There once was a blissful world of tongue and cheek, where terms like "politically correct" did not exist and people watched sitcoms and movies for entertainment rather than the new staple, reality shows. I call this land the 80s, and from it emerges the ever present 80s film. A time where movies were supposed to be funny and silly and they actually were.
But sometimes there was a dark side, and this is where "The Lost Boys" comes in. Quite possibly after having just directed "St. Elmo's Fire," director Joel Schumacher was looking for something with a bit more bite, and he found that in Janice Fischer and James Jeremais' story of a group of decadent teenage vampires and their exploits.
In the center of it all are Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim), who recently moved into this land of iniquity with their mother after her divorce. And, as young teenage boys do, Michael goes in search of a little randiness; he manages to find some, but of course not without trouble following along with it. Michael's love interest, Star, just happens to come with a few attachments - a group of guys, namely David (Kiefer Sutherland) and their taste for nightlife, with blood as their chosen refreshment for the evening.
The Frog brothers are a duo of vampire menace and maliciousness played by Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander. They brought the fix of comedy to the film that every cult 80s film holds the right to have. The classic scream hug consisting of an embrace joined in with bloody murder screaming is something you just don't see today - pure hilarity. But on top of this, they must prove Sam's mother is dating a vampire and, my what fun ensues at the dinner table. However, Grandpa (Barnard Hughes) steals the show quite a few times with his quirky and matter-of-fact personality. The taxidermy jokes are priceless, and frankly I haven't seen better since.
These days, everyone has gone on to relatively lucrative lives, but they will always be transfixed in the lost boys section of our hearts. Haim and Newlander obviously knew this as they are planning to return to their Frog brother's glory in the straight to video "The Lost Boys 2: The Tribe," due out this July. Perhaps this is a nostalgic attempt to remember when their careers had more of a pulse. But just maybe it can live up to its predecessor.
Whenever I look at the latest vampire movie with all its blood and gore, I can only reminisce about what once was. "The Lost Boys" has become a staple for present vampire movies. Most contemporary tales of the vampire are similar in detail to its predecessor, and this could be the ultimate homage. Though I must say I wish they wouldn't, because there can only be one "The Lost Boys."
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