Exploitation Week: Scared Straight

In a continuation of exploitation week here at zombiehamster.com, we momentarily divert from the movie end of the spectrum to examine one of the finest documentaries of the period. Scared Straight feels like it has been cast with members of 42nd Street’s finest, but is in fact very real indeed. A group of juvenile delinquents are sent into New Jersey’s maximum security prison Rahway State. The scenario is introduced by Peter Falk of Columbo fame, in a monotone so chilling that you are instantly stop slouching and start paying attention.

The troublesome teens are taken into the prison to be confronted by ‘The Lifers’ a group of hardened criminals, most of whom are serving life sentences for murder, hence the clever moniker. They have permission to terrify, verbally abuse and intimidate the new arrivals for several hours and the results make for essential (and hilarious) viewing.

Delight as some odious little runts with bad acne and attitude problems get threatened with intimate prison rituals, like snuggling. This predates all the diluted reality show versions that exist today, the overall feel of it being genuinely menacing. The ‘Lifers’ are a frightening bunch of guys, especially the one with ‘the eye’. Parodies of this have been seen in everything from the Simpsons to Beavis and Butthead, but the allure of the original is still as strong as it was over two decades ago.

There are two versions available, the original and also the 20 year anniversary special, hosted by none other than Danny Glover! This is the one which I would recommend searching for; I have included a section, submitted for your approval. In this version, the kids are ‘reunited’ with the Lifers in the most awkward situation I think I have ever seen on film. The cons make their way to the kids houses and you can almost see the suppressed memories come flooding back as the fear takes hold of their faces.

You won’t give a damn about the snotty roustabouts (Although in saying that, a lot of the kids look like extras from The Warriors, which is pretty cool. Also, keep your eyes open for a young Flava Flav), but the ‘Lifers’ play out like an episode of ‘Oz: The Wonder Years’ and if your idea of entertainment is watching large scary men making teenagers cry, then this may just be the ideal documentary to show on a first date.

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