5. Over The Edge (1979)

5. Over The Edge (1979)

In the mid- 20th century, many middle-class families moved out of urban areas to newly erected suburban communities in the middle of nowhere. Without the action of the city—movie theaters, roller rinks, record stores—teenagers turned to drugs, drink, sex, and vandalism to pass the time. So the kids in Over The Edge aren’t necessarily bad; they just don’t have anything else to do. Based on a San Francisco Examiner article titled “Mousepacks: Kids On A Crime Spree,” Over The Edge told the story of bored suburban youth growing up in a seemingly idyllic subdivision. A movie theater is supposed to be built in their town, but the adults put the kibosh in favor of an office park, inciting a suburb-wide youth rebellion. By the end of the film, the kids have trapped the adults in the school and are burning the town to the ground. In between their more dangerous activities, the kids listen to rock ’n’ roll (Cheap Trick contributes several songs to the soundtrack) and deal with their clueless parents as well as small-town cop Doberman. Due to its subject matter and violence, Over The Edge never received wide distribution, and became a cult favorite thanks largely in part to cable television. Kurt Cobain said that the film “pretty much defined my whole personality.” [Mike Vanderbilt]