Theme Song: You can’t even hang with this song:
“Out of Control” by Brothers Johnson, better known for “Strawberry Letter 23” and “Stomp!” Seriously, this song is bonkers.
“There’s No Easy Way” by James Ingram. This is an ‘80s R&B song your mom may have slow-danced to and it may bring back sensitive memories for her, so please don’t let her hear you playing this.
An untitled freak-out by Hawk (possibly). A guy named “Hawk” has a “Music By” credit, so let’s assume this is him. It jams. I’ll even go so far as to say, it shreds. He should be more proud of this.
Interesting Dated References: Spoiled high school kids stumbling upon international drug-smuggling operation stash spots; International drug-smuggling operation stash spots being full of unattended potted meat and vodka.
Best Line: None.
Social Context: One of many post-Red Dawn “teens in trouble” movies, Out of Control fell victim to production issues and was hurriedly edited and released to theaters and home video in 1986. This thing clocks in at 78 minutes and that’s with extended (and annoying) music video-style opening and closing credits.
The opening credits play like a 1985 gum commercial, with various teens “acting silly” on camera. This piece of cinema is so of-the-time it’s worth checking out.
Summary: A bunch of teens get on a private plane after graduation to head to a private island owned by Keith’s parents (Keith is played by Martin Hewitt, Alien Predator, Two Moon Junction, Endless Love). But as luck would have it, the plane crashes and the pilot dies because he is old and not able-bodied like all the teens. Luckily they crash right next to an unoccupied island. Stressed from the crash, the ladies cope the only way teenage girls can: swimming in their underwear.
Stressed from a day of collecting food and provisions (including aforementioned potted meat and vodka they find in an empty lean-to), the teens pass the evening the only way they know how: playing strip spin the bottle and pairing off for sexual relations.
The next day, Russian drug smugglers arrive looking for their potted meat and vodka, but the teens refuse to give it up. There are a lot of gunshots, some attempted raping, a few bullet wounds, maybe another boob or two, and then the teens (who all look like they are 30) manage to overpower the drug lords and fly away in their drug plane.
Worth Mentioning:
– For those who only care about boobs: No, Sherilyn Fenn is not naked in this movie. She is, however, braless most of the time, wearing some type of supportive undershirt.
– Much of the cast does very well with the drama and action, including: Betsy Russell (Avenging Angel, Tomboy, 5 of the Saw films) as Chrissie, the “tough girl”; Claudia Udy (Savage Dawn) as Tina, the slut who isn’t really a slut, but is just misunderstood; Andrew Lederer as Eliott, the “fucking dork”; and Jim Youngs (Footloose, Youngblood) as Cowboy, the “loner who still gets invited to social gatherings.”
Poster and Box Art: The New World home video release prominently features Russell and is pretty boring:
These two theatrical posters are much better. So much airbrush/gouache action going on here. I should be less lazy and track down higher resolution versions of these:
Availability: Re-released on Blu-ray in 2017 by Ronin Flix/Code Red. This disc includes the 78-minute theatrical cut in SD, as well as a newly-restored HD cut that’s 10 minutes longer. If you’re really concerned about the differences, you can read more about it here. Includes commentary from director Allan Holzman, which details some of the production issues.