Over the Edge

PG

1979

1 hr. 35 min.

Drama

List

85%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

84%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

With only a recreation center to distract them, most of the teenagers in the drab planned community of New Granada have turned to drugs and delinquency. Carl (Michael Kramer), the son of a town councilman, is an exception, but he can't seem to help falling in with a charismatic and troubled classmate, Richie (Matt Dillon). Soon after, a trigger-happy sheriff (Harry Northrup) shoots Richie, and sole witness Carl has to go on the run, eventually inciting a dramatic teenage riot.

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Jonathan C

I don't know how the script fares, it started out ok. The music is very corny mid/late 70s type stuff, all kinds of cues to indicate that you're supposed to be empathetic like "aawwwe, those poor teenagers are just so misunderstood". It does not hold up against the passage of time like true cinematic giants of the same timeframe. Even CARRIE (1976) utilized the same music style with more tastefulness, so unless you're unwilling or unable to grasp a world without cell phones or internet, it's a lot easier to digest. Of course, CARRIE centers around an actual victim whereas this movie is about kids who shoot BBguns at moving vehicles and expect to get away with it, which may have impacted my appreciation of the film. I understand boredom can result in some ugly things, but I would have preferred to see everything unfold naturally and not be shepherded into feeling a specific way about it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/13/24

Full Review

Richard V

Was like a trip back to my youth. Accurately captures the music, attitudes, dress, of the year in which it was filmed (and the late 70s in general). In that sense it is more authentic than DAZED AND CONFUSED (which I also love and which is VERY authentic in its own way). Highly recommend this film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/23/23

Full Review

H.A. G

In my opinion this movie really captures the angst and anger kids of the mid to late 70's actually felt and the true disconnect adults had in addressing solutions to juvenile behavior. These kids were fresh off the heels of growing up with Vietnam, a struggling economy, gas shortages, Watergate and dealing with the first generation of parents who raised them as "latchkey" kids. It also captures (albeit to an extreme) a lot of the realities kids dealt with at that time from not having a positive outlet for their energy/problems/parents and authority figures who abused their power. From drug and alcohol use, vandalism, parties (and great music), this movie seemed like a reenactment of my high school life from ‘74-‘78.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/04/22

Full Review

joe r

Over The Edge is a gripping movie that will keep you watching it until the end. The story is very good, as well as the immersion, and the songs played throughout the movie are even better. I highly recommend you watch this movie it is great.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An excellent coming of age picture, disguised as an exploitation flick. It's ripe with symbolism of American suburbs being under constant construction and the rebellion of disenchanted youth. The performances are raw and have an authenticity that's not often seen.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/16/22

Full Review

Audience Member

It's important that we remember that kids have limited attention spans, or at least they used to. Unless it's something they really love, you're not going to have an audience for long. "Over the Edge" expands on this notion into deep, dark territory. We're faced with two sides of our nation's youth: the innocence and the fury. Kaplan did a terrific job of blending the two.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

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Jonathan Kaplan

Director

Michael Eric Kramer

Carl

Pamela Ludwig

Cory

Matt Dillon

Richie

Vincent Spano

Mark

Tom Fergus

Claude

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

This allegory of an America ever under construction examines, in a nuanced, even-handed manner, the money-obsessed mindset of adults, parents and entrenched authorities no less than the hostile recalcitrance of errant youth on their road to nowhere.

Jun 1, 2021

Full Review

Bruce McCabe

Boston Globe

Jonathan Kaplan's Over the Edge is a sensitive and deceptively shocking portrait of middle-class decadence and alienation set against an impersonal, dehumanized, futuristic Sunbelt society.

Apr 28, 2018

Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Script, photography and performances (including Dillon before he decided to become a teenage Stallone) are all top notch, while Kaplan directs with pace, imagination, and a fine ear for dialogue and music.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Despite the sympathetic slant toward the kids, this isn’t a simplistic “us vs. them” screed.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 24, 2024

Full Review

Larry Vitacco

Philadelphia Gay News

This genre has spawned more unmemorable films than quality ones; sadly, Over the Edge falls into the former category.

Rated: 1/4

May 27, 2020

Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Planned suburbia, teenage wasteland

Sep 25, 2009

Full Review

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Synopsis

With only a recreation center to distract them, most of the teenagers in the drab planned community of New Granada have turned to drugs and delinquency. Carl (Michael Kramer), the son of a town councilman, is an exception, but he can't seem to help falling in with a charismatic and troubled classmate, Richie (Matt Dillon). Soon after, a trigger-happy sheriff (Harry Northrup) shoots Richie, and sole witness Carl has to go on the run, eventually inciting a dramatic teenage riot.

Director: Jonathan Kaplan
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 11, 2015

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