If you’re looking for a classic horror movie to sink your teeth into this Halloween, and you live in the UK, then look no further than your local cinema. Iconic teen vampire film, The Lost Boys, is heading back to the big screen and it’ll be popping up very soon.
Directed by the late Joel Schumacher, the movie stars Jason Patric, Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Jami Gertz, and Dianne Wiest. The Lost Boys follows the story of a recently divorced mother and her two sons, Michael and Sam, who move to the beach town of Santa Carla to start a new life with their grandpa, only to encounter vampires.
Those vampires include the mullet-sporting David, who leads a rag-tag gang of miscreants. Michael crosses paths with David, and finds himself drawn into this mysterious world of vampirism, drinking blood in the process.
But Michael has no huge desire to become a vampire and his brother, Sam doesn’t want him taking this journey either. Teaming up with two local vampire hunters, Sam tries to help Michael turn back to the mortal world, while at the same time locate the head vampire in Santa Carla to rid the town of the blood-sucking menace for good.
Over the years the film industry has pumped out plenty of vampire movies. Many have been rubbish, but every once in a while we are treated to a real gem like Near Dark, Fright Night or Blade.
Sitting comfortably amongst this crowd of absolute beauts is The Lost Boys. The film is generally regarded as one of the best vampire movies of all-time, and it doesn’t achieve this particular acclaim without merit.
Loaded with great performances, some cracking lines, and a killer soundtrack, The Lost Boys is a tour de force of vampiric fun. It boasts some superb set designs, a truly brilliant final gag, and even a somewhat random, oiled up and muscle-clad saxophonist played by Tina Turner’s go-to sax player, Tim Cappello.
With this picture, director Joel Schumacher found a way to perfectly mix the gothic romanticism of vampire lore with the ‘80s aesthetic, to create an entertaining, occasionally camp, and visually stimulating horror. Schumacher’s taste for the theatrical – something he would later employ on his two Batman movies – is brought to the forefront with wind and smoke machines in full force, and the hairspray budget maxed out.
The end result is a picture which continually and consistently delivers. It never loses momentum and simultaneously brings action, adventure, and amusement.
At the centre of the film are Michael and Sam, who find themselves caught up in the world of vampires. Both of their journeys are intertwined, and both deal with a coming-of-age story, but both take different routes.
For Michael, he is the older brother who is heading out of childhood and toward adulthood. His brush with David’s gang of vampires is essentially a metaphor for the various temptations that pop up when parents are no longer in charge, and when the allure of nighttime fun becomes attractive and intoxicating.
As for Sam, his path takes him from young sibling into responsible teenager. Sam can see the trouble that lies ahead for Michael, if he doesn’t break free from the shackles of David and Co., and he becomes committed to steering his older brother away from some terrible choices.
The two brothers become the heart of the story, and their respective journeys help this picture to cover a number of ‘teen years’. As such, it doesn’t matter if you’re just entering your teens or you’re just leaving this particular stage of life, there’s something in here to touch all bases.
Of course, for those of us who left our teen years a long (long) time ago, the film still caters for us thanks to all of the wonderful hoopla mentioned above, as well as other identifiable characters such as Michael and Sam’s mum, Lucy, as well as their no-nonsense grandpa. The three generations present in the movie ensure audiences have someone to identify with as they themselves age up, and this helps the film to remain fresh.
I believe one of the true strengths of The Lost Boys, and the reason it has maintained its enduring appeal with its original ‘80s fanbase, is because there is always someone in the movie to connect with. The film ages, and so does the audience, but the movie caters accordingly.
The Lost Boys might not be getting any younger, but all of its key sequences continue to shine and it looks as good now as it did back in ‘87. Schumacher struck gold with this film, infusing it with heaps of style, while not losing sight of the core components that make a vampire film work.
From the Chinese takeaway sequence and Sam’s friendship with the Frog Brothers, to the final showdown between David and Michael, and the unmasking of the head vampire, The Lost Boys is filled with memorable moments. It’s a superb picture, and one which is always ripe for revisiting.
Should you wish to catch The Lost Boys on the big screen, the movie will be playing in select UK cinemas from Friday 27th October. The screenings are limited, and just for the Halloween season, so check your local listings.
And if you can’t make it to a screening, The Lost Boys is widely available to view on DVD, Blu-ray, 4K, and digital. The movie is also currently available to watch in the UK on BBC iPlayer.
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