The Lost Boys

Starring: Corey Haim, Jason Patric, Dianne Wiest, Kiefer Sutherland, Bernard Hughes, Edward Herrmann, Jami Gertz, Corey Feldman, Jamison Newlander, Brooke McCarter, Alex Winter
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Horror
1987

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A family moves to a beachside community, which they soon discover is tormented by a group of vampires.

Review:

Tim: I know The Lost Boys has become a bit of an 80s cult classic. I never saw the movie growing up, so my first viewing was in adulthood. I enjoyed the movie and the decade-appropriate camp Joel Schumacher brought to the film. I think it's a bit overrated, but still an enjoyable movie. It's the kind of film that doesn't get to "greatness", but I can see why people would think fondly of it.

The plot itself isn't especially original, but it's effective. A family of three (mom, two boys) moves to Santa Clara, California, which was once known as "The Murder Capital of the World" because of a series of murders in the 1970s. This was a horrendous tragedy, but it makes for an ideal setting for a vampire film. Our protagonist family is from out of town, so we get to learn about the city along with them. It's a clever technique to introduce us to this world and allow us to accompany the characters as they slowly realize something supernatural may be occurring here. That all works, especially because Schumacher brings a bit of danger to every scene, regardless of whether there were vampires or not. I grew up in the 80s and there was definitely a sense of danger, of lack of safety and restraint. There's a theme of youth being "out of control" that pervades many films from this decade and that shows up here. It firmly entrenches this as an 80s movie, but it makes everything feel a bit heightened here. By the time the vampires show up, the intensity feels at a max level.

The cast is definitely a big selling point here. This was the first film to feature "The two Coreys" and Corey Haim does a terrific job in the lead role. His talent was undeniable and he gives a maturer performance than you would expect from someone his age. He does it with a wink and charisma, perfectly encapsulating the indestructibility belief of the young. I enjoyed his performance and the energy he brings. I can see why he became such a star in the 80s. Jason Patric is a bit wooden, but still works as the older brother. He doesn't have nearly the level of talent as Haim. He looks the part, but his range is limited. I was surprised (pleasantly) to see Dianne Wiest here. She's effective in her supporting role, but it's unfortunately mostly a clueless parent in the 80s. Barnard Hughes adds a great supporting performance and some energetic humor. Edward Herrmann was great. I like Herrmann and he could be so effective when used in the right ways- as he is here. Kiefer Sutherland was ideal as the leader of the vampire gang. His performance is raw, filled with danger. He has this ability to convey fearlessness, bravado, and danger in his acting that works perfectly for this role. It was fun seeing Alex Winter here, although he's pretty limited.

I didn't forget to highlight the "other" Corey, Corey Feldman. He's definitely in a supporting role here. Quite frankly, I hated his performance. I'm honestly so surprised that this film launched Haim and Feldman's pairings in future movies. Whereas Haim is charismatic and believable, everything Feldman does feels forced and absurd. I know he modeled his delivery off action stars of the day, but it comes across as so bad. Even if you argued that it's the character (not Feldman) who is pretending to be like his action heroes, it still results in an annoying performance. I didn't care for his work here at all. Outside of Feldman, the cast all work fairly well.

The visuals in this movie are quite impressive. The hair and makeup worked well for the vampire transformations. There's a sense of monstrous quality to these vampires, but not so much that the actors disappear behind the makeup. It works really well and gives the movie a gritty, frightening quality. The visuals really make a big difference to the final film. I like how Schumacher presented his vampires- it was definitely influential for future films.

The movie itself does feature some silly 80s things that were probably a bit ridiculous even when the movie was released. Schumacher's style has always been a bit campy and there's a few moments where he needed to show more restrain. That being said, there's some intense moments, too. The scene where the boys discover the sleeping vampires is quite chilling. Oddly, the film's most intense, memorable scene is actually before the vampires are revealed. It's the scene where the gang is hanging underneath a bridge, the bottom cloaked mysteriously in fog. How far is the drop? Would it kill you? Maim you? It's a wonderfully shot scene that connects a bit with vampires, but it's more reflective of being young, dumb, and taking unnecessary risks. It's undoubtedly a highlight of the film. The script as a whole does proceed about as you'd expect, but the movie throws in a few surprises. Others are telegraphed a bit too much, but the movie keeps you on your toes to a certain extent. I appreciated that. The movie drags in a few places, to the point where I was a bit surprised the film was only 97 minutes long. The conclusion of the movie is fine, but it doesn't end as powerfully as it needed to.

The Lost Boys is a flawed movie, but it's an effective one. It's entertaining, features a solid cast, and definitely has Schumacher's trademark flair. I can see why people who watched this when it first came out would love it. I thought it was definitely good, but less remarkable than some.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Goonies, Stand by Me, Gremlins