Rent Over the Edge (1979)

Dated Disaffected Youth Drama - Over the Edge review by GI

Deeply controversial in the USA to the extent its release was delayed by two years. Viewed today it fits into the cycle of disaffected youth narratives that stretch back in cinema to the days of the Dead End Kids in the 1930s and continue into the 80s. These films are always the ones that seemed to push boundaries and often gave the film censors a headache or two. This one has plenty of drug taking, petty crime especially vandalism and is trying to say something about the construction of 'perfect' townships that take no account of the needs of young people who then become anti-social, violent and utterly animalistic. Sex fails to rear its head here though! To that end it's a film that is a bit weak. This is set in the late 70s in the newly constructed town of New Granada, made up of posh new houses, apartment blocks and business premises but there's nothing for the kids except a half baked youth club which is constantly visited by the cops. The kids smoke dope, drink and generally, out of boredom, get themselves into trouble which culminates in a tragedy. The story is told through the eyes of one young man, Carl (Michael Eric Kramer) who actually never seems to do much wrong except be a bit rude to his parents and the police although by the end he is seen as the ringleader in a youth rebellion and gets sent to reform school. Interesting from the point of view of seeing a film that Kurt Cobain raved about and for Matt Dillon's film debut but it lacks impact today.