Over the Edge

Synopsis of Movie
A perfect housing development means a perfect family, right? At least that’s what suburbia’s real estate agents will tell you. But in New Granada, a patch of cookie cutter homes dumped right in the middle of rural Colorado, the “perfect” formula didn’t quite hash out. Based on actual events, director Jonathan Kaplan (River’s Edge, The Accused) explores teen malaise in this 1979 drama about a troubled post-hippie era suburban community. Over the Edge is a portrait of disaffected but rebellious youth that are still fueled by the nearly expired fumes of social turmoil that ravaged the 1960's and early 1970's. Pull the dusty tube socks up and assemble your meanest sneer, because your mom’s going to barge in any second to turn down the Cheap Trick on your eight track. Ah man, it’s like clockwork.
Except for slouching around at the rec center and the odd vacant lot, there is absolutely nothing to do, legal or otherwise, if you’re a kid in New Granada. But the older generation doesn’t have it much easier-it’s not exactly a boom time in the suburbs right now. Sales at the Cadillac dealership are down; plans for the new bowling alley have officially been scrapped. The locals community leaders are wringing their hands about real estate prices, and the local sheriff is taking his (considerable) frustration out on the kids because he’s got nothing better to do.
But in his defense, these aren’t exactly Stepford kids: Mark lives in a junkyard, where his family consists of a mini-bike; Richie (Matt Dillon, in his film debut) is on probation, loves nothing more than a little verbal repartee with the sheriff, and is currently mentoring his best friend Carl in the art of the mouth-off as well. When the Kids and the Law finally tangle to the point of tragedy, concerned parents and community leaders hold a meeting in the school cafeteria, but are promptly locked inside while the mutinous youths run amok.
This was Orion Pictures' first release, and it took a gritty, deglamorized look at teenage life when grit wasn’t exactly status quo in the teen genre. It wasn’t all boredom and angst, of course - there was some of BB gunning and revelry, and that standout soundtrack with the likes of Cheap Trick, The Cars, Aerosmith and Van Halen. If nothing else, Over the Edge will remind you of growing up in the late 1970's, the clothing you wore, the people you knew and the way you talked.
Movie Release History
1979 - Over the EdgeMovie Sub Categories
live-actiondrama
Movie Studio
Orion, Warner Bros.Cast
Carl Michael Eric KramerCory Pamela Ludwig
Richie Matt Dillon
Mark Vincent Spano
Claude Tom Fergus
Doberman Harry Northup
Fred Willat Andy Romano
Sandra Willat Ellen Geer
Cole Richard Jamison
Julia Julia Pomeroy
Johnny Tiger Thompson
Tip Eric Lalich
Abby Kim Kliner
Party Host Frank Mugavero
Lisa Kristina Hanson
Marcy Diane Reilly
Outlaw Jeff Fleury
Sloan Lane Smith
Johnson Bill Whedbee
Principal Molly McCarthy
Science Teacher Gary Tessler
Art Teacher Polly Shaw
Lincoln Mike Osborne
Hays Frank Bauer
P.T.A. Officer Susan von Till
Alan Brian Parker
Tip's Mother Irene Lalich
Richies Mother Laura Brew-Sluder
Little Brother Bert Benvenuti
School Kid Bobby Johnson
School Kid Dave Dent
School Kid Jeff Stover
School Kid Julia Gabriel
School Kid Michael Jones
School Kid Cindy Lockert
School Kid Linda Beruie
School Kid Paul Cowan