Free-spirited 15-year-old Connie Wyatt (Laura Dern) is too young to drive, but not too young to drive the boys crazy. She also wants to escape the boredom of family farm life.
Her suspicious mother (Mary Kay Place) wants to keep her safely at home with her older sister June (Elizabeth Berridge), but she wants to while away the languid summer days hanging out with her friends and flirting with boys at the local mall or burger stand.
When she flirts with a mysterious, handsome stranger named Arnold Friend (Treat Williams), she finds herself in danger with traumatic consequences.
This disturbing coming of age drama is slow-paced and moody but Laura Dern gives a remarkable performance.
Based on the short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates which, in turn, was inspired in part by the true story of serial killer Charles Howard Schmid, nicknamed the “Pied Piper of Tucson”.
Arnold Friend
Treat Williams
Connie Wyatt
Laura Dern
Katherine Wyatt
Mary Kay Place
Laura
Margaret Welsh
Jill
Sara Inglis
Harry Wyatt
Levon Helm
June Wyatt
Elizabeth Berridge
Ellie
Geoff Hoyle
Jeff
William Ragsdale
Eddie
David Berridge
Stan
Michael French
Laura’s Mother
Joy Carlin
Bobby King
Mark McKay
Laura’s Dad
William Desmond
Leroy
Michael Vaughn
Director
Joyce Chopra