Little Darlings

Little Darlings (1980) is a coming-of-age drama directed by Ronald F. Maxwell that you can watch online on iFILM. Two fifteen-year-olds land at summer camp from opposite ends of the social spectrum: Ferris from money and polish, Angel from nowhere in particular. Within days they have a bet — who loses her virginity first. Both are bluffing.

Tatum O'Neal plays Ferris, Kristy McNichol plays Angel, and a very young Matt Dillon turns up as Randy, the boy Angel has picked. The film is not interested in the bet as a punchline. It's interested in what happens when two teenagers who perform toughness get close enough to drop it. The contest falls away; what's left is two kids figuring out that wanting something and being ready for it are different things.

For 1980, the film was unusually direct about adolescent desire without turning it into comedy or cautionary tale. It holds up better than most of its era because it actually likes its characters. Stream Little Darlings (1980) online on iFILM.