“Kids” is a 1995 controversial Coming-of-Age drama Directed by Larry Clark and written by Harmony Korine. The film stars Leo Fitzpatrick as Telly, Chloë Sevigny as Jennie, Rosario Dawson as Ruby, Justin Pierce as Casper, Jon Abrahams as Steven, and Harold Hunter (RIP) as Harold.
“Kids” is a raw, unfiltered, and disturbing portrayal of teenage life in 1990s New York City, following a day in the life of sexually promiscuous, drug-using, and unruly youth. The film shocked audiences with its graphic depictions of underage sex, drug use, and nihilistic behavior, sparking widespread controversy and debate.
The story centers around Telly, “The Virgin Surgeon” (Leo Fitzpatrick), a manipulative, streetwise teenager obsessed with deflowering virgins. He sees this as his personal mission and justifies his actions with twisted logic, believing that having sex with virgins protects him from sexually transmitted diseases. At the film’s start, Telly seduces a 13-year-old girl into losing her virginity. Afterward, he meets up with his best friend, Casper (Justin Pierce), a reckless, substance-abusing skater who thrives on chaos.
The two boys spend the day roaming the streets, stealing, getting high, and looking for their next sexual conquest. Telly has set his sights on another young girl, Darla (played by a non-professional actress), whom he hopes to seduce by the night’s end. Meanwhile, Jennie (Chloë Sevigny), a quiet and somewhat reserved teenager, goes to a free health clinic with her friend Ruby (Rosario Dawson) to get tested for HIV and other STDs. Ruby, who has had multiple sexual partners, tests negative. Shockingly, Jennie, who has only had sex once with Telly, tests positive for HIV. Horrified and confused, Jennie desperately tries to find Telly to warn him before he infects more girls.
She embarks on a desperate journey through New York City, searching for him at parties, skate parks, and hangouts, but Telly is always one step ahead. Telly and Casper continue their reckless path as the day turns into night. They attend a wild party filled with underage drinking, drugs, and meaningless sex. Jennie finally finds the party but arrives too late. Telly has already taken Darla to a private room and raped her while she is barely conscious. Jennie, in shock, watches but is too powerless to stop him. The night ends with an even darker moment: Casper, high and drunk, finds Jennie unconscious from exhaustion and drug use. In a disturbing final scene, Casper rapes Jennie while she is asleep, unknowingly exposing himself to HIV. The film ends the following day with Casper waking up and muttering in confusion, “Jesus Christ, what happened?”
The screen cuts to black, leaving the audience to only wonder. The film, upon its release, was almost immediately shrouded in controversy, including accusations of Child Pornography and overly graphical content. This stems from the film’s usage of actors as young as 15 engaging in sex scenes, drug use, and violence, leading some critics to label it as exploitative. Director Larry Clark claimed the film was a realistic portrayal of urban youth, but critics argued it glorified reckless behavior.
The script, written by then-19-year-old Harmony Korine, was based on real experiences in New York City’s skater and drug scene. On the other hand, others argued the film was one of the first mainstream movies to address the spread of HIV among teenagers, sparking conversations about safe sex. Some advocacy groups praised its raw honesty, while others condemned it as fear-mongering and sensationalist.
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