Dazed and Confused

Cast is almost entirely White, with only two Black characters (Mr. Payne and Melvin) delivering any lines. They fall into clichéd roles: Mr. Payne (Julius Tennon) shares stories about his time in the military, and Melvin's (Jason O. Smith) biggest moment is showing off his dance moves. Women are relegated to supporting and minor roles as love interests, moms, and classmates, and they're often objectified ("I just want to know, are you gonna be f--kin' her later or are you gonna be a little wimp?").

Older teens conduct humiliating and violent hazing of graduating middle schoolers, including viciously paddling them, "tarring and feathering" them with mustard, ketchup, and flour, etc. The cruelty is generally accepted by the locals, but two boys are saved by one's shotgun-wielding mother. Kids drive around town, heaving garbage cans at mailboxes and performing other acts of vandalism. A man whose mailbox was broken comes after them with a gun and shoots as they drive away. Two drunk teenagers throw punches at each other. An adult character alludes to preferring sex with high school/underage girls.

A boy refers to a girl with "big knockers." A teen comes on to his teacher, saying he's old enough to be legal. Football players discuss being on the team just "to get laid." Teens make out, fully clothed.

"F--k," "s--t," "bitch," "Jesus" (as exclamation), "p---y," "pansies," "homo," "knockers," "hell," "slut," "bang," and "shut up."

Teens smoke cigarettes and marijuana and drink alcohol, some to inebriation. A high schooler swallows a pill, seemingly to get high. Though drugs and alcohol are central to the film, characters learn lessons from how their use could easily turn into abuse.