"Wild Style" Director Charlie Ahearn Filmed This Compelling Short Film of Times Square in the '80s

This is what New York City was really like back in the day.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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New York City was a very different place in the 1980s, especially areas like Times Square that were littered with druggies, hookers, peep show viewers, and other sketchy characters. Charlie Ahearn, the director of the classic hip-hop/graffiti film Wild Style, lived near the den of sin and sometimes sat near his window recording the craziness that was happening on the streets.

Between 1981 and 1983, Ahearn produced the 40-minute short film, titled Doin' Time in Times SquareAhearn intercuts the footage of violence, hedonism, neon, and chaos with clips of his family decorating the Christmas tree, a cat playing with a dead mouse, and random moments with his children. According to Gothamist, the film has been called "the home video from hell," and we can definitely see why. We'll pass on the old New York, thank you very much.

Watch the film above. 

[via Gothamist]

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