Orpheus. Shredder. Orpheus. Shhhhhhhhredder Orrrrrrrpheus. What is a shredder, you ask? One that shreds, I would reply. Shredding is the subtle art of using one's skateboard to tear a path of gnarly tricks and bodacious bust-a-moves wherever one would go, a parking garage for example. Orpheus, well, he's the mythical figure that went down to hell to retrieve his dead girlfriend, Eurydice, and failed to avoid looking back at her while leading her out, thereby losing her once again to Hades. What do you get when you combine these two seemingly unrelated topics?

The most flawless cinematic masterpiece ever created by the hands of man.

Robert McGinley's ingenious social commentary on the effect of television on the emerging generation X of the world through the medium of The Euthanasia Broadcast Network is one of the many things that makes this film worth lobbying to be released on DvD. I would be willing to shell out any amount of cash just to hear McGinley's commentary on what it was like to film such scenes as "Thrashing the Euthanasia Garage" and "Today's used cars are better than ever", not to mention the prolific, heart-wrenching introductory war-torn speech by the Janus-influenced character of Axel.

The music to this movie is amazing. The sound that Orpheus produces from his futuristic, Hendrix created magical axe has such an effect on the people around him that the very reality around them is distorted, which you can see by the special effects that far surpass any that ILM or any computer could whip up nowadays. Rash's inspirational drumming shows that McGinley really has his pulse on the youth of today, or of the future for that matter. One can only imagine what sort of gruelling preparation that actress had to go through to learn the complicated sixteenth-note triplets and paradiddles that grace our ears from the rusty metal orchestra.

The film ultimately questions about what it is to be human and experience real life and true emotions. From the tear-jerking meeting of Orpheus with his dead parents (who sadly did not get to see their son's beautiful wedding ceremony in the Grey Zone) to the jaw-dropping, majestic finale of Orpheus' orgasmic confrontation with the chainsaw-wielding Furies, this film is a must-see, if not a must-own as well.

A film way ahead of it's time

[francesraye · 10/10 · 21 August 2018]

Radical skate film full of nostalgic bits. The film's underlying message about corporate media mind control makes it's prescient and worth seeing today.

Should be among greats like "The Room"

[Dalek19113 · 10/10 · 9 March 2020]

This movie is a masterwork of nonsense. It is the funniest movie I've seen in years. Of course, none of the humor is intentional, but that's why it's so great.

As for genuine positives, some of the shots looked kind of cool. One of the actors, the one who plays Orpheus' dad, isn't too bad. That's it though, everything else is pretty bad.

The low quality of this film is what turns an otherwise bad movie into a magnum opus. The "skate-rock adventure" to end all skate-rock adventures.

The story? Oh, no, no, no. There is no story. They skateboarded on camera and added the film around it. What little plot there is, it's really corny. Basically, it's a retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, but instead of ancient Greece we get storage containers in Seattle. No spoilers on the particulars, because I think if you haven't seen it, you owe it to yourself.

The characters are laughable. There's a really offensive portrayal of a disabled veteran, three villains that look like Rocky Horror Picture Show was eaten by Son Of The Mask, a skater who has a weird whispery voice that isn't convincing, and an overacting producer character. Just to name a few.

The set design is nonexistent. It's bad skater gear and cheesy setpieces all the way, and I wouldn't change a thing.

The cinematography is the best aspect of the film, but it's still not very good. There are a few interesting shots, but there's no discernable personality to it. Also, the DVD copy is formatted so that the image is letterboxed on either side into a 4:3 aspect ratio. The film is closer to a 16:9 aspect ratio, so there are also bars on the top and bottom. The whole picture is slightly above the center, it looks bad.

This is why I'm officially asking whoever owns the rights to this film to please redistribute it on Digital and Blu-Ray. I know a remaster is probably asking too much, but the film must be seen. It needs the widespread love it deserves.

If I were rating it seriously as a film, I would give it a 2/10, but it's more than just a movie. It's an experience.

Amateur night mess

[lor_ · 13 May 2023]

My review was written in May 1990 after watching the movie on AIP video cassette.

The Greek legend that produced arthouse faves "Orpheus" and "Black Orpheus" crashes to Earth in the idiotic punk sci-fi feature "Shredder Orpheus". It's for fans of in-jokes only.

Helmer Robert McGinley also toplines as Orpheus, a band leader (of the Shredders) in a post-apocalyptic world where hipsters live in shanty towns known as the Grey Zone. McGinley's underdeveloped script posits an easy enemy, the Euthanasia Broadcasting Network, which involves Cronenberg-style philosophizing) out of his "Videodrome") as weak satire.

Punk tv programmers want Eurydice (Megan Murphy) for their new show. The underworld in this sci-fi universe is a place where people's memories are shredded faster than you can say Oliver North.

Orpheus becomes a tv star playing an electronic lyre instrument supposedly invented by Jimi Hendrix. Heroine disappears after Orpheus violates the "Don't look back" warning and gazes at her; rest of the film is him searching for her. Finale involving skateboarders is stupid.

Apparently McGinley didn't watch Jean Cocteau's 1950 classic very closely since he leaves out the poignant role of Heurtebise (played eloquently in "Orphee" by Francois Perier). He also fails to find any equivalent to Cocteau's inspired anachronisms, and is instead content to littering the dialog with advertising slogans and catchphrases.

Acting is amateurish and technical quality, mixing film and video footage, subpar.