* Terrible * * Below Par * * * Not Bad * * * * Good * * * * * Brilliant
WARNING *POSSIBLE SPOILERS*
Michael and Sam Emerson(Jason Patric and Corey Haim) are a couple of regular American teens who have moved with there recently divorced mother(Dianne Wiest)to the sea side town of Santa Carla. Moving in with their eccentric Grandpa(Barnard Hughes),the boys find life in the small town quite different to Phoinex,Arizona where they had moved from. For a start there is the incredible amount of unexplained, mysterious disappearances that seem to plague the area.
It's not long before the youths find themselves caught up in a whole load of trouble. Michael falls in with a gang of enigmatic bikers lead by the charismatic David(Kiefer Sutherland)while Sam meets a couple of boys.The Frog brothers(Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander)who's parents own a comic book store. The feisty lads try to convince Sam that Santa Carla is infested by the supernatural undead ie.Vampires. But by that time it's too late as Michael discovers when the true identities of his new biker pals are revealed to him. When Sam finds out the truth about Michaels new pals and what his brother is becoming. He tries to warn his mother. But with little success. Now with only the Frog brothers to turn to and with Michaels love for David's main squeeze Star(Jami Gertz) being the one thing thats holding him together. The pair of them have to help one another to stand up against and defeat the evil in Santa Carla.
As one of the more well known teen horror movies of the late eighties.'The Lost Boys' although by no means entertaining and with a healthy dose of tongue n' cheek humor, is no classic. Directed with the stylish and enthusiastic energy you would have expected from Hollywood veteran Joel Schumacher. Its a perfect example of a movie that lets style take a back seat to substance. After all this was merely the 'Breakfast Club' meets 'Salem's Lot'. An excuse to make a vampire movie for the teen crowd.
The mostly young cast all gave wonderful, spirited performances. Even Corey Haim. An actor who along with his more talented counterpart,Corey Feldman. Found himself relegated to direct to video dross. Sutherland was suitably chilling in his roll as lead vamp David. While Patric showed the promise of a future star. Sadly however he never quite made the grade. Speed 2 didn't exactly do him any favors. The older actors were also good value. Dianne Wiest was her usual reliable self while screen veteran Hermann is good value. Ultimately for me the best character has to be Grandpa. Played with charming, comic brilliance by Barnard Hughes. He was only equaled by the Frog brothers(Feldman and Newlander).Together they ultimately made the movie.
Surprisingly the visual effects have aged well and there is the odd chilling moment. That said there was something lacking that I cannot quite put my finger on. Something that lapses the movie in to mediocrity. That said the movies climax as the kids fend off an attack by the remaining members of Davids gang of Vampires does set your pulse racing while the last line of the movie which is uttered by Hughes is unforgettable.
Even though 'The Lost Boys' isn't a movie classic. It does have that nostalgic quality for me. Enough that I would want it for my DVD collection. But if you get the chance don't expect too much from it.For me the better movie of the late eighties was possibly Tom Holland's 'Fright Night'. It's no classic either. But sadly under valued and under looked. But if you get the chance. Do give Schumacher's pic a look see.
Robs Rating: * * *
WARNING *POSSIBLE SPOILERS*
Michael and Sam Emerson(Jason Patric and Corey Haim) are a couple of regular American teens who have moved with there recently divorced mother(Dianne Wiest)to the sea side town of Santa Carla. Moving in with their eccentric Grandpa(Barnard Hughes),the boys find life in the small town quite different to Phoinex,Arizona where they had moved from. For a start there is the incredible amount of unexplained, mysterious disappearances that seem to plague the area.
It's not long before the youths find themselves caught up in a whole load of trouble. Michael falls in with a gang of enigmatic bikers lead by the charismatic David(Kiefer Sutherland)while Sam meets a couple of boys.The Frog brothers(Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander)who's parents own a comic book store. The feisty lads try to convince Sam that Santa Carla is infested by the supernatural undead ie.Vampires. But by that time it's too late as Michael discovers when the true identities of his new biker pals are revealed to him. When Sam finds out the truth about Michaels new pals and what his brother is becoming. He tries to warn his mother. But with little success. Now with only the Frog brothers to turn to and with Michaels love for David's main squeeze Star(Jami Gertz) being the one thing thats holding him together. The pair of them have to help one another to stand up against and defeat the evil in Santa Carla.
As one of the more well known teen horror movies of the late eighties.'The Lost Boys' although by no means entertaining and with a healthy dose of tongue n' cheek humor, is no classic. Directed with the stylish and enthusiastic energy you would have expected from Hollywood veteran Joel Schumacher. Its a perfect example of a movie that lets style take a back seat to substance. After all this was merely the 'Breakfast Club' meets 'Salem's Lot'. An excuse to make a vampire movie for the teen crowd.
The mostly young cast all gave wonderful, spirited performances. Even Corey Haim. An actor who along with his more talented counterpart,Corey Feldman. Found himself relegated to direct to video dross. Sutherland was suitably chilling in his roll as lead vamp David. While Patric showed the promise of a future star. Sadly however he never quite made the grade. Speed 2 didn't exactly do him any favors. The older actors were also good value. Dianne Wiest was her usual reliable self while screen veteran Hermann is good value. Ultimately for me the best character has to be Grandpa. Played with charming, comic brilliance by Barnard Hughes. He was only equaled by the Frog brothers(Feldman and Newlander).Together they ultimately made the movie.
Surprisingly the visual effects have aged well and there is the odd chilling moment. That said there was something lacking that I cannot quite put my finger on. Something that lapses the movie in to mediocrity. That said the movies climax as the kids fend off an attack by the remaining members of Davids gang of Vampires does set your pulse racing while the last line of the movie which is uttered by Hughes is unforgettable.
Even though 'The Lost Boys' isn't a movie classic. It does have that nostalgic quality for me. Enough that I would want it for my DVD collection. But if you get the chance don't expect too much from it.For me the better movie of the late eighties was possibly Tom Holland's 'Fright Night'. It's no classic either. But sadly under valued and under looked. But if you get the chance. Do give Schumacher's pic a look see.
Robs Rating: * * *
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