This savagely controversial, deeply brutal movie, the debut of many notable talents, was notorious in its day and still is. 'Kids' is definitely not for "kids," but it's an unsettlingly effective cautionary tale.

| Original Score: 4/5 | May 18, 2024

[Kids'] rough, in-your-face approach to exposing the perils of teenage promiscuity teaches a harsh lesson.

| May 13, 2022

The film's lack of thesis and use of realistic sex/rape scenes provides no medicine to the wound it gives the viewers, offering nothing interesting to declare about the problems it presents to us. Instead it only sticks the knife in deeper.

| Dec 9, 2021

The parallel seductions serve to show the audience that male sexuality is predatory and female sexuality is passive and victim-based.

| Dec 17, 2020

In the end, Kids is bound to enrage some viewers, enthrall others and confound most (even among those very teens who aren't allowed in because of the film's non-rated release to avoid the dreaded NC-17).

| Oct 24, 2018

Kids is stunningly anti-erotic, though not untainted by sensationalism. By condensing all this inflammatory material into a 24-hour time frame, Clark and Harmony Korine create an overwrought narrative that's sometimes tedious in its relentlesshess.

| Feb 16, 2018

Exploitative, gross, and despicable...

| Jun 25, 2015

| Original Score: C+ | Sep 7, 2011

There really are some kids who think like this, and these are the kids who should see this film

| Original Score: B | May 12, 2011

Pedophilia, pedophilia, pedophilia.

Full Review | Original Score: 0/5 | Oct 13, 2007

The first-time director, Larry Clark, is rather like his protagonist: He comes on to you, has his rough way with you, and leaves you feeling empty and violated.

| Original Score: C- | Aug 4, 2007

Full Review | Original Score: 0/5 | May 7, 2007

In its candid and bold approach, Larry Clarke's controversial film dwarfs all of Hollywood's youth movies, crossing new boundaries in its portrayal of sex and drugs; for a change, real teenagers, not actors in their 20s, play the roles.

| Original Score: B | Dec 19, 2006

Everything seems hopeless; the rawness of the voyeuristic film gives it a feel of authenticity.

| Original Score: B- | Dec 17, 2005

Overrated reality slop.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 2, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 29, 2005

insightful but indulgent

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 5, 2005

Appalling, immoral rubbish palmed off as art.

Full Review | Original Score: 0/5 | Jan 26, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 12, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 7, 2004