DCA Archive

Beyond Clueless

Charlie Lyne

A stylish documentary that combines key moments from some 200 teen movies, Beyond Clueless is written and directed by award-winning film critic Charlie Lyne, narrated by cult teen star Fairuza Balk (The Craft, Almost Famous), and features an original score by acclaimed pop duo Summer Camp.

Digging through the vaults of teen classics (and a fair few that didn’t quite make it) questions are asked about what’s really going on behind the raucous house parties, glittering prom nights and joyous graduations. Is The Craft the ultimate teenage survival guide? Can the little-seen Devon Sawa vehicle Idle Hands shine a light on the horrors of pubescence? And what’s really going on beneath the skin of EuroTrip? Putting the spotlight on the habitats, habits and behaviours of the American teenager (in all its many forms) this documentary ranges from the hilarious to the occasionally really quite scary and back again.