This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover (designed by Adam Juresko) is limited to 3,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Welcome Vinegar Syndrome Labs (VSL) to the VS Sub-Label family! As with each of our sub-labels we are hoping to expand and defy expectations with the diversity of films we restore and release. As the name implies, VSL will serve as a kind of testing area for releasing genres and eras of film that one might not immediately expect to come from VS. The ultimate objective of VSL will be to see if these types of films will find an audience, and if so, pursue and release more of them…and even if not, still serve as a means of restoring more of the weird, rare, and unusual movies you might not expect from Vinegar Syndrome.
John Spacely, known on the streets as Gringo, has spent much of his life selling - and using - drugs, mostly heroin. Since relocating from his native California to the Lower East Side of New York, Gringo has gained a group of steady customers for the dope he sells, amongst them musicians and actors and, in the process, has also developed a reputation as a colorful street character; hanging out amongst the dilapidated environs of Lower Manhattan. But with his own drug habit starting to get the better of him, Gringo must challenge himself not to end up on an even darker path, from which there may be no way back.
An unflinching study of addiction from multi-award winning documentarian, Lech Kowalski, STORY OF A JUNKIE (originally titled Gringo) stars Spacely as a semi-fictionalized version of himself, mixing staged interactions with grim documentary realism. Filmed entirely on location, and featuring a supporting cast of Gringo's real life friends and customers, Vinegar Syndrome Labs presents the Blu-ray debut of this remarkably human document not just of the long-gone punk counterculture on the Lower East Side, but of the fascinating and colorful personalities who populated it..
directed by: Lech Kowalski
starring: John Spacely
1985 / 79 min / 1.33:1 / English Mono
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.5367646 / 5 from 136 reviews.
Story of a Junkie is a limited edition Blu-ray release that offers an authentic portrayal of drug culture and addiction in 1980s New York City. Customers appreciate the realistic look, compelling storytelling, and engaging bonus content. It serves as a time capsule of the era, with strong recommendations from viewers.
Review topics: ["looks","feel","packaging","piece","film","movie","release","watch","documentary","transfer","addiction","viewing","capsule","restoration","characters","soundtrack","drama","slipcover","features","junkies","person","interviews","extras","side","narrative","streets","flick","story","nyc","presentation"].
"What a time capsule this was. Outside of the subject matter this felt like a time capsule to 80's NYC. The gritty 16mm look is presented perfectly here (magnificent encoding). The films is interesting in it being a mix of staging with mostly reality, not unlike a hidden camera show, but with less staging than that on the part of the lead subject."
"A nice looking transfer of this grimy new york film! A very interesting and personal look at addiction that isn't caught like this much! I don't know about rewatchability with this one. . . but a nice one regardless"
"I wasn’t disgusted by needles until I saw this movie. And I’ve seen Trainspotting multiple times. It's a tough watch but the 4K scan brings out details in the film grain that make it feel even more grody. I feel like I’ve seen the main character in that punk club in after hours I can’t tell if it’s a cameo or just coincidence"
"Who expected Troma to deliver the real story of heroin addiction? I mean maybe porn addiction, but not heroin lol."
"Awesome. Transfer looks great. Troma! Troma!"
"Nice presentation!"
"This release is way better than I thought. I love it!"
"This enjoyable drama is a snapshot of its time! It is an enjoyable watch and well worth buying! The peerless VS restoration transfer process was on full display with stellar sound and picture! Thank you, VS, for continuing to lovingly restore and release so many wonderful films from every conceivable genre! You are keeping physical media alive in this streaming world we now live in! Highly recommended!"
"If you feel you'll need to take a shower, do so. Heartfelt time capsule of a drug addict who goes about his day in an environment that I wouldn't be caught in even if they paid me a million dollars. Troma released this back in the day? Very atypical of their usual fare but worth it. VS does the docudrama proud with the usual bells & whistles."
"Scuzzy mid 80's New York documentary about a junkie. Not one for the popcorn movie night but definitely one to challenge you on a quieter movie evening. Good transfer too."
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