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      When mentioning a gag he and Nail played on a yuppie, Bobby’s friend Dolphin convinces Bobby and his friends that the yuppie scum is most likely the killer. Bobby told her and his friends that he beat the living shit out of the yuppie Thunder Goldbird. Believing his own bullshit Bobby went on a mission to kill the Wall Street scumbag he now believes killed his friend. In all actuality Nail’s death was delivered by a Danny Devito sized small time mobster named Chachi. 

      Throughout the film Bobby is harassed by a police officer hilariously named Det. John Holmes. Their first scene together is hilarious due to the terrible acting by Lonnie Jackson and the manic voice box of Mike Passion. Also the Det. John Holmes character carries what looks to be a toy cap gun. 

      Bobby spends the movie getting his friends involved in his revenge schemes, spending time at a local bar getting shit faced while harassing an old timer and eventually getting mixed up with the mobster that offed his friend. 

      The beginning of this film is golden. Some of the dialog between Nail and Bobby is some of the funniest stuff I’ve seen in some time. The moment between the two is bizarre, random and idiotic. The moment Nail leaves the story the movie loses its silly appeal. What comes after that scene is a vengeance themed movie of sorts. Bobby Tilton will most likely be labeled as a piercingly annoying character. I love the fact that he wouldn’t let the murderer of Nail slide although he couldn’t sense who truly killed him. He spent two or three scenes with the actual murderer. Instead he goes after a yuppie that eventually beats Babby and his crew all up at the same time. One of his crew even gets wiped out. 

      Bobby Tilton is loud, irresponsible and doesn’t take any disrespect. He lives in his own world with a tough guy persona that he absolutely knows he is. The movie is cheesy while having the always exciting revenge plot. Still there are many boring spots in this movie and the ending is definitely weak. "American Punks" has a few deaths, an attempted sodomy, suicide, screaming, disloyalty, piss drunk delight, a yuppie target, an awful policeman, a squeaky voiced joke telling bar patron that drinks O’douls and much more. The film is entirely shot on 16mm and I thoroughly enjoyed it with its flaws and all. I can’t imagine the director being serious the entire time and if he was I question his judgement. Some of the casting is misplaced but eventually that makes the movie fun. Det. John Holmes is a terrifically written character but just delivered awkwardly by the gum chewing actor Lonnie Jackson. Ron Ramsey as Nail wasn’t that good of an actor but I sure cared about him when he punched out. I think he and Mike Passion should make a buddy film together.

      The film becomes more serious than it should by the ending and again the ending let me down. While not being the most intense revenge drama, “American Punks” delivers with cheese, head shaking dialog and a performance to deliver by Mike Passion. This is the Generation X movie for the losers of the 90’s. Bobby Tilton is the underachiever you will either hate or love because how irksome he is. Mike Pacitto might not have made a career starting film but I think he should be proud that he made something I’ve never seen. Please give this ode to slackers a chance. It has its problems but if your like me you’ll love Bobby Tilton. 

      The film was shot on location in Detroit Michigan in the mid 90’s and eventually was put out as Genation Xtinct. This film is available at Altenative Cinema’s subsidiary Bloody Earth Films. To find out more go to www.BloodyEarthFilms.com .  

      In closing I believe a lot of independent films to be hit or miss. This one hits it out of the park and at other moments strikes out swinging. Mike Passion and Ron Ramsey both had a likeability so I cared about watched the Bobby Tilton character get revenge on those that killed Nail. He gets it wrong the entire movie and that’s where the movie went wrong. Still there are plenty of brutally retarded moments I enjoyed.  

** ½  

-Russ Rutter