Over the Edge is an American coming-of-age crime drama film directed by Jonathan Kaplan and released in May 1979. The film, based on actual events, had a limited theatrical release but has since achieved cult film status. It was Matt Dillon's film debut. Plot In the fictional isolated planned community of New Granada, east of Denver, Colorado, Carl Willat and his friends Richie White, Claude Zachary, and Claude's younger brother Johnny hang out at "the Rec" (Recreation Center), the only place for adolescents to recreate together, supervised by Rec counselor Julia Vogel. Atop an overpass, Mark Perry and his friend shoot a BB hole in the windshield of a passing patrol car and flee on their bikes, passing Carl and Richie and telling them to hide. Sergeant Ed Doberman arrives shortly, spots them and finds a pocket knife on Richie. He apprehends them and notifies Carl's father Fred, a local businessman. After questioning the pair about the BB gun, Doberman lectures Carl about potential imprisonment in "the Hill", a juvenile detention facility. The next day, during an assembly in the school's cafeteria about the previous day's events, Carl meets and befriends Cory. That evening, Carl asks about the land opposite the Rec, and Fred explains that Homeowners Association president Jerry Cole wants wealthy landowner Mr. Sloan to buy the land and build an industrial park there instead of the planned twin cinema and roller rink and bowling alley, infuriating Carl. At the playground, Claude buys a gram of hash from Tip. The group relocates to a nearby house after notification about a party there. Carl witnesses Cory making out with Mark, who warns him against mentioning his name to the cops. After Doberman arrives and announces the 9:30pm curfew, Carl walks home alone, unknowingly followed and assaulted by Mark and his friend. His parents catch him, interrupting their meeting with Cole. The next day, Doberman visits the Rec; ignoring Julia's objections, he finds drugs on Claude and apprehends him. He emerges to find Richie atop the patrol car, who escapes. Richie and Carl encounter Cory and her friend Abby, who have just stolen a pistol from a house. At a half-finished townhouse that the boys call their condo, they plan a 'picnic with a gun' the next day. Noticing Mr. Sloan's car at his house, Carl plants firecrackers under the hood, which detonate as the men are departing, sabotaging Sloan's