Some films can be both equally admirable and alienating. Kids is a well-crafted yet ugly portrait of a group of adolescents living irresponsibly during a hot summer day in Manhattan. The three main characters are Telly (Leo Fitzpatrick), Casper (Justin Pierce) and Jenny (Chloe Sevigny). Telly is a bastard child, who’s only ambition is to have sex–specifically to deflower virgins. Casper is Telly’s best friend who spends most of his time drinking beer and doing drugs. And Jenny is one of Telly’s sexual conquests. A young Rosoro Dawson also stars in this movie, playing Jenny’s closest friend.

The outlook for these particular youths is bleak. They engage in unprotected sex and consume high levels of drugs and alcohol. The filmmakers show them living in their own world, not concerned about consequences. With the exception of Jenny, there is not one decent person in this film. Both Telly and Casper are selfish and have no interest in others except themselves. Sure, there are brief moments where Casper gives change to a homeless man, but afterwards him and Telly are off trying to score drugs, steal or have sex with naïve girls.

The most effective part about this film is the craftsmanship. Larry Clark’s eye for positioning his camera is immaculate. The dialogue sounds natural and never feels like written dialogue. The handheld camera that Larry Clark has employed is effective, giving the entire film a documentary feel. At times, the film plays like an episode of the Real World that was too graphic to air on MTV.

Many who despise this film have good reason to. Telly and Casper are amoral and are so self absorbed with themselves from the beginning to the end of the film. Telly and Casper don’t change and while the character of Jenny changes, it isn’t for the better. Also, even though Larry Clark presents everything in a realistic manner, you can’t help but feel like you are watching an exploitation film border lining on child pornography.

Kids is an accurate portrayal but of a small minority of kids. The kids in this movie have no guidance and have lost or never gained a code of ethics. Although disturbingly realistic, Kids is not for everybody. This is perhaps the darkest portrait of youth culture ever to be captured on film.