tom_golik I first saw this years ago on cable, and thought it was slightly overdone. Fast forward to today, and the case of Tyler Hadley in Port St. Lucie, FL, who killed his parents so he could throw the best house party ever. (His parents spent the party in their bedroom, dead.) The articles written about it stressed the kids desensitized to violence because of how little there was for kids to do in town except do drugs and commit crimes. Sound familiar? I couldn't help but think of this movie, and how they got it right more than they got it wrong. Do yourself a favor and search this one out. It's well worth it.

umichjal This film was well ahead of its time - Removing the blinders off suburban societal problems. The 'burnout' era was on the backside of style, and those fleeting rays of teen angst & frustration were closing on a generation following the '60s hippie wave. The music, clothes, language, and visualization all intertwine - telling a story that will leave you wondering 'where did we go wrong' raising our kids?

viewsonfilm.com Over the Edge is an intense teen drama that marks the acting debut of Matt Dillon (he had no formal training before the cameras rolled). For me, this stands as one of the best films of the 1970's (released in the U.S. in 1981) and a clear bonified snapshot of that era. This is a well acted, angst driven vehicle with many unknowns (it marked the first screen appearances for a majority of the cast members). It tells the story of some troubled Colorado kids who cause havoc (gunfire, vandalism, drug dealing, etc...) in their neighborhood at the expense of their mostly misunderstood parents.Director Jonathan Kaplan (admittedly) filmed a lot of scenes with wide shots that let things play out naturally. It's a cinematic technique that was prevalent in that decade. I found the method very effective and in turn hail this flick as a minor classic. There is a time capsule type feeling to what's on screen. It's intoxicating and "Edge" concludes with what I believe to be an ironically powerful ending. Watch for the image of Dillon (Richie White) standing on top of a police car. It's iconic!

barroter I can't offer any new observations on this movie, except like many of you it was a timewarp back my own junior high school years of the late 70's. The depiction of what those kids did then was pretty on spot. I also think the parents shown ,in the movie, was accurate as well.Like New Granada, we were bored and pretty much left to our own devices to find entertainment. We managed to con our parents and adults long enough to get away with most of what we did.For the longest time I thought it was just my particular generation and our area that was screwed up in the head...that was until I saw this movie. I swear there was lot of anger in us and it took itself out in guerrilla style rebellion against anything the adults held Holy.Then as now, I can point out supposed stable adults who were alcoholics, gamblers, kid/wife beaters, druggies and general losers as people.Then as now, kids spot hypocrisy fairly fast.