That this was directed by Richard Linklater is probably reason enough to watch it, but it’s also one of those high-school coming-of-age movies that went on to become a cult favorite. As one of Linklater’s earliest movies, it’s apparently the first one to have any recognizable stars in it even if most of them were unknowns when they appeared here. Watch out in particular for a very young and slightly chubby Ben Affleck in a supporting role.

You might predict from its title that it doesn’t have much of a plot and you’d be right. One astute reviewer called it practically an anthropological report on high school student rituals in the United States. As such instead of having a single protagonist, it shows the doings of a broad cross section of teenagers on the last day of school just as the summer holidays are about to start. They’re divided into two groups: the incoming freshmen from middle school and the seniors who will soon be embarking on their final year of high school. According to the bizarre rules of American culture, this apparently means that the juniors must subject themselves to harsh hazing from the seniors.

One of the junior characters is Mitch Kramer. At first, he tries to run away from the pursuing seniors with his friends but after he gives in and gamely submits to a savage beating on his buttocks finds himself being accepted by the seniors. On the side of the seniors, there is Randall Floyd, a popular and talented member of the school’s football team who is nonetheless losing interest in the sport and balks at the coach’s attempts to control his life. Matthew McConaughey plays someone who has long since graduated but creepily continues to hang out with high school kids for the sex opportunities and probably also because they look up to him. Other characters are the constantly stoned out potheads, nerds who consciously reflect on the inanities of their rituals but can’t quite break themselves free of it, bullies of both the male and female variety and many more.

Growing up in Malaysia, I can happily say that I’ve never had to experience hazing that is anything like this. Neither have I really gone through the do crazy stunts to prove how cool you are process. At one point the guys cruise through town grabbing trashcans and use them to smash into mail boxes, leading to a irate homeowner accosting them and shooting at them with a gun. I’m pretty sure that this is just artistic license and not at all the usual state of affairs in the US but I’d be horrified if this is actually very common. Interestingly, the film doesn’t seem overly critical of the rituals depicted here and may even imply that they’re important for social bonding and conditioning. As one character notes, the adults, including the school’s teachers, are well aware of what goes on and tacitly go along with it.

Despite my doubts, I can’t deny that it’s fascinating to watch all this play out. It’s tempting to say that nothing much happens in this movie. It takes place entirely over the course of a single day and night; kids get out of school and run wild, hang out, party and talk to each other. Even their dialogue isn’t particularly interesting. Authentic, yes, but not interesting. But that would be understating the complexity of writing the myriad interactions between all of the characters and coalescing everything into a narrative that is both fun and satisfying to watch. The title is an apt descriptor for many of these characters during what is clearly a transitory period for them and the film properly captures how their drama is so humdrum and low-key in the grand scheme of things, yet it is the entire world in the minds of these teenagers.

Immediately after this Linklater would go on to make Before Sunrise which would cement his reputation as one of the best American directors of his generation. Dazed and Confused falls some way short of that great film of course but it’s still a wonderful showcase for his talent for bringing out the drama in everyday life.