So hard to believe that this film came out nearly two decades ago, five years before Columbine made the topic of juvenile violence so taboo in teen movies. And it still remains impressive as an examination of girls' anger rather than boys, as a meditation on the possible yet inexplicable outcome of childhood torment.spoiler of ending ahead - Two girls meet one afternoon and, after sharing stories of their childhood abuses and going on a cross-neighborhood prank spree, end up murdering an elderly woman in a cathartic rampage of unleashed aggression. Their lack of motive for the crime and their passionately non-sexual devotion to each other baffle the authorities who question them: for these effectively parentless children, the path from conversation to confession to stealing to games to jokes to murder is a logical progression, and the film leaves open the unsettling question if many young women are simply waiting for the right partner with whom to follow a similar epiphanic trajectory. In the end, after being imprisoned, one of the girls kills herself when she learns that the two of them will be separated, which becomes her twisted attempt to immortalize their uniquely understanding relationship. The film wisely concludes that the diffuse yet damaging oppressions of girls may lead to all manner of "fun" or furious outbursts and reactions.

This film represents the best of independent film. The director obviously recognized the talents of two rising stars and utilized their abilities in this gritty compelling drama. Why this film did so abysmally and garbage like Dogma gets worlds of acclaim I have no idea.Check it out!

This film was disappointing. I thought some of the acting was very weak (especially anytime Alicia Witt had a "ranting happy" scene). The actors playing the 'adult inquisitors' have no chemistry together, as demonstrated in the horrible "funny" back and forth they give each other.This was based on a play, and I'm sure the play is better. This could be a radio drama, as the advantages of "film" are never really used (only the actual murder scene and a sped-up "hanging out" montage are cinematic at all, the rest was just like a filmed stage performance).Renee Humphrees was fantastic, a surprise after seeing her light and fluffy appearance in 'Mallrats'. The woman playing Mrs. Foster is good, too. But I probably wouldn't recommend it- unless you're an "Old Lady Mutilation" completist.

I saw this film at about 2am over a year ago on Channel 4 in the UK. Whilst very disturbing and depressing, the direction and concepts behind the film are nothing less than amazing; making the viewing very compelling indeed. The acting is incredibly intense, making the subject matter all the more uncomfortable - it came as no shock to read in the end-credits details of consultant psychologists on the film. I'd never heard of the film until I accidentally tuned into it - the reviews that accompanied it in various magazines rated it as 1 and 2 stars (out of 5) respectively - a sorry comment on the closed-mindedness and inability to face the more uncomfortable aspects of reality that can be found in some professional reviewers. This is an amazing film - if you are feeling relatively stable, go and see it as soon as possible.