Bad Cinema

When I first found out that we were doing a lecture on bad cinema, I was thinking of badly made films, that were awful and didn't do too well. But when we watched Kids I realised that it is bad because of the issues it tackles. Kids is about a group of teenagers in America, who get drunk, take drugs, have unprotected sex and contract sexually transmitted diseases - already you see that the issues are many. The film caused great controversy when it was released in 1995 and as a result it was certified an eighteen, which meant that its target audience could not see it.

The worst part of the film (which is why it was made an 18) is when Casper rapes Jennie - with sleeping children in the room - who is in a drug/alcohol induced stupor. Another reason why it shocked people was because it almost seems real, as if it is some kind of documentary, because the camera wobbles at times, and some of the camera angles are unusual (almost unprofessional).

I know violence and rape scenes are difficult to watch, but i feel that the director, Larry Clark wanted to purposely shock the audience and try to show them just how horrifying a teenagers life in America can be. I think it was solely aimed at the teenagers it was about, because it serves as a warning....."don't take drugs and always use protection!". With kids it is also about not being afraid to show reality, Clark does not shy away from the sex scenes or the violence which made this film so controversial at the time. But now i think it has become some what less shocking, considering films that have been released since. I believe that society has become almost desensitised, with censorship not being as strict as it once was, the viewer can almost witness anything in a film. If Kids were to be released now, I don't think it would cause as much fuss as in 1995, although no doubt people would still feel uncomfortable when watching it. But i think it is effective in what it does and it certainly gives you an insight into how bad a teenagers life can be.

For more information about the films contraversy and critism, visit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_%28film%29