It's not surprising that, given its controversy-baiting subject matter, Larry Clark's directorial debut still splits audiences. Some see this rites-of-passage tale of New York kids indulging in unprotected sexual activities as little more than exploitative, camcorder-shot child porn with an AIDS subtext crowbarred in to deflect criticism. Yet this judgement is way too harsh: - while kids is certainly uncomfortable viewing, it's more a stylishly charged and socially aware wake-up.
DVD Extras:
A trailer. The cast of unknowns (including a young Chloë Sevigny) all provide naturalistic and utterly unselfconscious performances, but that ain't enough to distract you from the fact that, trailer aside, there's sweet Fanny Adams on this disappointing disc. The DVD transfer is surprisingly rich and crisp and kids still has power to shock, but the advantages of buying this over video cassette are negligible.
