Smooth Talk 1985

Connie Wyatt, portrayed by Laura Dern, is a spirited 15-year-old eager to delve into the exciting realms of her burgeoning sexuality. As the summer gracefully drifts by, she finds herself lingering around her family’s farmhouse before the start of her sophomore year. Throughout this time, Connie feels overshadowed by the constant praises heaped upon her older sister, June, played by Elizabeth Berridge, while also facing the harsh criticisms of her mother, Mary Kay Place. Meanwhile, her father, Levon Helm, seems to navigate the family dynamics with ease, floating above the tensions that plague them.

Connie spends her days cruising the local mall with friends and engaging in flirtations with boys. However, when a date takes an unexpected turn leading to some heavy petting, she panics and escapes from the situation. One of her favorite hangouts is a popular hamburger drive-in where unbeknownst to her, an older man, played by Treat Williams, watches her intently. One fateful evening, as she leaves the drive-in, this man adopts a playful demeanor and chillingly declares, > “I’m watching you!”

Tension rises at home when Connie and her mother clash over her nighttime outings and flirtation habits, culminating in Katherine slapping Connie when their conversation elicits memories of Katherine’s own experiences as a young mother. Resentful, Connie opts out of a family barbecue that day, leaving her isolated in the house.

Later, the same man who had been observing her drives up in a flashy 1960s hot rod, the side of which boldly proclaims “Arnold Friend,” a name he claims is his own. He mimics the look and attitude of James Dean, dropping references to popular teenybopper acts despite being clearly in his thirties. Initially appearing charming, his demeanor shifts to something more sinister as he tries to entice Connie, revealing he knows shocking details about her life and their family’s barbecue plans.

When Connie firmly tells him to leave, he escalates the situation by threatening to burn down her house, compelling her to agree to a ride with him while his friend stays behind, supposedly to watch over her home. Upon her return, Connie appears disoriented and transformed, asserting to Arnold that she never wishes to encounter him again. It remains ambiguous whether their encounter escalated to something more sinister, but it is clear that Connie is no longer the carefree girl she once was.

When her family returns, Katherine expresses heartfelt remorse for their earlier argument, reassuring Connie that she is there for her. The film concludes with Connie choosing not to recount her harrowing experience to June, instead engaging in a gentle dance with her sister to James Taylor’s soulful rendition of “Handy Man.”