Lucky Lehrer, drummer from US punk band The Circle Jerks, states that the hardcore movement of the early 1980s grew out of a desire to tell President Regan and ‘normal’ America to stick the American Dream ‘up their asses’. American Hardcore, directed by Paul Rachman with a screenplay by Stephen Blush, documents the spread of this radical subculture across America.

The film intersperses interviews with live footage of the bands. Hardcore was strictly a do-it-yourself movement that received no support from any authority figures. Concerts were held at friends’ parties, people’s houses, and any club that would have them. The Teen Idles hand-made all of the covers for their first seven inch single. This DIY element is reflected in the quality of the live footage: all of it is filmed from the audience perspective with a handheld camera. The adrenaline rush of 32-second songs and the cathartic lyrics is conveyed, but the vision is sometimes lost in the chaos of shots of the audience flinging each other around.

The Hardcore movement spread at a community level. When Black Flag and The Circle Jerks toured they stayed with other bands; forming alliances and helping each other to find an authentic voice. Despite this, hardcore was mostly ambivalent towards women and the scene was prone to violence. By 1985, the key players began to feel disillusioned. The more accomplished musicians grew tired of the limited musical format and the violence. It was over.

American Hardcore follows the fascinating development of a community-based musical movement, rippling out across the US with no assistance from the mainstream music business. The film remains close to the independent spirit of hardcore punk, reaffirming what can be achieved when you find your own tribe and express yourself with commitment, determination and’in this case’balls.