You remember Nancy Reagan saying, “Just Say No!”

These weren’t realistic portrayals of hard-core narcotic abuse.

They were specious fluff pieces about how drugs could rip away your potential and your future.

Matt Dillon and Kelly Lynch in Drugstore Cowboy

Image Via Avenue Pictures

They were glorified Public Service Announcements.

Cast

A pharmacy-robbing dope fiend and his crew pop pills and evade the law.

It set the bar for realistic abuse and the hazardous side effects.

Cast Placeholder Image

A pharmacy-robbing dope fiend and his crew pop pills and evade the law.

Well before he played the notorious Hannibal Lecter, Mads Mikkelsen’s on-screen career launched with this disturbing character.

Not the well-dressed hipster in a sports car sniffing some coke until he gets a nosebleed.

Like being hugged by Jesus Christ, or Buddha, or whatever higher power you may recognize.

instar52842375.jpg

The adrenaline rush you get watching them pull it off is intoxicating itself.

Disclaimer: Don’t!

This is in no way an endorsement of illegal drug use!

instar53428319.jpg

Van Sant just has an uncanny knack for making it almost appealing with his unique shooting and cutting style.

But just like inRequiem, the highs are ephemeral and fleeting.

It is a “what can you do for me?”

Pusher-Mads-Mikkelsen-1

mentality and Bob ends up making a deal with David for more drugs of his own.

It’s what hardcore addicts do.

There is no window dressing of this vicious existence.

Kelly Lynch, Matt Dillon, Heather Graham, and James le Gros in Drugstore Cowboy

Image Via Avenue Pictures

This is another downside to being known as a habitual thief and dope fiend.

The dialogue is real.

The vernacular is everything you have seen on voyeuristic abuseshows likeInterventionor an HBO documentary.

James Remar in Drugstore Cowboy

Image Via Avenue Pictures

Of course not.Drugstore Cowboyis authentic in this regard as well.

Her face and lips are a steely blue, and she’s stiff as a board.

The films that followed includeRush,Danny Boyle’sTrainspotting,Leaving Las Vegas, andPermanent Midnight.

Kelly Lynch and Matt Dillon in Drusgtore Cowboy

Image Via Avenue Pictures

They are all fantastic films that follow in the footsteps ofDrugstore Cowboy.

Drugstore Cowboyis available to watch on Tubi.

William S. Burroughs and Matt Dillon in Drugstore Cowboy

Image Via Avenue Pictures