Review of The Decline of Western Civilization

Director Penelope Spheeris captures the incredibly infectious filth and howling savage fury that fueled the Los Angeles punk music scene of the late 1970's and early 1980's with a bracing acuity that ensures that this documentary is both informative and entertaining in equal measure. Moreover, Spheeris neither glorifies nor vilifies the bands and fans featured herein; instead she wisely lets the punks speak for themselves so they can either slit their own throats or state a credible case on punk's behalf. It's also a hoot to see stoked audience members eagerly engage in stage diving and slam dancing. The groups who perform throughout certainly deliver the grungy goods: The Circle Jerks are dynamic and exciting, X seriously smoke, the lead singer of the Germs makes a hilarious clumsy fool of himself on stage by constantly dropping the microphone, Catholic Discipline are hysterically funny, and Black Flag put on a hell of an incendiary show, but it's Fear who clearly cop the top honors by whipping the audience up into a ferocious frenzy thanks to charismatic frontman Lee Ving's exceptional aptitude for pushing people's buttons. Super raw and wild, it's far better and more fun than jabbing needles in your eyes.