Review of The New Kids (1985) by Jason R — 06 Aug 2012

When I first saw "The New Kids", I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it, and now some twenty odd years later I was again surprised by how well it has held up over the years. This remains a simple but effective revenge thriller with a good-looking young cast and a worthy attempt from gore-loving director Sean S. Cunningham at going more mainstream.

He mucked it up with his last attempt, "A Stranger is Watching", but the former "Friday the 13th" mastermind gets it right here. You'll find yourself involved in this a lot more than you ever thought possible. I was filled with glee as the film gets more and more over the top withe each new scene, and I loved it.

These teen-agers obviously don't believe in the Karate Kid's creed of fighting being a last resort. No, you turn James Spader down for a date and he will unleash Hell onto you and your family. And when the casting is right, there are a few people in the business who makes a more despicable villain than Spader. He's in fine form here, and a big part of why this film is so successful in attaining its minor goals. It doesn't set out to do much, but it remains one of the most memorable B movies of 1985.

The plot is definitely nothing new, and the title is completely bland and forgettable, but "The New Kids" is a deceptively effective winner. You won't be able to tell for sure just when it happens, but you'll soon find yourself rooting for these characters, and despite its low aspirations, you can't fault the film for its obvious flaws.