Over the Edge *** (1979, Matt Dillon, Michael Eric Kramer, Pamela Ludwig, Vincent Spano) – Classic Movie Review 8223

Matt Dillon makes his movie début at 15, already exuding confidence and charisma as Richie, one of the bored teenage rebels without a cause who play with guns, abuse drink and drugs, and taunt cops, parents and teachers, in director Jonathan Kaplan’s powerful 1979 tale of alienated youth Over the Edge.

Charlie S Haas and Tim Hunter’s taut and intense screenplay is firmly on the side of the youngsters and against the smug apathy of the various authority figures. Michael Eric Kramer, Pamela Ludwig, Vincent Spano also star as Carl, Cory and Mark.

The excellent soundtrack includes work from Ray Davies, Jimi Hendrix, Van Halen, Cheap Trick and The Ramones.

Also in the cast are Tom Fergus, Andy Romano, Ellen Geer, Lane Smith, Harry Northup, Richard Jamison, Julia Pomeroy, Tiger Thompson, Eric Lalich, Kim Kliner and Kristina Hanson.

Over the Edge runs 95 minutes, is made by George Litto Productions and Orion Pictures, is released by Warner Bros, is shot by Andrew Davis in Technicolor, is produced by George Litto, is scored by Sol Kaplan and is designed by James William Newport.

Kaplan shot it in 36 days in the suburbs of greater Denver Colorado near a community co-developed alongside the Columbine community.

Dillon just went to the audition so he could skip school.

Haas bases his story on events in the planned community of Foster City, California, in the early Seventies.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8223

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