Black Tar Heroin

Veteran documentary filmmaker Steven Okazaki directs this harrowing account of Bay City youth addicted to cheap Mexican black tar heroin. Though the film does furnish some back stories, such as 18-year-old Jessica who reveals that her grandfather continuously molested her, the movie primarily focuses on the ugly day-to-day details of the junkie lifestyle. There are numerous scenes showing youths shooting up in their necks, toes, groins, or anywhere else that has an unmined vein. The film produces a depressing parade of lost and wasted youth because of the drug, including 21-year-old Jake, who in spite of being HIV positive hustles for cash, as does Jessica, who learns of her HIV status during the course of the film.