Kids (1995)

A disturbing, dark, low-budget independent film about a day in the life of a group of teens as they travel around New York City skating, drinking, smoking, stealing, deflowering virgins, baiting gays, beating a man in a park, skinny-dipping in a pool, crashing a party and talking shit about their two favourite subjects: skateboards and sex.

The story focuses on Telly (Leo Fitzpatrick), a 17-year-old who has a goal to take the virginity of as many girls as he can. When one of his old encounters discovers that she is HIV-positive, after only one encounter with him, Telly remains undaunted.

Telly brags to Casper (Justin Pierce) about busting two cherries in one day, letting his envious pal sniff his fingers, which are fresh from his latest conquest.

It’s not fucking that really turns Telly on, it’s telling about it afterwards.

The movie grossed a modest $7 million at the box office that summer – a wild success when you consider that it seemed no one would be able to sell a single ticket without going to jail.

There were threats of child obscenity, there were accusations of pornography, and there was a crippling MPAA rating of NC-17 (although the film was eventually released unrated). Screenings were often picketed by protesters, especially in Britain, where parliament quickly denounced the film.

Justin Pierce died in 2000 when he hanged himself in Las Vegas. Harold Hunter died in 2001 of a cocaine-related heart attack.

Telly
Leo Fitzpatrick
Casper
Justin Pierce
Paul
Sajan Bhagat
Stanley
Billy Valdes
Zack
Billy Waldeman
Javier
Javier Nunez
Luis
Luis Núñez
Christian
Christian Bruna
Alex
Alex Glen
Jennie
Chloë Sevigny
Ruby
Rosario Dawson
Susan
Julia Mendoza
Linda
Gillian Goldstein
Diane
Priscilla Forsyth
Harold
Harold Hunter
Steven
Jon Abrahams
Hamilton
Hamilton Harris
Jeff
Jeff Pang
Misha
Atabey Rodriguez

Director
Larry Clark