DCA Archive

Beyond Clueless - Schools Screening

Level 4 and Senior Phase - Age 15+

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 beneath the skin of EuroTrip? Shining a 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.

Not just of interest to someone who is (or has been) a teenager, this film makes an interesting text for those studying media representations and/or genre theory. Looking at it in conjunction with some of the other teen movie titles in the Discovery programme – Geography Club, Sitting Next To Zoe or 1987, for example – can offer an interesting blend of theory and practice.

Dir: Charlie Lyne
UK 2014 / Digital / 1h29m / Age 15+
English