R.I.P. Danny Steinmann

Our brothers in blood have posted that Danny Steinmann, director of Savage Streets, Friday the 13th Part 5: A New Beginning and The Unseen, has passed on. Reports on The Latarnia Forums popped up a few days ago and I had yet to see a confirmation. This is a very sad day for me as he was a director that I don’t think got the respect deserved to him. Cause of death is undetermined at this time.

I previously met the man at the spring show of Cinema Wasteland 2009 and honestly, he was involved in one of my favorite memories of Wasteland. My friends and many attendees of the convention huddled into a room to watch what many think is the worst entry in the Friday the 13th series. I never felt this way towards the film but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a lot of fun with itself either. My friends and I sat back, drank Jameson and beer and just had one of the best times of our convention experience as Steinmann and Felsher did a running commentary over Friday the 13th Part 5: A New Beginning. I was rolling on the floor. Steinmann came across as a working director but knew that he put all of these odd things into this film as a laugh.

Not to mention that Steinmann directed one of my favorite 80’s revenge films in Savage Streets. I love the film. It is unapologetic and reflective of 80’s culture and Linda Blair pretty much kicks ass. When we showed the film for Late Nite Grindhouse back in 2011, a majority of attendees had never seen the film before but they walked out loving it.

What Steinmann brought to all of his films was a sense of sleazy fun> While that may feel like a harsh thing to say in light of this news, I think otherwise. It is what made his voice unique. Sure, he could have made another standard entry in an iconic series or even done a sub-par rape/revenge film to cash in on the craze. However, his contribution was lighthearted with tongues firmly planted in cheeks.

I hope that you will give A New Beginning or Savage Streets a spin if you have it and if not, you should at least purchase Savage Streets as it was just re-released. We have provided the link below so you can correct the error.

Rest in Peace Danny.

1942-2012