Over the Edge (1979): Before Matt Dillon was...Matt Dillon

Okay, so I'm on a bit of a '70s kick having devoured all the Hal Ashby I could find. I decided, on a whim, to check out "Over the Edge" (1979). I knew literally nothing about it going in except it had Matt Dillon in his film debut. And wow, what a debut! He's already got that Dillon swagger turned up to eleven. But honestly, the movie itself completely blew me away. It's like, a super raw and surprisingly bleak look at teenage disaffection. New Granada is this planned community that’s basically a prison for these kids. What REALLY struck me was how well the film captured that feeling of being completely trapped and ignored. The scene with the community meeting where the adults are just completely dismissive of the teens' concerns? Ugh, I felt that in my soul. Also, the soundtrack is chef's kiss. Cheap Trick and Van Halen blasting while they're just, like, slowly imploding is genius. I'm looking up director Jonathan Kaplan's filmography now, because I'm definitely intetested in more of his films. I can see how this film became a cult classic. While the acting isn't always polished (it's some of these actors' first time on film, you know!), the core message of youthful rage and the search for something real really resonated with me. And I loved the ending, which I'm not going to spoil, but its not a neatly wrapped up, feel-good ending, which makes it feel far more authentic. Just one minor gripe – the pacing lagged a tiny bit in the middle. But honestly, that's nitpicking. "Over the Edge" is a punch in the gut and a stark reminder that sometimes, the most dangerous thing you can do to a teenager is bore them to death. Definitely worth a watch, especailly if you dig 70's films! I'd give it a solid 4/5 stars.