The fourth of my Halloween-themed retro horror reviews has
arrived! A re-review of The Lost Boys, another 80s
classic, filled with big-time 80s stars, big-time 80s hair, and some great
big-time 80s music.
Lucy Emerson, recently divorced, moves her two sons with her
to the small California town of Santa Carla to live with her father, who seems
to be a bit off. Michael and Sam begin
to explore the town, hanging out at the boardwalk, which has a suspicious
number of missing-persons fliers. While
Lucy gets a job at a local video store run by the kindly Max, Michael meets and
becomes infatuated with Star, a young woman who seems to be dating the
rebellious David. David is the leader of
a young gang of hoodlums who ride motorcycles around and basically do
teenage-punk stuff. Sam meets Edgar and
Alan, the Frog brothers, who are a pair of young vampire hunters. They give Sam some horror comics to educate
him on the threats of the supernatural.
When Michael attempts to talk with Star, David steps in and
bullies Michael a bit – what with some dangerous cliff-side motorcycling, and
bizarre food options back at their lair.
Yes, they have a lair. Come on
Michael, how many red flags do you need?
They end the night with some railroad bridge jumping, and Michael
suddenly wakes up at home the next day, a little foggy on the previous evening’s
events, but with a beginning thirst for blood – which of course, thanks to his
new comic-based knowledge, Sam recognizes.
Sam assists Michael in figuring out he is starting to turn, and since he
has not yet killed anyone, he’s only a half-vampire – like Star – and he can be
cured if they can just kill the head vampire.
Well, the Frog brothers are all about this plan, and think
perhaps that Max is the head vampire.
They run tests on him when he comes over to the house for dinner with Lucy,
but he passes all of them – the mirror, the garlic, the holy water and the crucifx
– they run all the classics. Since he
passes the tests, they naturally assume that David is the head vampire, and set
their sights on eliminating him. Meanwhile, David attempts to push Michael
along the transformation, and Michael learns that Star is in the same situation
as he is. Michael, getting weaker –
helps Sam and the Frogs stage a final attack on the lair and the vampires to
save both Michael and Star from turning completely.
Now, you’ll note I’m stopping there, and I’m not going to
tell you who the head vampire is, just in case you haven’t seen this
movie. You should – it’s unintentionally
(I think) hilarious, a little scary here and there, and really fun. It’s directed by Joel Schumacher (yes, the
man who put nipples on the Batsuit), who also was the director of other 80s “brat-pack” movies: St. Elmo’s Fire, and
the original Flatliners. The action is
great, the comedy is great, and the music is great – but even better is the
cast:
- Jason Patric (no K) plays Michael, the hapless kid who just wants to fit in a new town, but definitely falls into the wrong crowd. In case you missed it, re-watch The Losers, and watch him terrorize Negan, Heimdahl, and Captain America.
- Corey Haim plays Sam, and is really entertaining here as a kid determined to prevent his older brother from turning full vampire. I can only hope my brother would do the same for me.
- Dianne Wiest plays Lucy, and is trying her best to keep some sense of normalcy for her kids after moving them cross country.
- Barnard Hughes plays the kids eccentric Grandpa, and thank goodness he is so eccentric.
- Edward Herrmann (extra R and N) plays Max, and is so completely kind and wonderful as the suitor that Lucy gets taken with after the move.
- Keifer Sutherland continues his string of sleezy 80s creeps in this movie after already nailing it in Stand By Me. I can’t help it though, I did find him sexy in this role.
- Jami Gertz plays Star, after playing opposite Jason Patric in Solarbabies (you should see that too), he recommended her for this role.
- Corey Feldman plays Edgar Frog – and this is the first ‘Two Corey’s’ movie, so you can either credit it or blame it for that. Hey, Dream a Little Dream was great! Jamison Newlander plays Alan Frog.
- Billy Wirth plays Dwayne, one of the other vampire punks.
- Alex Winter (yes, Bill) plays Marko, another vampire punk.
Overall, if you’ve never seen this, then chances are you’re
younger than me. It’s fun, it’s a classic – and that saxophone solo from the
guy who was Tina Turner’s saxophone player!
Watch it again this Halloween.
9 out of 10 – gained bonus points for the hair. And for Grandpa’s last line.
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