Unavailable on home video for many years (except perhaps as a grainy, nth-generation VHS bootleg), Penelope Spheeris' seminal document of the young 1979-1980 Los Angeles punk scene includes chaotic live performances by now-legendary groups like Black Flag (with short-lived lead singer Ron "Chavo Pederast" Reyes), X (giving themselves stick-and-poke tattoos) and the Germs (whose unpredictable lead singer Darby Crash would commit suicide before the film's release) interwoven with talking-head interviews with teenage punks and, most entertainingly, older club owners trying very hard to describe a growing form of music they were clearly unprepared for. The footage of Fear's confrontational set would later grab the attention of John Belushi, who snagged the band a 1981 appearance on Saturday Night Live (and resulted in $20,000 in damage to the studio). - Tom Fritsche

Unavailable on home video for many years (except perhaps as a grainy, nth-generation VHS bootleg), Penelope Spheeris' seminal document of the young 1979-1980 Los Angeles punk scene includes chaotic live performances by now-legendary groups like Black Flag (with short-lived lead singer Ron "Chavo Pederast" Reyes), X (giving themselves stick-and-poke tattoos) and the Germs (whose unpredictable lead singer Darby Crash would commit suicide before the film's release) interwoven with talking-head interviews with teenage punks and, most entertainingly, older club owners trying very hard to describe a growing form of music they were clearly unprepared for. The footage of Fear's confrontational set would later grab the attention of John Belushi, who snagged the band a 1981 appearance on Saturday Night Live (and resulted in $20,000 in damage to the studio). - Tom Fritsche

The third (and seemingly final) installment in Penelope Spheeris' Los Angeles music trilogy, THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION III follows not the punk acts of Los Angeles from 1996-1997 but their homeless teenaged fans. Musician interviews in this DECLINE are fewer but include interesting musings from Keith Morris from the Circle Jerks and Flea (credited as the "ex-bass player of Fear"). DECLINE III lives up to its title as Spheeris explores every facet of the gutter-punk life, from their damaged upbringings (nearly all were abused or neglected as children) to the self-destructive lives they lead on society's fringe (alcoholism, homelessness and run-ins with skinheads, among others). - Tom Fritsche

The third (and seemingly final) installment in Penelope Spheeris' Los Angeles music trilogy, THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION III follows not the punk acts of Los Angeles from 1996-1997 but their homeless teenaged fans. Musician interviews in this DECLINE are fewer but include interesting musings from Keith Morris from the Circle Jerks and Flea (credited as the "ex-bass player of Fear"). DECLINE III lives up to its title as Spheeris explores every facet of the gutter-punk life, from their damaged upbringings (nearly all were abused or neglected as children) to the self-destructive lives they lead on society's fringe (alcoholism, homelessness and run-ins with skinheads, among others). - Tom Fritsche

The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years is a documentary film directed by Penelope Spheeris about the Los Angeles heavy metal scene from 1986 to 1988.

The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years is a documentary film directed by Penelope Spheeris about the Los Angeles heavy metal scene from 1986 to 1988.

在男女主角小时候，男主角的父亲失手杀死女主角的父亲。男主角的父亲发现妻子与人有染，夫妻关系决裂。男主角的父亲将女主角和她的母亲接到家里，共同生活。不久，男主角的母亲精神失常，被送进疯人院。男主角认为一切变故应归罪於女主角的母亲，在幼小的心灵埋下怨恨的种子。 十几年后，男主角留学归来，为了报复，向女主角求婚，女主角满心欢喜答应了他。 女主角万万想不到男主角娶她是要折磨她。

在男女主角小时候，男主角的父亲失手杀死女主角的父亲。男主角的父亲发现妻子与人有染，夫妻关系决裂。男主角的父亲将女主角和她的母亲接到家里，共同生活。不久，男主角的母亲精神失常，被送进疯人院。男主角认为一切变故应归罪於女主角的母亲，在幼小的心灵埋下怨恨的种子。 十几年后，男主角留学归来，为了报复，向女主角求婚，女主角满心欢喜答应了他。 女主角万万想不到男主角娶她是要折磨她。

本片描述了一起发生在1965年美国印地安娜州宁静的田园风光下的真实的虐待儿童的罪恶事件。07年在圣丹斯电影节上映时，女主角艾莲·佩奇和凯瑟琳·基纳的表演双双得到了极高的称赞。        故事中十六岁的西尔维亚（艾莲·佩奇）和妹妹詹尼被外出做工的父母寄养在印地安娜主妇格特鲁德（凯瑟琳·基纳）的家中，原本只打算呆的几个星期很过去之后他们的父母仍然没有现身，并且从前每周寄来的20美元抚养费也断了。情绪一直不太稳定的格特鲁德共有六个孩子，五个是与前夫的孩子，最小的儿子则是她同邻里中22岁的安迪（詹姆斯·弗兰科）所生。最大的女儿宝拉只有十九岁却怀上了男友的孩子，宝拉同西尔维亚分享了这个秘密，但是西尔维亚却为了保护宝拉而不小心说了出来，结果宝拉开始向深爱她的母亲控诉西尔维亚的种种不实“罪证”，格特鲁德决定必须惩罚这个“坏女孩”。等到西尔维亚的父母前来接她们时一切都晚了，西尔维亚被关在黑暗的地下室里被施以各种难以想象的暴行，而且折磨她的不仅仅是格特鲁德一个人，还有她的五个大孩子以及邻居家一位认识西尔维亚的男孩。

本片描述了一起发生在1965年美国印地安娜州宁静的田园风光下的真实的虐待儿童的罪恶事件。07年在圣丹斯电影节上映时，女主角艾莲·佩奇和凯瑟琳·基纳的表演双双得到了极高的称赞。        故事中十六岁的西尔维亚（艾莲·佩奇）和妹妹詹尼被外出做工的父母寄养在印地安娜主妇格特鲁德（凯瑟琳·基纳）的家中，原本只打算呆的几个星期很过去之后他们的父母仍然没有现身，并且从前每周寄来的20美元抚养费也断了。情绪一直不太稳定的格特鲁德共有六个孩子，五个是与前夫的孩子，最小的儿子则是她同邻里中22岁的安迪（詹姆斯·弗兰科）所生。最大的女儿宝拉只有十九岁却怀上了男友的孩子，宝拉同西尔维亚分享了这个秘密，但是西尔维亚却为了保护宝拉而不小心说了出来，结果宝拉开始向深爱她的母亲控诉西尔维亚的种种不实“罪证”，格特鲁德决定必须惩罚这个“坏女孩”。等到西尔维亚的父母前来接她们时一切都晚了，西尔维亚被关在黑暗的地下室里被施以各种难以想象的暴行，而且折磨她的不仅仅是格特鲁德一个人，还有她的五个大孩子以及邻居家一位认识西尔维亚的男孩。