The Lost Boys (1987)
Directed by Joel Schumacher
Staring Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, Jami Gertz, Jason Patrick, and Kiefer Sutherland
Michael and Sam Emerson are moving with their Mother from Arizona to live with their Grandfather in California. Their new home, Santa Carla, is crime ridden and graffiti layered. The town boardwalk is the center of all commerce and life in Santa Carla. But, at night the boards take on an edgier tone. This night life attracts Michael and Sam, but the locals are far more interesting. Michael pursues a girl named Star, who hangs out with a motorcycle gang. Sam befriends comic shop employees and amateur vampire hunter The Frog Brothers. The Frogs give Sam a head’s up: his brother is hanging with vampires. Unless he wants to lose Michael to the undead, Sam has to act quickly. He does not think a thing of this until Michael starts acting strangely. With vampires infiltrating the Emerson’s home life, it may be too late for them to leave Santa Carla.
The Lost Boys is a good vampire movie, but it makes for a far better 80s movie. There are some minor issues with the acting. Corey Feldman seems to think Edgar Frog should sound like Batman, trying to emulate a gravely drawl. Corey Haim can never get beyond being the annoying younger brother and after a while that does wear on you. But those are only minor complaints. Kiefer Sutherland makes good on his role as David, leader of the vampire gang. Sutherland lays on the mysterious charm and predatory vibes in equal strokes. And Barnard Hughes emerges as the scene stealer. His turn as the Emerson boy’s grandfather is endearing and humorous.
The effects, even for today, are pretty well done. The actual vampire makeup is the hyper accented facial structure that we have seen plenty of times after this film. It looks good and makes the vampires appear more like predators. The clothes are over the top, conjuring some of the most ridiculous fashion statements to come out of 80s cinema. It is only distracting if you forget when this movie was made. Also, the point of view shots used for vampire flight make for an interesting angel. It keeps the visual of demon-faced teens flying around until the end. It makes the image of their flight a little more frightening.
As a horror movie, The Lost Boys works pretty well. It is competently made and can effectively deliver some chills. As an 80s movie, The Lost Boys is outstanding. Only in movies from this era can the Corey’s be seen as film gold. The minor gripes can be largely ignored because the movie is just fun and a little cheesy.
7 out of 10
