Little Darlings 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Little Darlings 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 24, 2024

Summer camp cinema received a boost of popularity with the success of 1979’s “Meatballs,” which provided an inspired round of campground shenanigans and undersexed characters, supported by the star appeal of Bill Murray. 1980’s “Little Darlings” initially seems as though it’s headed in the same creative direction, once again returning to the great outdoors with teen players only interested in the mysteries of the opposite sex as they go about their daily adventures. The screenplay by Kimi Peck and Dalene Young is happy to indulge a little silliness when introducing the ensemble and the location, but “Little Darlings” sobers up quickly, daring to be a film about female sexuality and relationships that takes emotions seriously. There’s bravery to the feature that’s wonderful to see, even when director Ron Maxwell can’t always balance the tone of the endeavor.

Summer has arrived, and Angel (Kristy McNichol) is off to Camp Little Wolf. She’s joined by a pack of campers, including young actress Cinder (Krista Errickson), while Ferris (Tatum O’Neal) is a last-minute addition to the group. Born into privilege, Ferris struggles to find friends, rubbing Angel the wrong way, with the pair experiencing tension as camp activities begin. Working with this nervous energy, Cinder proposes a contest, putting Angel and Ferris in a race to see who can lose their virginity first, with $100 and bragging rights up for grabs. Ferris targets counselor Gary (Armand Assante), an older man who isn’t sure what’s going on with all this new attention. Angel hunts for Randy (Matt Dillon), a teen from nearby Camp Tomahawk. As the quest to experience sex intensifies, Ferris and Angel encounter feelings they’re unprepared for, managing peer pressure and uncertainty as they face maturity.

Bad influences are part of the dramatic foundation for “Little Darlings.” Angel is a tough teen living around sexual predators, and her mother (Maggie Blye) is more attentive to her own needs than her daughter. Ferris is born into wealth, but her parents are breaking up, witnessing the death of love and the fracture of her home life. The young women are shipped off for the summer in the film, forced to get to know each other at Camp Little Wolf, which also welcomes other colorful children, including hippie Sunshine (Cynthia Nixon) and 10-year-old Penny (Abby Bluestone). Cinder is the star of the camp, enjoying her fame as a commercial actress, and she’s the instigator when it comes to the central wager of “Little Darlings,” manipulating tension between the girls into a deflowering contest that intends to play carelessly with serious human experiences.

“Little Darlings” moves with lightness for its first half, setting the scene at the camp, where the teens enjoy activities, including archery, which is taught by Gary. The campers are quick with binoculars, spying on Camp Tomahawk, with Randy singled out as the boy for Angel. The gang also steals a bus to acquire condoms, and there’s a food fight in the dining hall. Instead of escalating into mischief, the writing starts to slow down when it comes to developing relationships. Ferris tries to display her willingness to Gary, who steps carefully around such attention. He’s not a creep, but he seems to enjoy her company, meeting a seemingly sophisticated girl while dealing with children all day. “Little Darlings” is more interested in Angel and Randy, who embark on a journey into sex without a plan to deal with emotions, keeping the young woman on edge as the bet becomes a terrifying reality.

Little Darlings 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray release.

"Little Darlings" makes its way to UHD via Cinematographe, who work with a "New 4K restoration from the original camera negative, presented in HDR." The feature was previously available on VHS, T.V., and cable, making the viewing experience something special as "Little Darlings" is finally handed a theatrical-like appearance. Grain is heavy but nicely resolved. Cinematographic softness is retained, and detail is appealing, exploring textured skin particulars and costuming on the cast. Camp interiors are preserved, and exteriors do well with distances exploring the expanse of the outdoors. Color is inviting, with deep greenery and natural skin tones. Period style delivers active primaries. Cabin life maintains a woodsy brown. Hair color is also distinct, with sharp reds and sandy brunettes. Blacks are deep throughout. Highlights are tasteful, with a richer sense of sun. Source is in good condition.

Little Darlings 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers clear dialogue exchanges, supporting a few distinct performance choices and some mumbled lines from the cast. Scoring delivers a clean sound, securing dramatic emphasis with strong instrumentation. Soundtrack selections are crisp, offered emphasis when necessary. Camp atmospherics are appreciable.

Little Darlings 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (40 pages) offers essays by Quatoyiah Murry and Kate Hagen, and a comic strip by Nicole Testa LaLiberty.

• Commentary #1 features director Ron Maxwell.

• Commentary #2 features podcaster Millie De Chirico.

• "Art and Business" (54:33, HD) is an interview with director Ron Maxwell. The interviewee shares his career opportunities in the 1970s, going from work as Charlton Heston's assistant to time with theatrical productions turned into public television specials. In 1978, Maxwell was put in charge of "Verna: USO Girl," a television production starring Sissy Spacek and William Hurt. Dealing with Hollywood "false starts" on a number of follow-up projects, the helmer landed "Little Darlings," newly tasked with maintaining a seriocomic approach to the material, with the studio wanting another "Meatballs." Maxwell does a deep dive into casting, dealing with two talented but different performers in McNichol and O'Neal, who were able to communicate the delicate ideas in the screenplay. Technical goals are analyzed, including the use of widescreen cinematography, while Maxwell was very careful with his close-ups, always attentive to character. Director cut blues are shared, with executive Don Simpson demanding a more mainstream picture, but a test screening managed to change the fate of Maxwell's cut. Soundtrack and scoring highlights are noted, along with complications involved in the rights to these songs, taking "Little Darling" out of home video circulation for decades. The conversation closes with an overview of the television cut that was prepared without Maxwell's involvement.

• T.V. Version Intro (11:14) is an audio discussion of the network version of "Little Darlings," with director Ron Maxwell providing some insight into its origin, which was assembled without him. Trying to right a wrong, Maxwell supplies fresh notes on the creation, looking back on scenes that were deleted for pacing and technical reasons. Character beats are revisited, and the general sloppiness of the T.V. cut is identified, including its pan & scan presentation and the crude removal of all references to virginity.

• Alternate Scenes (5:53, HD) are provided.

• "Don't Let the Title Fool You: 'Little Darlings' Beyond the Teen Sex Comedy" (19:47, HD) is a video essay by Samm Deighan.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included on this release.

Little Darlings 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Little Darlings" goes from silly to serious without a smooth transition, but the screenplay heads to real places with these characters, taking time to examine big feelings and tough questions when it comes to sexuality. The writing is extremely interested in the emotional health of Ferris and Angel, and McNichol and O'Neal are superb in the lead roles, with the former truly tapping into the confusion and disillusionment of the wager, registering real fragility in her performance. "Little Darlings" ends up in intimate areas of response and friendship, with Maxwell trying to reach beyond misbehavior to touch on the pressures and pains of adolescence, emerging with a movie that's ultimately quite delicate despite a story that initially promises hard edges and goofiness.