The movie Tuff Turf was released in 1985 and directed by Fritz Kiersch. It stars James Spader as Morgan Hiller, a troubled teenager who moves to Los Angeles with his family. Morgan is a rebel, but he soon finds himself attracted to a girl named Frankie (played by Kim Richards), who is a popular disco dancer at the local club.
However, Frankie is also the girlfriend of Nick Hauser (played by Paul Mones), a hotshot who controls the local gang. Nick takes an instant dislike to Morgan and does everything he can to make his life miserable, including setting him up to be beaten by his gang.
Despite the odds against him, Morgan stands up to Nick and challenges him to a fight. The two square off in a brutal brawl, which Morgan ultimately wins. Afterward, Nick's gang turns on him, and he is forced to flee the city.
Meanwhile, Morgan and Frankie start dating, and Morgan begins to turn his life around. He starts attending school and even joins the school's band, where he discovers he has a talent for singing. The movie ends with Morgan and Frankie performing a song on stage together, with Nick watching from the back of the room.