Exclusive interview: Ryan Kruger

Ryan Kruger has a filmmaking career built on pushing boundaries and exploring the darker corners of genre cinema. Known for his bold visual style and his unique voice, Kruger first made waves with the cult hit Fried Barry (2020), which earned numerous accolades and cemented his place as a visionary in the South African film industry. Now, with his latest project Street Trash(2024), Kruger takes on the challenge of revisiting a beloved cult classic—Street Trash (1987)—while simultaneously charting a new course with a fresh narrative, a unique 2050 setting, and a blend of intense gore and meaningful storytelling. The film is a loose sequel, offering fans a chance to return to the bizarre, melting mayhem of the original but with Kruger’s distinct directorial vision.

Street Trash 2024 follows the dark and twisted adventures of a new set of characters as they grapple with societal collapse and the malevolent forces surrounding them. With an undeniable homage to the original, Kruger was tasked with balancing the gore and absurdity that Street Trash is known for while adding a modern sensibility to the mix. The result? A visually stunning, thematically rich film that explores the societal fractures and governmental control seen in contemporary times, all while delivering the chaotic, melt-filled fun that fans expect. Kruger’s inspirations span from classic dystopian films like Brazil and Escape from New York to a stark reflection of modern realities shaped by post-pandemic control measures.

In this exclusive interview, we dive into Kruger’s creative process for Street Trash 2024, from his approach to the melting effects to his thoughts on creating an engaging story with strong characters. Kruger opens up about his influences, the importance of doing justice to a cult classic, and what he hopes audiences will take away from this wild, gore-soaked ride. Street Trash 2024 promises to be a cinematic journey like no other, blending social commentary with grotesque visuals, and Ryan Kruger is ready to take you there.

Love Horror: Why revisit the 80’s Street Trash?

Ryan Kruger: To make a film anything to do with Street Trash was just a great opportunity, as I was a big fan of of the film growing up. I never went out of my way to write or make this film, I was approached after the release of Fried Barry by the producers of The Last Drive in. They had the rights for the film and had been looking for the right fit for many years. So they asked me if I would like to direct and write the film.

Was it intimidating to approach a cult classic and bring it up to 2050?

The biggest thing straight away was to do my own thing – something different and make it a loose sequel. There’s nothing worse than when someone remakes a film trying to be exactly the same. There’s no point. So I was of the approach to make a straight up sequel. New characters, new story.

I found that this was a much more balanced film than the ‘87 version, with just as much melt as there is meaning. Was that difficult to accomplish? What were some of your main influences on this story?

I wanted to make more of a narrative story than the original. And stronger characters that we like and enjoy and go on a journey with. Of course it was important to have lots of gore and melts, so I also wanted to push where they were concerned. Story-wise I just looked at films like Brazil or Escape from New York and They Live.
I also looked at where we are today in the world, with governments controlling stuff. And after the pandemic, making us wear masks or telling us we have to take these jabs and so on.

What was your personal favorite melting scene to shoot?

It would have to be a mixture of the one-eyed woman in the lab, where her face sides off and becomes a skeleton. Or the homeless guy next to the dumpster, when his face melts off.

You had some interesting characters in this, including one you voiced yourself. Can you tell us how Sockle came to be?

It came to me after the 2nd draft of the script. When I was fleshing it out I just thought it was a great idea that 2-Bit being so fucked from all the acid and drugs he has had, that he has this annoying imaginary friend that won’t leave him alone. I was a device of support working with Gary Green (2-Bit), as i always have to work close to get exactly what I need from him – I have to jump through some hoops to get him right where I want him to go. Gary isnt a trained actor and really want him to shine.

I also found the audience-POV character, Offley, a very cool addition to the film. Where did that idea come from?

I just like to have diffrent or intresting things going on in the film – things for people to think about or question or remember. There’s always a lot of depth and easter eggs in small things in my films, like Offley. He’s another character in a film that I haven’t made yet. Everything is kind of connected.

What do you want people to get out of this hour-and-a-half melt-fest?

Just have fun and don’t over think it. It’s a melt movie. Watch it with friends, smoking or drinking or eating pizza.

Are there any other Ryan Kruger things on the horizon you’d like to share?

Releasing a project that is 7 years in the making. A collection of experimental films called RIP.

Where can we watch Street Trash and where can we keep up with you?

Watch it on Apple or Amazon and This month on Screambox.
Website: ryankruger.tv
Facebook: facebook.com/RyanKrugerOfficial
Twitter: @ryankrugerthing
Instagram: aryankrugerthing

Street Trash is released in the UK today (10th January) and is already available in the US and elsewhere on all good platforms.

Street Trash trailer