This fairly well paced and edited film has a lot to say about American life: the small town, police power, environmental impacts and the criminal justice system. What exactly it says about all these things isn't always clear other than nothing is really what it seems. Weld's and Perkins' characters flip so convincingly that it's believable and shocking at the same time.

The turn of events is quite well plotted out and develops in interesting directions. The film also has a French New Wave aura to it at times, with the quick flashbacks and characters pretending to be something else... I definitely felt a Band of Outsiders meets Shoot the Piano Player vibe. Weld and Perkins are playing much younger than their actual ages, and it shows, but otherwise their performances are solid. Very intriguing little cult film.

A thriller directed with considerable style. Perkins is excellent, and Tuesday Weld does the best work of her career.