The Lost Boys (1987) Review

 

The Lost Boys (1987)

The Lost Boys follows Michael and Sam Emerson, where after moving to Santa Carla, Michael unintentionally joins a tribe of vampires. With the help of some uber serious nerds at the comic store, Sam must find a way to save Michael and defeat the vampires plaguing the city. 

Years before Twilight disgraced our screens, we got The Lost Boys, which in my opinion set the archetype for most vampire properties to follow, into modern day (most notably Buffy). This was really the first time that vampires took on the form of kids and teens, as opposed to the older Christopher Lee and Bela Lugosi vampires that proceeded. An aspect that is especially effective thanks to the transformation from angsty, emo teen heartthrobs to terrifying, bloodthirsty vampires that plays upon our very intrigue with the dark, inherent sexiness that is often associated with vampirism. 

It pretty successfully bridged the horror and adventure genres too (followed less than a month later by the equally wonderful Monster Squad), while also building on the comedic/mystery adventure styles popularized by Stand by Me and The Goonies. In doing this, it’s not only hilarious but gleefully self aware, so just when you think the movie might be bordering on melodramatic cheese, it makes fun of itself in very overt ways, and you realize that even if you don't buy the outlandish concepts and themes, that's fine. Because the filmmakers don't necessarily buy it either.

 

It’s also worth noting that this includes one hell of a soundtrack, including songs from Aerosmith, The Doors, Tim Cappello (the shirtless sax dude!), INXS, and the hauntingly excellent theme Cry Little Sister from Gerard McMann. 

We get a great cast of eventual stars, starring Barnard Hughes, Edward Herrmann, Dianne West, Jami Gertz, Jamison Newlander, Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, Kiefer Sutherland, and Jason Patric (doing his best Jim Morrison). The oddball dynamic between what would come to be the “Two Corey’s” was a riot here, in their first of many on-screen appearances together. It’s Sutherland though who really brings out the horror and mystery elements of the film, practically reprising his role as Ace Merrill in Stand by Me from a year earlier, just as a wicked, cool vampire this time around. 

The Lost Boys, directed by Joel Schumacher, is one of the few times where style over substance really works because along with it’s self aware nature, it allows the viewer to sink their fangs into the scenery, visuals, and downright sexy nature of these vampires, while also providing some amazing laughs that only get better with each viewing. 

8.4/10