A lot of a young person’s life is defined by what music s/he listens to, the clothes s/he wears, and the people s/he chooses to hang around with. By dividing themselves thus, youth often form subcultures in order to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Often, these subcultures help form a lot of the opinions a person has about life and how that person will act from then on, even into adulthood. Movies about certain subcultures often appeal particularly to that niche appearing as their subculture-only the best move past that to become universal. Here, then, are my rental picks for the top youth subculture movies, all of which combine the highlights and lowlights of being young with vivid images and memorable soundtracks.

Quadrophenia (1979)
Starring: Phil Daniels, Sting
Director: Franc Roddam

The subculture examined here is Britain’s Mod scene, a youth subculture of the mid-’60s defined by flashy dress, Vespa and Lambretta scooters, pill-popping, and a love of American R&B. The definitive Mod band was The Who, and their 1973 album forms the basis and soundtrack for this film. Daniels plays Jimmy, a Mod just out of high school whose life is going nowhere. Throughout the course of the film, he drinks, uses drugs, fights, wins and loses a girl, and frustratedly realizes the futility of his subculture’s young ideals. Sting turns in a remarkable performance in his film debut as the Ace Face, the coolest of the Mods, whose true character is subtly revealed in the film’s climax. Along with classic Who tracks are several R&B hits from the era, providing an excellent soundtrack for this film about youthful frustration.

The Harder They Come (1972)
Starring: Jimmy Cliff, Basil Keane
Director: Perry Henzel

The story of a rude boy (reggae star Jimmy Cliff) in the ghetto of Kingston, Jamaica, “The Harder They Come” has an almost casual view of the violent nature of Kingston’s youth. The film would be a fairly obvious thriller/action/coming-of-age film without the touches that separate it from mainstream Hollywood fare:gritty realism, honest performances, and an amazing soundtrack featuring several songs by Cliff-the title track is a particular standout-as well as Toots and the Maytal’s “Pressure Drop,” which is used to accentuate one of the best movie chase scenes of all time.

The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)
Starring: Black Flag, Fear, the Circle Jerks, X
Director: Penelope Spheeris

Unlike the other films mentioned, “Decline” is a documentary about the L.A. punk scene during the late ’70s and into the early ’80s. Featuring blistering performances by Black Flag, X, and especially the crowd-baiting Fear, the film is a testament to both the power of the music and the blatantly obvious stupidity of some of its fans and artists-most notably, Darby Crash of Fear, who had died of a heroin overdose by the time the film was released. The film is by turns depressing, exhilarating, and hilarious, as punk youth interviewed by director Spheeris (“Wayne’s World”) make some of the stupidest and most unintentionally funny comments in film history.

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