PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Not too many movies stick in and out of my mind as much as The Doom Generation. Sometimes this movie seems like a fever dream, there is just so much stuff going on throughout. The Doom Generation was like a cool little secret amongst teenagers. It especially targeted the goth generation, doing what the lifestyle couldn’t grasp in the 80’s. The 90’s were impeccable timing for a lot of different musical moments. Skate punk and Ska were thriving in the school halls. However; there were always bands like Skinny Puppy and Ministry who gave the gothic culture an official edgy style. Nothing could describe this generation better than The Doom Generation.
Synopsis
Jordan White (James Duvall) and Amy Blue (Rose McGowan), two troubled teens, pick up an adolescent drifter, Xavier Red (Johnathon Schaech). Together, the threesome embark on a sex-and-violence-filled journey through an America of psychos and quickie marts run by 90’s alternative icons. The three try to get back to a normal life, which doesn’t exist anymore for them.
The Rundown
The Doom Generation introduced a new edge for the alienated, to follow. Honestly? I have seen it a hundred times and it still isn’t quite my thing. It’s a good movie to tune out with. No one would dare bother you if they saw the sex-fueled romp you happened upon. This film is not for the weak, or the uncomfortable because this film doesn’t give in. Every one of my friends treated The Doom Generation as a lifestyle. I thought it was just kind of thrown together with no real point if you aren’t on some type of drug, other than that it is pretty mediocre in my opinion. I know that isn’t everyone’s opinion so I don’t push around my discontent and just watch it anyways.
The best part for me was all the cameos including Perry Farell and Nivek Ogre from Skinny Puppy. Other than shock value, it just kind of exists. I don’t think that without a shock value, this film wouldn’t have made it to cult status. Still, here we are forgetting every moment once we hit our 20s. For me, there’s nothing deserving of its cult status aside from sex and black dresses. Without the kind of cringe moments, there’s just a certain level of annoyance with the plot. I am a firm believer that story isn’t everything to a film, I respect that fact very much. This film just made me wish harm on everyone involved.
In the End
The Doom Generation is still a bible to a lot of people I grew apart from. I am weird, nerdy, and kind of morbid enough without this film’s influence. It’s just something that is a dot in the middle of my universe. There is no edginess to be here, I’m too old to fall for the film’s intent. I have seen a lot worse, and it wasn’t shock value. I am all about gimmicks and history, for everything except this film. I was always just kind of above it but also stuck with it because I can’t express how much I dislike this film. It was a time when Marilyn Mason was emerging, and even he wasn’t as edgy as this film tries to be.
As a closer, a famous horse once said it best, “No sir, I don’t like it.”
