What Is Tart About?
The premise of Tart in 333 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the vaulted halls of an elite Manhattan prep school, a restless teenager struggles to navigate the invisible rules that separate the privileged from the outsiders. Cat Storm drifts between classrooms and stairwells, watching the glossy lives of her peers while yearning for a place among them. The city’s neon‑lit streets and the school’s austere corridors form a backdrop where ambition and anxiety intersect, setting a tone that feels both glamorous and suffocating.
At home, Lily Storm runs the household with a cool, demanding precision, while Cat’s father is largely absent and her younger brother retreats into his own anxieties. This strained family dynamic fuels Cat’s longing for acceptance elsewhere. Her closest confidante, Delilah Milford, is a free‑spirited rebel whose own wild reputation hints at a different kind of freedom—one that both intrigues and intimidates Cat. Their bond is tested as Delilah’s choices pull her toward a path that diverges sharply from the school’s polished expectations.
Seeking a foothold in the coveted “in‑crowd,” Cat befriends Grace Bailey, an English exchange student whose charm opens doors to exclusive gatherings. Through Grace, Cat encounters Peg, the charismatic host of high‑brow parties where the pulse of the 1980s beats in music, fashion, and whispered indulgences. Among the guests is William Sellers, a childhood acquaintance whose sensitivity seems to promise a deeper connection, and Kenny, a charismatic figure whose presence adds an undercurrent of risk. The parties become a seductive arena where social standing, desire, and the allure of excess swirl together, inviting Cat to confront the price of belonging.
The film balances the glitter of privileged social circles with the gritty reality of teenage yearning, painting a portrait of a young woman caught between family expectations, the magnetism of rebellion, and the seductive promise of acceptance. Its atmospheric tone blends the brisk, cold elegance of Manhattan’s elite with the restless, almost reckless energy of a generation eager to define itself—setting the stage for a story about identity, desire, and the hidden costs of chasing the crowd.
What Happens in Tart?
The complete story of Tart, from the first scene to the last, in 731 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 7 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In 1984, Cat Storm is a teenager attending an elite preparatory school in Manhattan. Her mother, Lily Storm, seems strict and cold, her divorced father is largely absent, and her younger brother is a hypochondriac. Her best friend is Delilah Milford, a free-spirited delinquent whose father is a major stockholder in ShopRite.
After Delilah’s expulsion for drug possession, Cat befriends Grace Bailey, an English exchange student who helps her get in with the popular crowd. The pair begin to attend high-brow parties hosted by Peg, where a gay ephebophile named Kenny supplies cocaine. Cat doesn’t participate in the drug use, but she is defended by William Sellers, a childhood friend from dance class. She quickly grows infatuated with him for seeming so sensitive and attentive to her.
Meanwhile, Delilah grows resentful of Cat for abandoning her, sending her dead flowers on her birthday. While partying, Cat’s new friends gossip about the string of jewellery thefts happening in their apartments. They also learn Delilah’s father has been arrested for kidnapping, after which they mock the Milford family’s dysfunctions.
Cat and William skip school for a walk in the park, where William opens up about his addiction. Later, Cat tells her mother that William has asked her out to Peg’s upcoming Christmas party. When William arrives to pick Cat up, he watches from the entryway as the pair argue, with Ms. Storm harshly expressing her awareness and disapproval of the boy’s delinquency. Cat insists he’s a good person and storms off to the party.
Peg’s party is crashed by Delilah, who confronts Cat in the bathroom before defecating in the group’s ice bucket and leaving. William pressures Cat into taking drugs, and feeling suffocated by her difficult home life, she goes overboard and experiences a blackout. The pair have sex, and an inebriated Cat confesses her last name is a pseudonym and her father is really Jewish.
The next day, Cat returns to her worried sick mother, who accuses her of borrowing an expensive pair of earrings. This leads to another argument, and Cat storms out once more. She tries to find William, getting a glimpse at his abusive, impoverished household in the process. They meet at a local recreation center, where William is suddenly acting cruel toward Cat for seemingly no reason. While trying to blow her off, an expensive watch falls from his hoodie pocket, and Cat realizes he’s the one stealing jewellery from everyone’s apartments, including her mother’s earrings.
Cat tries to tell Grace that William is the thief, only to get the cold shoulder from her. All of Cat’s friends start ignoring her, and she hears from a peer named Eloise Logan that William has been telling everyone about their intercourse at the Christmas party. Cat tries to confront Grace, who reveals that William also told everyone about her secret Jewish lineage, which makes Grace no longer want to associate with her. Ostracized, Cat starts trying to reconnect with Delilah, but can’t find her anywhere.
Still avoiding her mother, Cat falls asleep in the lobby of Delilah’s building. She’s awoken by Eloise, who’s going to The Hamptons with her family. Cat tags along after hearing Delilah will be at a party in the countryside. She successfully finds an inebriated Delilah at the beach party and apologizes for abandoning her. The two make amends, and Delilah walks to a nearby gay bar to ask Kenny for a ride back to the city. There, she witnesses Kenny pocketing all the stolen jewellery that William has sold to him. While leaving, she stumbles upon William receiving fellatio from a male drug dealer. Fretting over how much Delilah has just seen, William chases her into the woods and tries to explain himself. Things escalate until he pushes her, causing her to hit her head on a rock. Delilah screams at him and threatens to press charges, and in a panic, he beats her to death.
After Delilah’s sudden disappearance, Cat is forced to return to Eloise’s house alone. Delilah’s corpse is found the next morning, and William is swiftly arrested. Reporters interview the students with questions about Delilah, and they all deem her “reckless” and have little to say of her. Grace and Peg continue to defend William following his incarceration. Devastated and grieving, Cat makes amends with her mother, finally realizing her family is there for her if no one else is.
Tart Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Cat's elite Manhattan prep school life” to “Investigation, media, and family reconciliation”. 15 events name a place, across 14 locations.
- 1
Cat's elite Manhattan prep school life
In 1984, Cat Storm navigates the social pecking order at an elite Manhattan prep school. Her mother is strict and distant, her father is absent, and her younger brother is a hypochondriac, setting a tense home life. Cat's world begins to orbit around the school's social scene and the expectations that come with it.
When:1984 Where:Manhattan prep school
- 2
Delilah is expelled; Cat meets Grace
Delilah Milford is expelled for drug possession and Cat begins to look for a new ally. She befriends Grace Bailey, an English exchange student who introduces her to a different social circle. The two form a bridge to the popular crowd, shaking Cat's previously insulated world.
When:early 1984 Where:School and surrounding social scene
- 3
Grace leads Cat into Peg's party circuit
Grace helps Cat break into Peg's high-brow party circuit, where the crowd trades gossip, alcohol, and cocaine. Kenny, a party member, supplies the drugs to the attendees. Delilah's absence looms as the dynamics of status and risk intensify.
When:shortly after Grace's introduction Where:Peg's parties
- 4
William Sellers defends Cat; she grows infatuated
William Sellers, a childhood friend from a dance class, steps in to defend Cat during unsettling gossip about her, attracting her attention. Cat begins to develop feelings for him due to his sensitivity and attentiveness. Their growing closeness becomes a counterpoint to the turmoil around her.
When:early/mid-1984 Where:School and dance studio
- 5
Jewelry theft rumors surface; Delilah's father arrested
Whispers of jewelry theft run through the apartments, and news arrives that Delilah's father has been arrested for kidnapping. The crowd's judgment shifts toward Delilah and her circle, reflecting the volatile social atmosphere around Cat. The revelation adds personal danger to the glamour.
When:mid-1984 Where:Student apartments and party venue
- 6
Cat and William walk in the park; William opens up about addiction
Cat and William skip school for a walk in the park, where he opens up about his addiction and rough life at home. His honesty deepens Cat's perception of him, encouraging her to trust him despite the surrounding chaos. This moment cements the complexity of their bond.
When:during the school term Where:Local park
- 7
Cat tells mother William invited her to Peg's Christmas party
Cat tells her mother that William has asked her out to Peg's upcoming Christmas party, signaling a shift in her loyalties and the risk this relationship represents. Ms. Storm responds with disapproval, emphasizing her concern about William's delinquent influence. Cat's home life grows tenser as she rehearses the encounter.
When:before Christmas party Where:Cat's home
- 8
Peg's Christmas party turns chaotic
At Peg's Christmas party, Delilah crashes the bathroom, defecates in the ice bucket, and leaves in a rage. William pressures Cat into taking drugs, and overwhelmed by home life, Cat drinks too much, blacks out, and ends up having sex with William. In that moment, Cat confesses that her last name is a pseudonym and that her father is Jewish.
When:Christmas party night Where:Peg's party
- 9
Next-day confrontation with her mother
The following day Cat returns to her worried mother, who accuses her of borrowing an expensive pair of earrings. Cat storms out, while glimpsing William's impoverished, abusive household through a chance encounter. The home-life contrast intensifies her sense of isolation.
When:the day after Peg's party Where:Cat's home
- 10
Cat uncovers William's theft
Cat's investigation leads to a jolt: an expensive watch falls from William's hoodie, revealing him as the jewelry thief. She also glimpses his cruel, troubled life and realizes she may have misread him. The revelation leaves Cat isolated from her friends, who begin to gossip about the pair.
When:following the confrontation at Peg's party Where:Local recreation center and surrounding streets
Show the other 5 events of Tart Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Grace and Eloise reveal William's rumors; Cat is ostracized
Cat tries to tell Grace about William's theft, but Grace shuns her for her choices. Eloise then reveals that William told everyone about Cat and Grace's kiss and about Grace's Jewish lineage. The rumor mill makes Cat a pariah at school, and she struggles to stay connected to Delilah.
When:after the theft discovery Where:School
- 12
Cat seeks Delilah; heads to the Hamptons
Still avoiding her mother, Cat falls asleep in the lobby of Delilah's building and is woken by Eloise, who invites her to The Hamptons. Cat tags along to meet Delilah at a countryside party, hoping to reconcile and find her friend again. They journey toward a new setting where Delilah's fate will unfold.
When:toward the end of the year Where:Delilah's building lobby; The Hamptons
- 13
Delilah's party; Kenny and William reveal themselves
At a beach party in the countryside, Delilah witnesses Kenny pocketing jewelry and spots William with a male drug dealer, signaling the dangerous web surrounding them. The night spirals as Delilah tries to navigate the emerging betrayal and danger. The discovery foreshadows the tragedy to come.
When:The Hamptons party night Where:The Hamptons beach party
- 14
William's assault and Delilah's death
A confrontation in the woods erupts when William chases Delilah after the party. In a panic, he pushes her, she hits her head on a rock, and Delilah dies as he beats her in a final, devastating moment. His attempt to cover up leads to his arrest.
When:after the party Where:The woods near the party
- 15
Investigation, media, and family reconciliation
Delilah's body is found the next morning, and William is swiftly arrested as reporters question the students about Delilah's life and her recklessness. In the aftermath, Cat reconciles with her mother, realizing that her family is there for her even when friends fail. The tragedy becomes a catalyst for Cat to seek stability at home.
When:following Delilah's death Where:Various; the school, press, and home
Who Are the Main Characters in Tart?
8 characters, among them Cat Storm (Dominique Swain), Delilah Milford (Bijou Phillips) and Grace Bailey (Mischa Barton): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- CS
Cat Storm (Dominique Swain)
Played by Dominique Swain
A teenager at an elite Manhattan prep school who seeks belonging within a glittering social circle while trying to stay true to her own values. She resists heavy drug use at first but is drawn into the party scene and social pressures. The tension sharpens as she uncovers her family’s secrets and learns that her family’s support can matter more than the crowd’s approval.
- 🔥 Teen
- 🕊️ Self-discovery
- 💼 Privilege
- DM
Delilah Milford (Bijou Phillips)
Played by Bijou Phillips
Cat’s free-spirited best friend whose wealthy background and volatile family situation fuel her rebellious nature. She clashes with the social circle’s expectations and reacts with resentment when Cat becomes part of the popular crowd. Her storyline pivots on the social tension within the group and its ultimate tragedy.
- ⚡ Free spirit
- 🧭 Social clash
- 💔 Tragedy
-
Grace Bailey (Mischa Barton)
Played by Mischa Barton
An English exchange student who helps Cat break into the high-society crowd and navigate its politics. She becomes entangled in the clique’s dynamics and rumors, showing both curiosity and vulnerability. Her presence highlights the allure and danger of fitting in.
- 🌍 Outsider
- 🗂️ Social dynamics
- 👥 Friendship
-
William Sellers (Brad Renfro)
Played by Brad Renfro
A sensitive teen from an abusive, impoverished home who hides his theft and attraction to the crowd behind a charming exterior. He pulls the group into a circle of deceit and ultimately commits a violent act that changes everyone’s lives. His actions expose the darkness that can lurk beneath a privileged surface.
- 🧩 Antihero
- 🕵️♂️ Deception
- 🥀 Tragedy
-
Peg (Nora Zehetner)
Played by Nora Zehetner
The queen bee of the high-society set who hosts and choreographs the parties. She wields social power through gossip and status, shaping who gets invited and who is out. Even after William’s arrest, her circle’s dynamics continue to influence the group.
- 👑 Social Power
- 🗣️ Gossip
- 🎉 Party
- EL
Eloise Logan (Lacey Chabert)
Played by Lacey Chabert
A peer who helps lure Cat into the Hamptons party circuit. She embodies gatekeeping and status signaling, and she becomes a conduit for the clique’s drama. Her presence underscores how social hierarchies operate in this world.
- 🪪 Gatekeeping
- 🪄 Social status
- 👯 Friendship
- K(
Kenny (Scott Thompson)
Played by Scott Thompson
A cocaine supplier who fuels the party culture that defines the group’s nights. He is depicted as a shady figure within the social circle, illustrating how drugs tie into status and control. His role heightens the danger surrounding the teens’ indulgent lifestyle.
- 💊 Drug Trade
- ⚠️ Danger
- 🕶️ Shadowy figure
- LS
Lily Storm (Alberta Watson)
Played by Alberta Watson
Cat’s mother, a strict and emotionally distant figure who represents the parental pressure that accompanies privilege. Her disapproval and high expectations contribute to Cat’s sense of isolation at home. The dynamic between mother and daughter fuels the film’s emotional core.
- 👩👧 Family
- 🧊 Cold parenting
- 🏛️ Privilege
Where and When Is Tart Set?
Tart is set in Manhattan and The Hamptons (1984). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1984
Set in 1984, the film follows privileged teens through a winter party season and school-year pressures within Manhattan’s social elite. The era’s fashion and drug undercurrents shape the experiences of these young characters. The narrative shows how wealth and reputation influence choices and consequences.
Where
Manhattan, The Hamptons
The film centers on an elite Manhattan prep school and its surrounding social circle in New York City. It moves from the city’s high-society parties to gatherings in the Hamptons, illustrating a glittering yet precarious lifestyle. The settings emphasize the contrast between urban ambition and coastal leisure within privileged youth culture.
- 🗽 Manhattan
- 🏖️ The Hamptons
What Are the Themes of Tart?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Elite Pressure, Betrayal and Identity.
-
01
Elite Pressure
The story probes the crushing expectations of wealth and status in a privileged teenage world. Characters navigate a social ladder built on appearances, gossip, and reputation, often at the expense of honesty. The pressure to fit in drives risky behavior and moral compromises.
-
02
Betrayal
Friendships fracture as rumors, theft, and romantic entanglements collide with deceit. The group’s dynamic shows how loyalty can be contingent on status and perception. The consequences escalate to a tragic act that exposes the fragility of their bonds.
-
03
Identity
Cat’s personal journey unfolds as she tests boundaries and confronts family secrets. The film explores how identity is shaped by home life, social expectations, and the double lives people lead in elite circles. Revelation of truth about lineage and name prompts self-reflection and growth.
What Kind of Film Is Tart?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A dark, intense coming-of-age drama set in a wealthy but toxic teenage world, filled with anxiety, betrayal, and the devastating consequences of the protagonist's desperate quest for social acceptance.
- anxious
- gritty
- claustrophobic
- cynical
- lonely
- melancholic
- coming of age
- teenage angst
- dysfunctional family
- social exclusion
Content notes: murder, underage drug use, underage drinking, sexual content, emotional abuse, bullying.
Quiz
How well do you remember Tart? Test yourself on the story.
