Romper Stomper

Romper Stomper is a fist in the face, spiked knuckles tearing flesh, a kick in the groin from hobnailed boots and a riot hose turned on the complacent. [03 Sep 1993, p.C3]

A wildly controversial film that is both achingly unpleasant and gripping in its denouncement of the blindly ignorant racist and fascist mentality. [02 July 1993, p.D22]

Crowe is magnificent as Hando, the leader of the gang whose decisions land them all in hot water and Daniel Pollock (who killed himself during post production) is right there with him. It's a tragic, harrowing little film.

A film about violent racism that is just too ambivalent in its treatment of the perpetrators to be anything but an uncomfortable watch. Some good performances, but leaves a bad taste.

As an examination of social psychosis, the subject is skinhead but the treatment is skin deep. [03 Dec 1993]

It's merely another violent art house picture, slumming modishly in the world of psycho-personalities, and exhibiting only occasional flashes of originality.

Romper Stomper is a Clockwork Orange without the intellect.