Review of The Lost Boys (1987) by Liam U — 05 Apr 2011

It's vampirific!

It is very rare for a film to so astutely capture a time period, and yet, quite like the vampires found in Santa Carla, to never age. The vampire biker gang that prowl Santa Carla's boardwalk and help make it the Murder Capital of the World are definitely bringing sexy back; with red eyes and bared fangs and amazing hair - how could anyone resist? Michael (Jason Patric) certainly can't, lured into the seedy underbelly of Santa Carla's nightlife by Star (Jamie Gertz). Luckily Michael's brother, Sam (Corey Haim) is wising up fast to the strange happenings, thanks to some helpful guidance from two brothers: Edgar (Corey Feldman) and Alan Frog (Jamison Newlander).

'The Lost Boys (Schumacher, 1987)' is infused with a sense of fun, a hint of sex, and the scent of danger. The vampires, led by David (a brilliant Kiefer Sutherland), entice Michael down a dark road. It's up to Sam and the Frog Brothers to save Michael and put a stop to the fanged menace before they find themselves joining Santa Carla's deceased.

Director Joel Schumacher quite successfully manages to blend horror and comedy while managing to nail the very essence of the 80s. Great performances are given by the entire cast, but especially Barnard Hughes, who brings a truly inspired take on his Grandpa character. Yet the truly memorable aspect of this film lies within the clawed hands of the vampire gang, particularly bad-boy Kiefer Sutherland. The vampire lifestyle of sleeping all day and partying all night is strikingly alluring, far removed from the classic vampire depictions of a lonely aristocrat living in a large castle feasting on the blood of the innocent.

Deriving from a cunning twist on the classic "Peter Pan" tale - afterall, he never ages, can fly, and leads his own group of lost boys - the script underwent several changes to remove the story a little further from overly-familiar territory, although the title remained. There's a dark and menacing undertone that runs throughout this film, and despite the frequently breezy moments of comedy none of the characters ever feel particularly safe.

Despite this, 'The Lost Boys' is immensely enjoyable - from the inevitable vampire reveal to the ostentatiously bombastic finale there is never a dull moment. Spectacular one-liners litter the film (particularly the closing line) while there are some genuinely tense scenes, while a special mention has to go to the soundtrack, which is nothing short of amazing. Truly, this is fun-filled how vampire movies should be done.