Reviews (270)

Extremely real and honestly painful
This film is not made for "kids"--it's no Disney film; rather it shows a painfully accurate picture of a group of young adults. This film is about kids living in the drug-friendly, over-sexed, "just do it" world of the late 20th century.

I first saw this film in the theater. I knew it would be a hard film to watch; that's an understatement. You'll find some interesting parts of the film that may bring back some adolescent feelings of insecurity and curiousity about sex. I think we all harbored these feelings to some extent when when we were teenagers. What really hit me hard is the main focus of the movie: STDs. I won't spoil the plot for you because if I tell you any more I may risk destroying the experience this movie gives first time viewers. I hope no one else has spoiled the plot line for you.

Although it sounds unorthodox, I think they should show this film in ALL highschool (11th or 12th grade) sex/health classes. If I had seen it when I was 17 I would have had a better understanding of the consequences unprotected sex can bring.

This film is extremely real -- watch with caution and an open mind.

A depressing and numbing view the idle times of kids
"Kids" goes right to the heart of everything that parents fear will become of their children. The youths that inhabit this film are not just wayward... they are violent, amoral kids whose state of evolution seems to have regressed to something more primal. The male lead, if you can call him that, in this movie is a truly horrific animal named Telly (played with scary realism by actor Leo Fitzpatrick). Telly seems to exist for no other reason than drink, get high, get into fights, and, oh yeah, deflower as many virgins as possible. He cajoles his conquests by telling them exactly what they want to hear, and once he's accomplished his mission, he will have nothing to do with them. He says he prefers them because they aren't all dirty or have diseases. Yet, the irony is, he is unknowingly carrying the AIDS virus around and endangering his conquests because it would seem that one of his 'virgins' was not quite honest with him. It's not hard to see how Telly can become such a monster. He has no moral compass around which to develop. One brief scene takes place during a brief stopover at his house before he and his friend, Casper, take off for more mayhem. His mother is sitting in the living room, folding laundry and watching TV while being almost totally oblivious to Telly being there. When Telly asks for some money, she says no and asks him when he's going to get a job, he just says that he's looking and then he goes into her room and takes some money, anyway. She wouldn't know if it was missing.
The actual plot of this movie, as thin as it is, focuses on a girl named Jennie (who was one of Telly's conquests) searching the streets of the city to find Telly and stop his virgin conquest because of the AIDS virus she just found out he gave her. Her search is intercut with scenes of a brutal gang beating by Telly and his friends of guy who popped off his mouth, club kids engaging in animalistic carnal behavior, and a morally bankrupt party where kids as young as 10 are drinking up, getting high and participating in even more carnal behavior.
"Kids" gets a positive rating because there is nothing phony about its unflinching view of the existence of kids with too much time on their hands and no direction in their lives. It does not get a higher rating because the images are extremely graphic and difficult to digest. This movie is not for everyone, but, if someone feels the can handle the subject matter, it is a valid tale.

Uncompromising
First off, "Kids" is a phenomenal movie in absolutely every respect. Harmony Korine's script is amazing (I can already tell I am going to run out of superlatives.) It blows me away that someone so young could write something so self-assured, so masterful. The performances are impossibly real. Add to this Clark's voyeuristic, documentary style and the result is some of the most uncompromising naturalism in cinematic history.

Kids is the kind of movie that makes mainstream filmmakers blanch. It is also the kind of movie that makes mainstream film goers confused and angry. Naturalism has never been a particularly popular style of theatre. If a viewer doesn't have an appreciation for the style, he/she may think the film lacking. Naturalism depicts life objectively, imposing no value judgements. The question of value is left up to the observer, the viewer. It does not shy away from ugliness or uncomfortable situations. Naturalism is often seen as nihilistic, but that is the challenge that is presents. Being truer to life than other dramatic forms, it's meaning is more obscured.

Many have interpreted "Kids" to be a "wake up call" concerning the growing menace AIDS poses to young people (I think it was even printed on the box cover.) That is one interpretation. I see a much more sinister theme at the heart of "Kids." For me, AIDS just served as a metaphor for a diseased culture. These kids are sick mentally and emotionally. To me, these hopeless characters represent an entire generation of lost youth. Their general apathy and animalistic hedonism is a perfectly understandable response to the empty, violent, plastic, consumer/commercial culture that raised them. Yes, they are contracting AIDS; but what about those that escape it? What are they going to do with their lives? Of course, this is just my interpretation. The film itself remains objective and impartial. In fact, I think Korine would disagree with me and that is why I love this movie so much.

Watch this if you like powerful, unflinching films that challenge assumptions and make lasting impressions.

MAJOR WAKE-UP CALL
When it first came out, my daughter (then a teen) said "You don't want to see it, Mom"...so I didn't see it, I buried my head in the sand. Until a couple of women in an HIV prevention group I run encouraged me to see it...WOW...talk about blowing the illusion of "safety in numbers"...The movie is powerful, wonderfully filmed, raw and honest and terrifying. A young Latina, zealously guarded by her family ("don't get a boyfriend", but perhaps no explanation as to WHY to stay away from boyfriends) is easily seduced by a young boy who only has sex with virgins, so he won't catch any diseases. Later, one of his virgin victims learns she is HIV positive and you ask yourself, HOW? How,when he only does virgins and he was her first and only...the answer to that question blew me away. HOW can anyone REMEMBER what or who they do when they are high and drunk and passed out or in a black out? How can these, or any, kids survive and flourish in a place where parents are unavailable for whatever reason (work) or excuse (drugging, immature themselves) and the wolves come in peer-sized packages? Major wake up call, people...parents, teachers, friends, families, survivors, recovering people...UNITE...GET INFORMED, GET INVOLVED...SAVE THE KIDS.

Unforgettable...But not neccesarily a great movie.
Now I must start out by saying this is not the best movie ever made nor the worst. However,it is really hard to forget.Leo
Fitzpatrick in a horrible,but again unforgettable performance plays Telly,a punk kid whose life revolves around deflowering young,extremely young virgins.Now besides the fact he is deflowering 12 year old girls and certain things like that,he also has HIV and doesn't realize it.The person who comes to realize this is Jenny(Academy Award Nominee Chloe Sevigny
"Best Supporting Actress "Boys Don't Cry") who tests positive for the virus from her one night with Telly. Now after the opening scene which features Telly with a twelve year old girl buttering her up to get in her pants,he goes out to meet his friend Casper and they go shoplift some beer and end up at a flophouse.Telly then tells Casper he has his eyes set on yet another virgin named Darcy.Meanwhile we have Jenny searching the streets trying to stop Telly before he spreads the virus.Now people may ask how Telly has HIV when all he likes is virgins.
Well,could it possibly be because one of the girls wasn't a virgin? I'm just sayin'. Anyway the film is well written but takes too long to get to the point.The ending of the film is so genuinely sick that it's almost likeable.From the opening sequence to fade out "Kids" in an unforgettable sick film ... Read more

Reviews (270)

Extremely real and honestly painful
This film is not made for "kids"--it's no Disney film; rather it shows a painfully accurate picture of a group of young adults. This film is about kids living in the drug-friendly, over-sexed, "just do it" world of the late 20th century.

I first saw this film in the theater. I knew it would be a hard film to watch; that's an understatement. You'll find some interesting parts of the film that may bring back some adolescent feelings of insecurity and curiousity about sex. I think we all harbored these feelings to some extent when when we were teenagers. What really hit me hard is the main focus of the movie: STDs. I won't spoil the plot for you because if I tell you any more I may risk destroying the experience this movie gives first time viewers. I hope no one else has spoiled the plot line for you.

Although it sounds unorthodox, I think they should show this film in ALL highschool (11th or 12th grade) sex/health classes. If I had seen it when I was 17 I would have had a better understanding of the consequences unprotected sex can bring.

This film is extremely real -- watch with caution and an open mind.

A depressing and numbing view the idle times of kids
"Kids" goes right to the heart of everything that parents fear will become of their children. The youths that inhabit this film are not just wayward... they are violent, amoral kids whose state of evolution seems to have regressed to something more primal. The male lead, if you can call him that, in this movie is a truly horrific animal named Telly (played with scary realism by actor Leo Fitzpatrick). Telly seems to exist for no other reason than drink, get high, get into fights, and, oh yeah, deflower as many virgins as possible. He cajoles his conquests by telling them exactly what they want to hear, and once he's accomplished his mission, he will have nothing to do with them. He says he prefers them because they aren't all dirty or have diseases. Yet, the irony is, he is unknowingly carrying the AIDS virus around and endangering his conquests because it would seem that one of his 'virgins' was not quite honest with him. It's not hard to see how Telly can become such a monster. He has no moral compass around which to develop. One brief scene takes place during a brief stopover at his house before he and his friend, Casper, take off for more mayhem. His mother is sitting in the living room, folding laundry and watching TV while being almost totally oblivious to Telly being there. When Telly asks for some money, she says no and asks him when he's going to get a job, he just says that he's looking and then he goes into her room and takes some money, anyway. She wouldn't know if it was missing.
The actual plot of this movie, as thin as it is, focuses on a girl named Jennie (who was one of Telly's conquests) searching the streets of the city to find Telly and stop his virgin conquest because of the AIDS virus she just found out he gave her. Her search is intercut with scenes of a brutal gang beating by Telly and his friends of guy who popped off his mouth, club kids engaging in animalistic carnal behavior, and a morally bankrupt party where kids as young as 10 are drinking up, getting high and participating in even more carnal behavior.
"Kids" gets a positive rating because there is nothing phony about its unflinching view of the existence of kids with too much time on their hands and no direction in their lives. It does not get a higher rating because the images are extremely graphic and difficult to digest. This movie is not for everyone, but, if someone feels the can handle the subject matter, it is a valid tale.

Uncompromising
First off, "Kids" is a phenomenal movie in absolutely every respect. Harmony Korine's script is amazing (I can already tell I am going to run out of superlatives.) It blows me away that someone so young could write something so self-assured, so masterful. The performances are impossibly real. Add to this Clark's voyeuristic, documentary style and the result is some of the most uncompromising naturalism in cinematic history.

Kids is the kind of movie that makes mainstream filmmakers blanch. It is also the kind of movie that makes mainstream film goers confused and angry. Naturalism has never been a particularly popular style of theatre. If a viewer doesn't have an appreciation for the style, he/she may think the film lacking. Naturalism depicts life objectively, imposing no value judgements. The question of value is left up to the observer, the viewer. It does not shy away from ugliness or uncomfortable situations. Naturalism is often seen as nihilistic, but that is the challenge that is presents. Being truer to life than other dramatic forms, it's meaning is more obscured.

Many have interpreted "Kids" to be a "wake up call" concerning the growing menace AIDS poses to young people (I think it was even printed on the box cover.) That is one interpretation. I see a much more sinister theme at the heart of "Kids." For me, AIDS just served as a metaphor for a diseased culture. These kids are sick mentally and emotionally. To me, these hopeless characters represent an entire generation of lost youth. Their general apathy and animalistic hedonism is a perfectly understandable response to the empty, violent, plastic, consumer/commercial culture that raised them. Yes, they are contracting AIDS; but what about those that escape it? What are they going to do with their lives? Of course, this is just my interpretation. The film itself remains objective and impartial. In fact, I think Korine would disagree with me and that is why I love this movie so much.

Watch this if you like powerful, unflinching films that challenge assumptions and make lasting impressions.

MAJOR WAKE-UP CALL
When it first came out, my daughter (then a teen) said "You don't want to see it, Mom"...so I didn't see it, I buried my head in the sand. Until a couple of women in an HIV prevention group I run encouraged me to see it...WOW...talk about blowing the illusion of "safety in numbers"...The movie is powerful, wonderfully filmed, raw and honest and terrifying. A young Latina, zealously guarded by her family ("don't get a boyfriend", but perhaps no explanation as to WHY to stay away from boyfriends) is easily seduced by a young boy who only has sex with virgins, so he won't catch any diseases. Later, one of his virgin victims learns she is HIV positive and you ask yourself, HOW? How,when he only does virgins and he was her first and only...the answer to that question blew me away. HOW can anyone REMEMBER what or who they do when they are high and drunk and passed out or in a black out? How can these, or any, kids survive and flourish in a place where parents are unavailable for whatever reason (work) or excuse (drugging, immature themselves) and the wolves come in peer-sized packages? Major wake up call, people...parents, teachers, friends, families, survivors, recovering people...UNITE...GET INFORMED, GET INVOLVED...SAVE THE KIDS.

Unforgettable...But not neccesarily a great movie.
Now I must start out by saying this is not the best movie ever made nor the worst. However,it is really hard to forget.Leo
Fitzpatrick in a horrible,but again unforgettable performance plays Telly,a punk kid whose life revolves around deflowering young,extremely young virgins.Now besides the fact he is deflowering 12 year old girls and certain things like that,he also has HIV and doesn't realize it.The person who comes to realize this is Jenny(Academy Award Nominee Chloe Sevigny
"Best Supporting Actress "Boys Don't Cry") who tests positive for the virus from her one night with Telly. Now after the opening scene which features Telly with a twelve year old girl buttering her up to get in her pants,he goes out to meet his friend Casper and they go shoplift some beer and end up at a flophouse.Telly then tells Casper he has his eyes set on yet another virgin named Darcy.Meanwhile we have Jenny searching the streets trying to stop Telly before he spreads the virus.Now people may ask how Telly has HIV when all he likes is virgins.
Well,could it possibly be because one of the girls wasn't a virgin? I'm just sayin'. Anyway the film is well written but takes too long to get to the point.The ending of the film is so genuinely sick that it's almost likeable.From the opening sequence to fade out "Kids" in an unforgettable sick film ... Read more

Reviews (143)

oddly made
I really wanted to like this movie...So I watched the film. At first I was interested and then let down. The dialogue seemed to be very forced and unauthentic, there was pointless sex (yes, we know that teens have sex and lots of it, so we don't need countless crotch-shots) and parts of the script were just odd. It has many unrealistic portrayals of teens and I found myself laughing at times and others, just embarrassed for Larry Clark, who really tries to be hip. There is an explicit rape scene, which I must admit, is impressive in its intensity, but I was left confused afterward. Nick Stahl rapes Bijou Phillips and then she runs out of the bedroom and tells Rachel Miner she's been raped and runs outside bumping into Stahl's father. He walks inside and into his bathroom, where he meets Stahl, who is still naked and the two spark up a conversation about a stereo store they had been talking about. Why was this included? I found that it just destroyed the mood set by the previous scene.

There is also a major problem with casting credibility. I had a hard time believing that Stahl, with his relatively small physique, could bully Brad Renfro, who is much larger. On a purely psychological level however, Stahl is masterful in creating a truly creepy character and I don't doubt that a large part of the bullying aspect is the psychological part of it. I think if the two switched roles, we would have a far more believable story. On a closer look, the actors do an admirable job of creating such stupid kids. But I felt bad for the actors, in the hands of another director this could have been made into a masterpiece that doesn't rely on exploiting them.

Parts of the film seemed to be accepted too easily. Someone mentions killing Stahl and everyone's just like, "yeah, sounds like a plan". I eventually felt sympathy for Stahl's character and could care less about Renfro and his co-horts, which I suspect is exactly the point; that it was Rachel Miner (who herself had many bad acting scenes) who was the vicious one.

If you liked Kids, you should adore this. I would urge people to seek out Clark's other film "Another Day In Paradise" if you haven't. Also, "Bully" is based on a true story from the early nineties, which left me asking, "why are the actors watching Eminem videos in the film, when he was only going through puberty in the early nineties?" I don't know.

After the murder, the film does pick up. The dialogue gets better, and there is even some good satire about teen/parental relationships. The last moments of the film are powerful, when we see Clark playng a cameo of the hitman's father. The last scene, of the kids in a courtroom is also very good, with them still bickering like morons. And then we see each character and the sentence they receive, where the film abrubtly end with no music for a few seconds, that I thought made quite an impact.

The film is definitely worth watching, and no doubt some will enjoy (although "enjoy" may not be the right word) it immensly, but I couldn't help feeling like a shock-artist had tried to put one over on me.

Surreal!
I just happen to run across this movie and had heard some hype but still did not know the premise until actually watching. Very chilling, sad and strangely funny. I could not believe that slackers like this actually still exist anywhere outside of a Hollywood film then to learn that "Bully" was based on true events which took place in my state-too much!

All of the characters are brilliantly portrayed and very convincing (esp. Brad Renfro who has some real-life problems). The kids seem to possess no moral fiber, no real compassion or understanding of human life. Their families don't seem to be terribly dysfunctional and yet they all sit around doing lots of drugs, having irresponsible, gratuitous sex and sponging off their folks. Only two had jobs!

This lack of moral fiber provides the story with an evil villian-the bully, who is a real piece of work as he inflicts his violence on everyone. Of course, the rest of the slackers decide to band together and take him out. This is really where the film gets scary-their complete wild, reckless abandonment and disregard for human life.

A riveting film with a fabulous cast-a definite hit in my books. Also must say that Brad Renfro sure did grow up nicely!

Bully
I wouldn't really call this film 'explicit' or 'shocking' per se, but it does leave its effect on you. The film does have its fare share of sex, but nothing pornographic; exploitative perhaps, especially with the young actors and all, but nothing 'pert. to porn'. Personally I preferred Clark's previous film 'Kids' much more. Despite being based on actual happenings, this film didn't really seem ( to me ) to have a sense of reality. Usually I would attribute that as a good thing, but most of this just looks like it was something done up for an MTV special. This first half of the film I didn't particularly like: mainly just consisting of aimless sex and drug use... Which is fine and all, but should be made better use of. The second half of the film does get substantially better: after the crime has been committed, the character's emotions and states of mind quickly condense and implode in on them; which is orchestrated very well. It's not a bad film, but it's not a great film... It is good though. My favorite character was actually Lisa's friend Claudia ( I believe it was ), who seemed like the conscience of a film drenched with apathy. Too bad more use wasn't made of her :(.

Porn or Important film?
This is about the infamous case of Marty Puccio murdering his best friend in Florida a few years back. The movie is mostly just a raunchy fabrication with splashes of truth mixed in. But thats expected. The media hardly ever portrays the actual truth and in this case it makes for some very effective viewing.

You will see this and think about it long and hard and then google up the case and read up on the facts. Perhaps that is the point. It will effect you, you'll want to know more.

As with all Larry Clark films, nudity and sex is ever-present. And with all Larry clark films, its slightly unneccesary. Theres unneeded crotch shots of 90lb Bijou Phillips, added scenes of explicit sex that has nothing to do with the plot and tons of shots of Rachel Miner simply lounging around in the nude for no reason at all. Sure, some of the sex is very important to the plot but 80% of it is just there for shock value or masturbatory purposes.

Larry Clark is indeed a perverted man. But thats no secret. Just keep this in mind when you turn the dvd on and look around the corner to make sure the kids are still sleeping and the parents are busy.

Overall, the movie is important. Its powerful and the raunchy additives add to the grusome details but in some parts its overdone in the sex department. If you've got an open mind and you're willing to sit through several explicit scenes then you should certainly get this movie. Otherwise, don't bother. You'll just be offended or simply annoyed.

he is a smart director with so much potential
This movie is one of my favorites Larry Clark knows how to make learning lessons interesting and fun. In kids it was all about learning how aids can get around so fast. This one is a learning how killing someone is not the right way to go and how you plan is not how the murder will end up.If you watch his movies for more than sex and drugs you will see a true message behind each one. He knows how to truly get inside peoples heads and make them think he is a director that thinks outside the box and directs his attention towards trouble youth. Also there is good eye candy for girls and guys. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Larry Clark, "Kids" and post-apocalyptic sex
I happened to catch this movie last fall (2001) during the Cinemax creature feature series, and found it to be a mixed bag of sci fi, creature effects and incredibly lurid teen sex.

Playing like a B Movie, if the Hays Code had not existed in the Fifties, there are buckets of gore and some really good "gross out effects."

In the typical Mad Max style future we get to watch dirty caveman teens shed their inhibitions and their clothing (repeatedly)as they discover aspects of the "old world" that they did not know existed, such as group bathing, drugs, and alcohol.

Probably the highlight of this film is a ten minute orgy, as these teens that have lived under a repressive, hyporcital religion (is there any other kind in these films?) discover each other in what is some of the best group sex ever filmed outside of a porno movie.

Of course the world is not all as it seems and some of the teens start to die and we learn the big secret and blah.....blah....blah.

Overall there are some genuine scares amidst the standard dialogue, wooded acting and bare breasts!

I LOVE RICHARD HILLMAN!! ~ KimberliesWorld@aol.com
I loved this movie, Richard Hillman was an Awesome Beast!! I want to see more of him!!

Great Creature Flick!! The acting could have been a little better, but I had to give 5 stars because I can't believe all the bad reviews on this Great Movie. The story Larry Clark gives here will go down in history!!

You got to see it, you'll love it!!
Andrew Keegan and Richard Hillman are so Awesome!!
XOXO
Kimberlie

Richard Hillman is Awesome!! ` KimberliesWorld@aol.com
I gave this movie 5 starts because it was really good!! I really liked the story line Larry Clark was trying to give, and if you watch this movie with an open-mind you'll get the point.

I really liked this movie, but had to watch it a second time to really understand it's message. This one will go down in history!!

Really, keep and open-mind on this one.

Richard Hillman is an Awesome Beast!!
I LOVE HIM, and Want to See More of Him!!

Try watching "Kids" & "Bully" too.

Such a dissapointment
One of the worst things about a movie is when you see the potential it has and witness it falling flat on its face. The story is about a post apocolyptic world in which we are sent back to the days of cavemen, living in tribes, and killing our own food...that is when we can find it.

From the very first scene we are treated to half ass acting and plot holes. One of the leaders is murdered, blah blah, a different leader likes to rape girls, blah blah, and now a group of kids go out on their own.

Yeah, they're caught in a storm and when they wake up they are dressed in retro clothing and they are all laying on top of each other provocatively. Yeah...ummm....ok, so anyway, then two people at this house they are at inform them that they are the ones that saved their lives and ummm, yeah...then they all take a bath together. And have sex. Oh sorry, am I ruining the movie for you? Trust me, I'm not. If you're familiar with this director, you knew this is where everything was going.

Oh, and I guess when you have sex with someone you infect them with something and they die or something.

Hey, I'm just trying to write a review as half-ass as the movie.

So blah blah blah, stuff happens, and within the last 5 minutes we get to see the creature....and he barely does anything thanks to some confusing camera work.

So the idea seems alright but was executed piss poorly. This was a terrible waste of Stan Winston's talents as an effects artist.

Fortunately, the two other "Creature Features" I have seen were damn good films.

Earth Vs. The Spider was a psuedo superhero story with good directing and a good story.

She-Creature was more of the same albeit with a different story and more of a slower pace. Each great on their own merit.

Terrible
I really had high hopes for this since Larry Clark directed it and it was one of Stan Winston's creature features, but it is truly disturbing and not in a good way. Feels like teenage pornography after awhile jsut for the sake of it. I couldn't even finish it. Absolutely not for children. ... Read more

Reviews (270)

Extremely real and honestly painful
This film is not made for "kids"--it's no Disney film; rather it shows a painfully accurate picture of a group of young adults. This film is about kids living in the drug-friendly, over-sexed, "just do it" world of the late 20th century.

I first saw this film in the theater. I knew it would be a hard film to watch; that's an understatement. You'll find some interesting parts of the film that may bring back some adolescent feelings of insecurity and curiousity about sex. I think we all harbored these feelings to some extent when when we were teenagers. What really hit me hard is the main focus of the movie: STDs. I won't spoil the plot for you because if I tell you any more I may risk destroying the experience this movie gives first time viewers. I hope no one else has spoiled the plot line for you.

Although it sounds unorthodox, I think they should show this film in ALL highschool (11th or 12th grade) sex/health classes. If I had seen it when I was 17 I would have had a better understanding of the consequences unprotected sex can bring.

This film is extremely real -- watch with caution and an open mind.

A depressing and numbing view the idle times of kids
"Kids" goes right to the heart of everything that parents fear will become of their children. The youths that inhabit this film are not just wayward... they are violent, amoral kids whose state of evolution seems to have regressed to something more primal. The male lead, if you can call him that, in this movie is a truly horrific animal named Telly (played with scary realism by actor Leo Fitzpatrick). Telly seems to exist for no other reason than drink, get high, get into fights, and, oh yeah, deflower as many virgins as possible. He cajoles his conquests by telling them exactly what they want to hear, and once he's accomplished his mission, he will have nothing to do with them. He says he prefers them because they aren't all dirty or have diseases. Yet, the irony is, he is unknowingly carrying the AIDS virus around and endangering his conquests because it would seem that one of his 'virgins' was not quite honest with him. It's not hard to see how Telly can become such a monster. He has no moral compass around which to develop. One brief scene takes place during a brief stopover at his house before he and his friend, Casper, take off for more mayhem. His mother is sitting in the living room, folding laundry and watching TV while being almost totally oblivious to Telly being there. When Telly asks for some money, she says no and asks him when he's going to get a job, he just says that he's looking and then he goes into her room and takes some money, anyway. She wouldn't know if it was missing.
The actual plot of this movie, as thin as it is, focuses on a girl named Jennie (who was one of Telly's conquests) searching the streets of the city to find Telly and stop his virgin conquest because of the AIDS virus she just found out he gave her. Her search is intercut with scenes of a brutal gang beating by Telly and his friends of guy who popped off his mouth, club kids engaging in animalistic carnal behavior, and a morally bankrupt party where kids as young as 10 are drinking up, getting high and participating in even more carnal behavior.
"Kids" gets a positive rating because there is nothing phony about its unflinching view of the existence of kids with too much time on their hands and no direction in their lives. It does not get a higher rating because the images are extremely graphic and difficult to digest. This movie is not for everyone, but, if someone feels the can handle the subject matter, it is a valid tale.

Uncompromising
First off, "Kids" is a phenomenal movie in absolutely every respect. Harmony Korine's script is amazing (I can already tell I am going to run out of superlatives.) It blows me away that someone so young could write something so self-assured, so masterful. The performances are impossibly real. Add to this Clark's voyeuristic, documentary style and the result is some of the most uncompromising naturalism in cinematic history.

Kids is the kind of movie that makes mainstream filmmakers blanch. It is also the kind of movie that makes mainstream film goers confused and angry. Naturalism has never been a particularly popular style of theatre. If a viewer doesn't have an appreciation for the style, he/she may think the film lacking. Naturalism depicts life objectively, imposing no value judgements. The question of value is left up to the observer, the viewer. It does not shy away from ugliness or uncomfortable situations. Naturalism is often seen as nihilistic, but that is the challenge that is presents. Being truer to life than other dramatic forms, it's meaning is more obscured.

Many have interpreted "Kids" to be a "wake up call" concerning the growing menace AIDS poses to young people (I think it was even printed on the box cover.) That is one interpretation. I see a much more sinister theme at the heart of "Kids." For me, AIDS just served as a metaphor for a diseased culture. These kids are sick mentally and emotionally. To me, these hopeless characters represent an entire generation of lost youth. Their general apathy and animalistic hedonism is a perfectly understandable response to the empty, violent, plastic, consumer/commercial culture that raised them. Yes, they are contracting AIDS; but what about those that escape it? What are they going to do with their lives? Of course, this is just my interpretation. The film itself remains objective and impartial. In fact, I think Korine would disagree with me and that is why I love this movie so much.

Watch this if you like powerful, unflinching films that challenge assumptions and make lasting impressions.

MAJOR WAKE-UP CALL
When it first came out, my daughter (then a teen) said "You don't want to see it, Mom"...so I didn't see it, I buried my head in the sand. Until a couple of women in an HIV prevention group I run encouraged me to see it...WOW...talk about blowing the illusion of "safety in numbers"...The movie is powerful, wonderfully filmed, raw and honest and terrifying. A young Latina, zealously guarded by her family ("don't get a boyfriend", but perhaps no explanation as to WHY to stay away from boyfriends) is easily seduced by a young boy who only has sex with virgins, so he won't catch any diseases. Later, one of his virgin victims learns she is HIV positive and you ask yourself, HOW? How,when he only does virgins and he was her first and only...the answer to that question blew me away. HOW can anyone REMEMBER what or who they do when they are high and drunk and passed out or in a black out? How can these, or any, kids survive and flourish in a place where parents are unavailable for whatever reason (work) or excuse (drugging, immature themselves) and the wolves come in peer-sized packages? Major wake up call, people...parents, teachers, friends, families, survivors, recovering people...UNITE...GET INFORMED, GET INVOLVED...SAVE THE KIDS.

Unforgettable...But not neccesarily a great movie.
Now I must start out by saying this is not the best movie ever made nor the worst. However,it is really hard to forget.Leo
Fitzpatrick in a horrible,but again unforgettable performance plays Telly,a punk kid whose life revolves around deflowering young,extremely young virgins.Now besides the fact he is deflowering 12 year old girls and certain things like that,he also has HIV and doesn't realize it.The person who comes to realize this is Jenny(Academy Award Nominee Chloe Sevigny
"Best Supporting Actress "Boys Don't Cry") who tests positive for the virus from her one night with Telly. Now after the opening scene which features Telly with a twelve year old girl buttering her up to get in her pants,he goes out to meet his friend Casper and they go shoplift some beer and end up at a flophouse.Telly then tells Casper he has his eyes set on yet another virgin named Darcy.Meanwhile we have Jenny searching the streets trying to stop Telly before he spreads the virus.Now people may ask how Telly has HIV when all he likes is virgins.
Well,could it possibly be because one of the girls wasn't a virgin? I'm just sayin'. Anyway the film is well written but takes too long to get to the point.The ending of the film is so genuinely sick that it's almost likeable.From the opening sequence to fade out "Kids" in an unforgettable sick film ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Larry Clark, "Kids" and post-apocalyptic sex
I happened to catch this movie last fall (2001) during the Cinemax creature feature series, and found it to be a mixed bag of sci fi, creature effects and incredibly lurid teen sex.

Playing like a B Movie, if the Hays Code had not existed in the Fifties, there are buckets of gore and some really good "gross out effects."

In the typical Mad Max style future we get to watch dirty caveman teens shed their inhibitions and their clothing (repeatedly)as they discover aspects of the "old world" that they did not know existed, such as group bathing, drugs, and alcohol.

Probably the highlight of this film is a ten minute orgy, as these teens that have lived under a repressive, hyporcital religion (is there any other kind in these films?) discover each other in what is some of the best group sex ever filmed outside of a porno movie.

Of course the world is not all as it seems and some of the teens start to die and we learn the big secret and blah.....blah....blah.

Overall there are some genuine scares amidst the standard dialogue, wooded acting and bare breasts!

I LOVE RICHARD HILLMAN!! ~ KimberliesWorld@aol.com
I loved this movie, Richard Hillman was an Awesome Beast!! I want to see more of him!!

Great Creature Flick!! The acting could have been a little better, but I had to give 5 stars because I can't believe all the bad reviews on this Great Movie. The story Larry Clark gives here will go down in history!!

You got to see it, you'll love it!!
Andrew Keegan and Richard Hillman are so Awesome!!
XOXO
Kimberlie

Richard Hillman is Awesome!! ` KimberliesWorld@aol.com
I gave this movie 5 starts because it was really good!! I really liked the story line Larry Clark was trying to give, and if you watch this movie with an open-mind you'll get the point.

I really liked this movie, but had to watch it a second time to really understand it's message. This one will go down in history!!

Really, keep and open-mind on this one.

Richard Hillman is an Awesome Beast!!
I LOVE HIM, and Want to See More of Him!!

Try watching "Kids" & "Bully" too.

Such a dissapointment
One of the worst things about a movie is when you see the potential it has and witness it falling flat on its face. The story is about a post apocolyptic world in which we are sent back to the days of cavemen, living in tribes, and killing our own food...that is when we can find it.

From the very first scene we are treated to half ass acting and plot holes. One of the leaders is murdered, blah blah, a different leader likes to rape girls, blah blah, and now a group of kids go out on their own.

Yeah, they're caught in a storm and when they wake up they are dressed in retro clothing and they are all laying on top of each other provocatively. Yeah...ummm....ok, so anyway, then two people at this house they are at inform them that they are the ones that saved their lives and ummm, yeah...then they all take a bath together. And have sex. Oh sorry, am I ruining the movie for you? Trust me, I'm not. If you're familiar with this director, you knew this is where everything was going.

Oh, and I guess when you have sex with someone you infect them with something and they die or something.

Hey, I'm just trying to write a review as half-ass as the movie.

So blah blah blah, stuff happens, and within the last 5 minutes we get to see the creature....and he barely does anything thanks to some confusing camera work.

So the idea seems alright but was executed piss poorly. This was a terrible waste of Stan Winston's talents as an effects artist.

Fortunately, the two other "Creature Features" I have seen were damn good films.

Earth Vs. The Spider was a psuedo superhero story with good directing and a good story.

She-Creature was more of the same albeit with a different story and more of a slower pace. Each great on their own merit.

Terrible
I really had high hopes for this since Larry Clark directed it and it was one of Stan Winston's creature features, but it is truly disturbing and not in a good way. Feels like teenage pornography after awhile jsut for the sake of it. I couldn't even finish it. Absolutely not for children. ... Read more

Description

Acclaimed director Larry Clark delivers his most powerful film since KIDS. Marty (Brad Renfro) is a tormented surfer who relies on his longtime pal Bobby (Nick Stahl) for rides to the beach and South Florida bars despite vicious abuse. But when Bobby turns his unwanted attention to Marty's new girlfriend Lisa (Rachel Miner) and her best friend Ally (Bijou Phillips), Lisa decides Bobby's reign of terror must end. Assembling a crew of alienated suburban teens, she forms a deadly plan to get Bobby out of the way once and for all, turning friends into enemies and casual acquaintances into co-defendants in a murder that rocked America to its core. ... Read more

Reviews (143)

oddly made
I really wanted to like this movie...So I watched the film. At first I was interested and then let down. The dialogue seemed to be very forced and unauthentic, there was pointless sex (yes, we know that teens have sex and lots of it, so we don't need countless crotch-shots) and parts of the script were just odd. It has many unrealistic portrayals of teens and I found myself laughing at times and others, just embarrassed for Larry Clark, who really tries to be hip. There is an explicit rape scene, which I must admit, is impressive in its intensity, but I was left confused afterward. Nick Stahl rapes Bijou Phillips and then she runs out of the bedroom and tells Rachel Miner she's been raped and runs outside bumping into Stahl's father. He walks inside and into his bathroom, where he meets Stahl, who is still naked and the two spark up a conversation about a stereo store they had been talking about. Why was this included? I found that it just destroyed the mood set by the previous scene.

There is also a major problem with casting credibility. I had a hard time believing that Stahl, with his relatively small physique, could bully Brad Renfro, who is much larger. On a purely psychological level however, Stahl is masterful in creating a truly creepy character and I don't doubt that a large part of the bullying aspect is the psychological part of it. I think if the two switched roles, we would have a far more believable story. On a closer look, the actors do an admirable job of creating such stupid kids. But I felt bad for the actors, in the hands of another director this could have been made into a masterpiece that doesn't rely on exploiting them.

Parts of the film seemed to be accepted too easily. Someone mentions killing Stahl and everyone's just like, "yeah, sounds like a plan". I eventually felt sympathy for Stahl's character and could care less about Renfro and his co-horts, which I suspect is exactly the point; that it was Rachel Miner (who herself had many bad acting scenes) who was the vicious one.

If you liked Kids, you should adore this. I would urge people to seek out Clark's other film "Another Day In Paradise" if you haven't. Also, "Bully" is based on a true story from the early nineties, which left me asking, "why are the actors watching Eminem videos in the film, when he was only going through puberty in the early nineties?" I don't know.

After the murder, the film does pick up. The dialogue gets better, and there is even some good satire about teen/parental relationships. The last moments of the film are powerful, when we see Clark playng a cameo of the hitman's father. The last scene, of the kids in a courtroom is also very good, with them still bickering like morons. And then we see each character and the sentence they receive, where the film abrubtly end with no music for a few seconds, that I thought made quite an impact.

The film is definitely worth watching, and no doubt some will enjoy (although "enjoy" may not be the right word) it immensly, but I couldn't help feeling like a shock-artist had tried to put one over on me.

Surreal!
I just happen to run across this movie and had heard some hype but still did not know the premise until actually watching. Very chilling, sad and strangely funny. I could not believe that slackers like this actually still exist anywhere outside of a Hollywood film then to learn that "Bully" was based on true events which took place in my state-too much!

All of the characters are brilliantly portrayed and very convincing (esp. Brad Renfro who has some real-life problems). The kids seem to possess no moral fiber, no real compassion or understanding of human life. Their families don't seem to be terribly dysfunctional and yet they all sit around doing lots of drugs, having irresponsible, gratuitous sex and sponging off their folks. Only two had jobs!

This lack of moral fiber provides the story with an evil villian-the bully, who is a real piece of work as he inflicts his violence on everyone. Of course, the rest of the slackers decide to band together and take him out. This is really where the film gets scary-their complete wild, reckless abandonment and disregard for human life.

A riveting film with a fabulous cast-a definite hit in my books. Also must say that Brad Renfro sure did grow up nicely!

Bully
I wouldn't really call this film 'explicit' or 'shocking' per se, but it does leave its effect on you. The film does have its fare share of sex, but nothing pornographic; exploitative perhaps, especially with the young actors and all, but nothing 'pert. to porn'. Personally I preferred Clark's previous film 'Kids' much more. Despite being based on actual happenings, this film didn't really seem ( to me ) to have a sense of reality. Usually I would attribute that as a good thing, but most of this just looks like it was something done up for an MTV special. This first half of the film I didn't particularly like: mainly just consisting of aimless sex and drug use... Which is fine and all, but should be made better use of. The second half of the film does get substantially better: after the crime has been committed, the character's emotions and states of mind quickly condense and implode in on them; which is orchestrated very well. It's not a bad film, but it's not a great film... It is good though. My favorite character was actually Lisa's friend Claudia ( I believe it was ), who seemed like the conscience of a film drenched with apathy. Too bad more use wasn't made of her :(.

Porn or Important film?
This is about the infamous case of Marty Puccio murdering his best friend in Florida a few years back. The movie is mostly just a raunchy fabrication with splashes of truth mixed in. But thats expected. The media hardly ever portrays the actual truth and in this case it makes for some very effective viewing.

You will see this and think about it long and hard and then google up the case and read up on the facts. Perhaps that is the point. It will effect you, you'll want to know more.

As with all Larry Clark films, nudity and sex is ever-present. And with all Larry clark films, its slightly unneccesary. Theres unneeded crotch shots of 90lb Bijou Phillips, added scenes of explicit sex that has nothing to do with the plot and tons of shots of Rachel Miner simply lounging around in the nude for no reason at all. Sure, some of the sex is very important to the plot but 80% of it is just there for shock value or masturbatory purposes.

Larry Clark is indeed a perverted man. But thats no secret. Just keep this in mind when you turn the dvd on and look around the corner to make sure the kids are still sleeping and the parents are busy.

Overall, the movie is important. Its powerful and the raunchy additives add to the grusome details but in some parts its overdone in the sex department. If you've got an open mind and you're willing to sit through several explicit scenes then you should certainly get this movie. Otherwise, don't bother. You'll just be offended or simply annoyed.

he is a smart director with so much potential
This movie is one of my favorites Larry Clark knows how to make learning lessons interesting and fun. In kids it was all about learning how aids can get around so fast. This one is a learning how killing someone is not the right way to go and how you plan is not how the murder will end up.If you watch his movies for more than sex and drugs you will see a true message behind each one. He knows how to truly get inside peoples heads and make them think he is a director that thinks outside the box and directs his attention towards trouble youth. Also there is good eye candy for girls and guys. ... Read more

Reviews (143)

oddly made
I really wanted to like this movie...So I watched the film. At first I was interested and then let down. The dialogue seemed to be very forced and unauthentic, there was pointless sex (yes, we know that teens have sex and lots of it, so we don't need countless crotch-shots) and parts of the script were just odd. It has many unrealistic portrayals of teens and I found myself laughing at times and others, just embarrassed for Larry Clark, who really tries to be hip. There is an explicit rape scene, which I must admit, is impressive in its intensity, but I was left confused afterward. Nick Stahl rapes Bijou Phillips and then she runs out of the bedroom and tells Rachel Miner she's been raped and runs outside bumping into Stahl's father. He walks inside and into his bathroom, where he meets Stahl, who is still naked and the two spark up a conversation about a stereo store they had been talking about. Why was this included? I found that it just destroyed the mood set by the previous scene.

There is also a major problem with casting credibility. I had a hard time believing that Stahl, with his relatively small physique, could bully Brad Renfro, who is much larger. On a purely psychological level however, Stahl is masterful in creating a truly creepy character and I don't doubt that a large part of the bullying aspect is the psychological part of it. I think if the two switched roles, we would have a far more believable story. On a closer look, the actors do an admirable job of creating such stupid kids. But I felt bad for the actors, in the hands of another director this could have been made into a masterpiece that doesn't rely on exploiting them.

Parts of the film seemed to be accepted too easily. Someone mentions killing Stahl and everyone's just like, "yeah, sounds like a plan". I eventually felt sympathy for Stahl's character and could care less about Renfro and his co-horts, which I suspect is exactly the point; that it was Rachel Miner (who herself had many bad acting scenes) who was the vicious one.

If you liked Kids, you should adore this. I would urge people to seek out Clark's other film "Another Day In Paradise" if you haven't. Also, "Bully" is based on a true story from the early nineties, which left me asking, "why are the actors watching Eminem videos in the film, when he was only going through puberty in the early nineties?" I don't know.

After the murder, the film does pick up. The dialogue gets better, and there is even some good satire about teen/parental relationships. The last moments of the film are powerful, when we see Clark playng a cameo of the hitman's father. The last scene, of the kids in a courtroom is also very good, with them still bickering like morons. And then we see each character and the sentence they receive, where the film abrubtly end with no music for a few seconds, that I thought made quite an impact.

The film is definitely worth watching, and no doubt some will enjoy (although "enjoy" may not be the right word) it immensly, but I couldn't help feeling like a shock-artist had tried to put one over on me.

Surreal!
I just happen to run across this movie and had heard some hype but still did not know the premise until actually watching. Very chilling, sad and strangely funny. I could not believe that slackers like this actually still exist anywhere outside of a Hollywood film then to learn that "Bully" was based on true events which took place in my state-too much!

All of the characters are brilliantly portrayed and very convincing (esp. Brad Renfro who has some real-life problems). The kids seem to possess no moral fiber, no real compassion or understanding of human life. Their families don't seem to be terribly dysfunctional and yet they all sit around doing lots of drugs, having irresponsible, gratuitous sex and sponging off their folks. Only two had jobs!

This lack of moral fiber provides the story with an evil villian-the bully, who is a real piece of work as he inflicts his violence on everyone. Of course, the rest of the slackers decide to band together and take him out. This is really where the film gets scary-their complete wild, reckless abandonment and disregard for human life.

A riveting film with a fabulous cast-a definite hit in my books. Also must say that Brad Renfro sure did grow up nicely!

Bully
I wouldn't really call this film 'explicit' or 'shocking' per se, but it does leave its effect on you. The film does have its fare share of sex, but nothing pornographic; exploitative perhaps, especially with the young actors and all, but nothing 'pert. to porn'. Personally I preferred Clark's previous film 'Kids' much more. Despite being based on actual happenings, this film didn't really seem ( to me ) to have a sense of reality. Usually I would attribute that as a good thing, but most of this just looks like it was something done up for an MTV special. This first half of the film I didn't particularly like: mainly just consisting of aimless sex and drug use... Which is fine and all, but should be made better use of. The second half of the film does get substantially better: after the crime has been committed, the character's emotions and states of mind quickly condense and implode in on them; which is orchestrated very well. It's not a bad film, but it's not a great film... It is good though. My favorite character was actually Lisa's friend Claudia ( I believe it was ), who seemed like the conscience of a film drenched with apathy. Too bad more use wasn't made of her :(.

Porn or Important film?
This is about the infamous case of Marty Puccio murdering his best friend in Florida a few years back. The movie is mostly just a raunchy fabrication with splashes of truth mixed in. But thats expected. The media hardly ever portrays the actual truth and in this case it makes for some very effective viewing.

You will see this and think about it long and hard and then google up the case and read up on the facts. Perhaps that is the point. It will effect you, you'll want to know more.

As with all Larry Clark films, nudity and sex is ever-present. And with all Larry clark films, its slightly unneccesary. Theres unneeded crotch shots of 90lb Bijou Phillips, added scenes of explicit sex that has nothing to do with the plot and tons of shots of Rachel Miner simply lounging around in the nude for no reason at all. Sure, some of the sex is very important to the plot but 80% of it is just there for shock value or masturbatory purposes.

Larry Clark is indeed a perverted man. But thats no secret. Just keep this in mind when you turn the dvd on and look around the corner to make sure the kids are still sleeping and the parents are busy.

Overall, the movie is important. Its powerful and the raunchy additives add to the grusome details but in some parts its overdone in the sex department. If you've got an open mind and you're willing to sit through several explicit scenes then you should certainly get this movie. Otherwise, don't bother. You'll just be offended or simply annoyed.

he is a smart director with so much potential
This movie is one of my favorites Larry Clark knows how to make learning lessons interesting and fun. In kids it was all about learning how aids can get around so fast. This one is a learning how killing someone is not the right way to go and how you plan is not how the murder will end up.If you watch his movies for more than sex and drugs you will see a true message behind each one. He knows how to truly get inside peoples heads and make them think he is a director that thinks outside the box and directs his attention towards trouble youth. Also there is good eye candy for girls and guys. ... Read more

Reviews (143)

oddly made
I really wanted to like this movie...So I watched the film. At first I was interested and then let down. The dialogue seemed to be very forced and unauthentic, there was pointless sex (yes, we know that teens have sex and lots of it, so we don't need countless crotch-shots) and parts of the script were just odd. It has many unrealistic portrayals of teens and I found myself laughing at times and others, just embarrassed for Larry Clark, who really tries to be hip. There is an explicit rape scene, which I must admit, is impressive in its intensity, but I was left confused afterward. Nick Stahl rapes Bijou Phillips and then she runs out of the bedroom and tells Rachel Miner she's been raped and runs outside bumping into Stahl's father. He walks inside and into his bathroom, where he meets Stahl, who is still naked and the two spark up a conversation about a stereo store they had been talking about. Why was this included? I found that it just destroyed the mood set by the previous scene.

There is also a major problem with casting credibility. I had a hard time believing that Stahl, with his relatively small physique, could bully Brad Renfro, who is much larger. On a purely psychological level however, Stahl is masterful in creating a truly creepy character and I don't doubt that a large part of the bullying aspect is the psychological part of it. I think if the two switched roles, we would have a far more believable story. On a closer look, the actors do an admirable job of creating such stupid kids. But I felt bad for the actors, in the hands of another director this could have been made into a masterpiece that doesn't rely on exploiting them.

Parts of the film seemed to be accepted too easily. Someone mentions killing Stahl and everyone's just like, "yeah, sounds like a plan". I eventually felt sympathy for Stahl's character and could care less about Renfro and his co-horts, which I suspect is exactly the point; that it was Rachel Miner (who herself had many bad acting scenes) who was the vicious one.

If you liked Kids, you should adore this. I would urge people to seek out Clark's other film "Another Day In Paradise" if you haven't. Also, "Bully" is based on a true story from the early nineties, which left me asking, "why are the actors watching Eminem videos in the film, when he was only going through puberty in the early nineties?" I don't know.

After the murder, the film does pick up. The dialogue gets better, and there is even some good satire about teen/parental relationships. The last moments of the film are powerful, when we see Clark playng a cameo of the hitman's father. The last scene, of the kids in a courtroom is also very good, with them still bickering like morons. And then we see each character and the sentence they receive, where the film abrubtly end with no music for a few seconds, that I thought made quite an impact.

The film is definitely worth watching, and no doubt some will enjoy (although "enjoy" may not be the right word) it immensly, but I couldn't help feeling like a shock-artist had tried to put one over on me.

Surreal!
I just happen to run across this movie and had heard some hype but still did not know the premise until actually watching. Very chilling, sad and strangely funny. I could not believe that slackers like this actually still exist anywhere outside of a Hollywood film then to learn that "Bully" was based on true events which took place in my state-too much!

All of the characters are brilliantly portrayed and very convincing (esp. Brad Renfro who has some real-life problems). The kids seem to possess no moral fiber, no real compassion or understanding of human life. Their families don't seem to be terribly dysfunctional and yet they all sit around doing lots of drugs, having irresponsible, gratuitous sex and sponging off their folks. Only two had jobs!

This lack of moral fiber provides the story with an evil villian-the bully, who is a real piece of work as he inflicts his violence on everyone. Of course, the rest of the slackers decide to band together and take him out. This is really where the film gets scary-their complete wild, reckless abandonment and disregard for human life.

A riveting film with a fabulous cast-a definite hit in my books. Also must say that Brad Renfro sure did grow up nicely!

Bully
I wouldn't really call this film 'explicit' or 'shocking' per se, but it does leave its effect on you. The film does have its fare share of sex, but nothing pornographic; exploitative perhaps, especially with the young actors and all, but nothing 'pert. to porn'. Personally I preferred Clark's previous film 'Kids' much more. Despite being based on actual happenings, this film didn't really seem ( to me ) to have a sense of reality. Usually I would attribute that as a good thing, but most of this just looks like it was something done up for an MTV special. This first half of the film I didn't particularly like: mainly just consisting of aimless sex and drug use... Which is fine and all, but should be made better use of. The second half of the film does get substantially better: after the crime has been committed, the character's emotions and states of mind quickly condense and implode in on them; which is orchestrated very well. It's not a bad film, but it's not a great film... It is good though. My favorite character was actually Lisa's friend Claudia ( I believe it was ), who seemed like the conscience of a film drenched with apathy. Too bad more use wasn't made of her :(.

Porn or Important film?
This is about the infamous case of Marty Puccio murdering his best friend in Florida a few years back. The movie is mostly just a raunchy fabrication with splashes of truth mixed in. But thats expected. The media hardly ever portrays the actual truth and in this case it makes for some very effective viewing.

You will see this and think about it long and hard and then google up the case and read up on the facts. Perhaps that is the point. It will effect you, you'll want to know more.

As with all Larry Clark films, nudity and sex is ever-present. And with all Larry clark films, its slightly unneccesary. Theres unneeded crotch shots of 90lb Bijou Phillips, added scenes of explicit sex that has nothing to do with the plot and tons of shots of Rachel Miner simply lounging around in the nude for no reason at all. Sure, some of the sex is very important to the plot but 80% of it is just there for shock value or masturbatory purposes.

Larry Clark is indeed a perverted man. But thats no secret. Just keep this in mind when you turn the dvd on and look around the corner to make sure the kids are still sleeping and the parents are busy.

Overall, the movie is important. Its powerful and the raunchy additives add to the grusome details but in some parts its overdone in the sex department. If you've got an open mind and you're willing to sit through several explicit scenes then you should certainly get this movie. Otherwise, don't bother. You'll just be offended or simply annoyed.

he is a smart director with so much potential
This movie is one of my favorites Larry Clark knows how to make learning lessons interesting and fun. In kids it was all about learning how aids can get around so fast. This one is a learning how killing someone is not the right way to go and how you plan is not how the murder will end up.If you watch his movies for more than sex and drugs you will see a true message behind each one. He knows how to truly get inside peoples heads and make them think he is a director that thinks outside the box and directs his attention towards trouble youth. Also there is good eye candy for girls and guys. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Larry Clark's controversial film about New York City adolescents walking the AIDS tightrope is also an unblinking look at the dehumanizing rituals of growing up. But it really doesn't add up to more than the sum of its various shocks--virgin busting, skinny-dipping, male callousness--overlayed with middle-class disapproval. Clark is hectoring us for cutting kids loose at a terrible time in modern American history, but so are a lot of other people, who also offer alternatives and ideas. The film does nothing to push us toward new thoughts, new solutions, new dreams. It is more like a window onto our worst fantasies about what our children are doing out there on the streets.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (270)

Extremely real and honestly painful
This film is not made for "kids"--it's no Disney film; rather it shows a painfully accurate picture of a group of young adults. This film is about kids living in the drug-friendly, over-sexed, "just do it" world of the late 20th century.

I first saw this film in the theater. I knew it would be a hard film to watch; that's an understatement. You'll find some interesting parts of the film that may bring back some adolescent feelings of insecurity and curiousity about sex. I think we all harbored these feelings to some extent when when we were teenagers. What really hit me hard is the main focus of the movie: STDs. I won't spoil the plot for you because if I tell you any more I may risk destroying the experience this movie gives first time viewers. I hope no one else has spoiled the plot line for you.

Although it sounds unorthodox, I think they should show this film in ALL highschool (11th or 12th grade) sex/health classes. If I had seen it when I was 17 I would have had a better understanding of the consequences unprotected sex can bring.

This film is extremely real -- watch with caution and an open mind.

A depressing and numbing view the idle times of kids
"Kids" goes right to the heart of everything that parents fear will become of their children. The youths that inhabit this film are not just wayward... they are violent, amoral kids whose state of evolution seems to have regressed to something more primal. The male lead, if you can call him that, in this movie is a truly horrific animal named Telly (played with scary realism by actor Leo Fitzpatrick). Telly seems to exist for no other reason than drink, get high, get into fights, and, oh yeah, deflower as many virgins as possible. He cajoles his conquests by telling them exactly what they want to hear, and once he's accomplished his mission, he will have nothing to do with them. He says he prefers them because they aren't all dirty or have diseases. Yet, the irony is, he is unknowingly carrying the AIDS virus around and endangering his conquests because it would seem that one of his 'virgins' was not quite honest with him. It's not hard to see how Telly can become such a monster. He has no moral compass around which to develop. One brief scene takes place during a brief stopover at his house before he and his friend, Casper, take off for more mayhem. His mother is sitting in the living room, folding laundry and watching TV while being almost totally oblivious to Telly being there. When Telly asks for some money, she says no and asks him when he's going to get a job, he just says that he's looking and then he goes into her room and takes some money, anyway. She wouldn't know if it was missing.
The actual plot of this movie, as thin as it is, focuses on a girl named Jennie (who was one of Telly's conquests) searching the streets of the city to find Telly and stop his virgin conquest because of the AIDS virus she just found out he gave her. Her search is intercut with scenes of a brutal gang beating by Telly and his friends of guy who popped off his mouth, club kids engaging in animalistic carnal behavior, and a morally bankrupt party where kids as young as 10 are drinking up, getting high and participating in even more carnal behavior.
"Kids" gets a positive rating because there is nothing phony about its unflinching view of the existence of kids with too much time on their hands and no direction in their lives. It does not get a higher rating because the images are extremely graphic and difficult to digest. This movie is not for everyone, but, if someone feels the can handle the subject matter, it is a valid tale.

Uncompromising
First off, "Kids" is a phenomenal movie in absolutely every respect. Harmony Korine's script is amazing (I can already tell I am going to run out of superlatives.) It blows me away that someone so young could write something so self-assured, so masterful. The performances are impossibly real. Add to this Clark's voyeuristic, documentary style and the result is some of the most uncompromising naturalism in cinematic history.

Kids is the kind of movie that makes mainstream filmmakers blanch. It is also the kind of movie that makes mainstream film goers confused and angry. Naturalism has never been a particularly popular style of theatre. If a viewer doesn't have an appreciation for the style, he/she may think the film lacking. Naturalism depicts life objectively, imposing no value judgements. The question of value is left up to the observer, the viewer. It does not shy away from ugliness or uncomfortable situations. Naturalism is often seen as nihilistic, but that is the challenge that is presents. Being truer to life than other dramatic forms, it's meaning is more obscured.

Many have interpreted "Kids" to be a "wake up call" concerning the growing menace AIDS poses to young people (I think it was even printed on the box cover.) That is one interpretation. I see a much more sinister theme at the heart of "Kids." For me, AIDS just served as a metaphor for a diseased culture. These kids are sick mentally and emotionally. To me, these hopeless characters represent an entire generation of lost youth. Their general apathy and animalistic hedonism is a perfectly understandable response to the empty, violent, plastic, consumer/commercial culture that raised them. Yes, they are contracting AIDS; but what about those that escape it? What are they going to do with their lives? Of course, this is just my interpretation. The film itself remains objective and impartial. In fact, I think Korine would disagree with me and that is why I love this movie so much.

Watch this if you like powerful, unflinching films that challenge assumptions and make lasting impressions.

MAJOR WAKE-UP CALL
When it first came out, my daughter (then a teen) said "You don't want to see it, Mom"...so I didn't see it, I buried my head in the sand. Until a couple of women in an HIV prevention group I run encouraged me to see it...WOW...talk about blowing the illusion of "safety in numbers"...The movie is powerful, wonderfully filmed, raw and honest and terrifying. A young Latina, zealously guarded by her family ("don't get a boyfriend", but perhaps no explanation as to WHY to stay away from boyfriends) is easily seduced by a young boy who only has sex with virgins, so he won't catch any diseases. Later, one of his virgin victims learns she is HIV positive and you ask yourself, HOW? How,when he only does virgins and he was her first and only...the answer to that question blew me away. HOW can anyone REMEMBER what or who they do when they are high and drunk and passed out or in a black out? How can these, or any, kids survive and flourish in a place where parents are unavailable for whatever reason (work) or excuse (drugging, immature themselves) and the wolves come in peer-sized packages? Major wake up call, people...parents, teachers, friends, families, survivors, recovering people...UNITE...GET INFORMED, GET INVOLVED...SAVE THE KIDS.

Unforgettable...But not neccesarily a great movie.
Now I must start out by saying this is not the best movie ever made nor the worst. However,it is really hard to forget.Leo
Fitzpatrick in a horrible,but again unforgettable performance plays Telly,a punk kid whose life revolves around deflowering young,extremely young virgins.Now besides the fact he is deflowering 12 year old girls and certain things like that,he also has HIV and doesn't realize it.The person who comes to realize this is Jenny(Academy Award Nominee Chloe Sevigny
"Best Supporting Actress "Boys Don't Cry") who tests positive for the virus from her one night with Telly. Now after the opening scene which features Telly with a twelve year old girl buttering her up to get in her pants,he goes out to meet his friend Casper and they go shoplift some beer and end up at a flophouse.Telly then tells Casper he has his eyes set on yet another virgin named Darcy.Meanwhile we have Jenny searching the streets trying to stop Telly before he spreads the virus.Now people may ask how Telly has HIV when all he likes is virgins.
Well,could it possibly be because one of the girls wasn't a virgin? I'm just sayin'. Anyway the film is well written but takes too long to get to the point.The ending of the film is so genuinely sick that it's almost likeable.From the opening sequence to fade out "Kids" in an unforgettable sick film ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Larry Clark, "Kids" and post-apocalyptic sex
I happened to catch this movie last fall (2001) during the Cinemax creature feature series, and found it to be a mixed bag of sci fi, creature effects and incredibly lurid teen sex.

Playing like a B Movie, if the Hays Code had not existed in the Fifties, there are buckets of gore and some really good "gross out effects."

In the typical Mad Max style future we get to watch dirty caveman teens shed their inhibitions and their clothing (repeatedly)as they discover aspects of the "old world" that they did not know existed, such as group bathing, drugs, and alcohol.

Probably the highlight of this film is a ten minute orgy, as these teens that have lived under a repressive, hyporcital religion (is there any other kind in these films?) discover each other in what is some of the best group sex ever filmed outside of a porno movie.

Of course the world is not all as it seems and some of the teens start to die and we learn the big secret and blah.....blah....blah.

Overall there are some genuine scares amidst the standard dialogue, wooded acting and bare breasts!

I LOVE RICHARD HILLMAN!! ~ KimberliesWorld@aol.com
I loved this movie, Richard Hillman was an Awesome Beast!! I want to see more of him!!

Great Creature Flick!! The acting could have been a little better, but I had to give 5 stars because I can't believe all the bad reviews on this Great Movie. The story Larry Clark gives here will go down in history!!

You got to see it, you'll love it!!
Andrew Keegan and Richard Hillman are so Awesome!!
XOXO
Kimberlie

Richard Hillman is Awesome!! ` KimberliesWorld@aol.com
I gave this movie 5 starts because it was really good!! I really liked the story line Larry Clark was trying to give, and if you watch this movie with an open-mind you'll get the point.

I really liked this movie, but had to watch it a second time to really understand it's message. This one will go down in history!!

Really, keep and open-mind on this one.

Richard Hillman is an Awesome Beast!!
I LOVE HIM, and Want to See More of Him!!

Try watching "Kids" & "Bully" too.

Such a dissapointment
One of the worst things about a movie is when you see the potential it has and witness it falling flat on its face. The story is about a post apocolyptic world in which we are sent back to the days of cavemen, living in tribes, and killing our own food...that is when we can find it.

From the very first scene we are treated to half ass acting and plot holes. One of the leaders is murdered, blah blah, a different leader likes to rape girls, blah blah, and now a group of kids go out on their own.

Yeah, they're caught in a storm and when they wake up they are dressed in retro clothing and they are all laying on top of each other provocatively. Yeah...ummm....ok, so anyway, then two people at this house they are at inform them that they are the ones that saved their lives and ummm, yeah...then they all take a bath together. And have sex. Oh sorry, am I ruining the movie for you? Trust me, I'm not. If you're familiar with this director, you knew this is where everything was going.

Oh, and I guess when you have sex with someone you infect them with something and they die or something.

Hey, I'm just trying to write a review as half-ass as the movie.

So blah blah blah, stuff happens, and within the last 5 minutes we get to see the creature....and he barely does anything thanks to some confusing camera work.

So the idea seems alright but was executed piss poorly. This was a terrible waste of Stan Winston's talents as an effects artist.

Fortunately, the two other "Creature Features" I have seen were damn good films.

Earth Vs. The Spider was a psuedo superhero story with good directing and a good story.

She-Creature was more of the same albeit with a different story and more of a slower pace. Each great on their own merit.

Terrible
I really had high hopes for this since Larry Clark directed it and it was one of Stan Winston's creature features, but it is truly disturbing and not in a good way. Feels like teenage pornography after awhile jsut for the sake of it. I couldn't even finish it. Absolutely not for children. ... Read more