During summer vacation on Fire Island, three young people become very close. When an uncool girl tries to infiltrate the trio's newly found relationship, they construct an elaborate plot that has violent results.
Acting
Catherine Burns' devastating Oscar-nominated fragility.
Direction
Frank Perry's creeping dread in golden hour light.
Writing
Eleanor Perry's adaptation preserves the novel's moral rot.
Director
Frank Perry
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Banned in several countries for its frank sexuality; Roger Ebert gave it four stars while calling it 'sick.' The novel's author Frank D. Gilroy hated the adaptation.
A missing link between Lord of the Flies and Heathers—this is where the 'savage innocent' teen archetype got its modern DNA. Barbara Hershey later said playing Sandy haunted her.
US
