Summer of Sam

This is less about the 1977 exploits of serial killer 'Son of Sam' and more about the tensions that concurrently arise in an Italian-American New York neighbourhood: not only does a local Capo's decision to rid the 'hood of the murderous scourge through vigilante methods foster paranoia, suspicion and violence, but the culture clash between macho wiseguys and gays, disco straights and a punk just back from England results in a scenario not so very different from Do the Right Thing. Trouble is, the overlong narrative, however entertaining from minute to minute, is a mess: Sam's (sometimes comically depicted) reign of terror sheds no light on the dynamics of society at large, the characterisation is uneven, and there are a few too many stereotypes on view for comfort - Italian-Americans, especially, may not applaud the almost blanket depiction of them as violently homophobic, misogynist boors.