The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Review Request: The Lost Boys (1987)

What is one of the most 80s cinematic experiences that you can have? There are plenty of filmmakers and films that have helped define the 80s as a cinematic decade. John Hughes crafted a whole collection of coming-of-age tales that struck a chord with a generation. Spielberg delivered some of the most iconic genre films of the decade. The slasher flicks filled the decade with large body counts. Joel Schumacher delivered a film that certainly captured the pop culture of the 80s and drenched a campy and cool vampire flick with all of it. The Lost Boys.

What does Schumacher bring to the table to make this vampire flick stand out? Style. There are buckets full of style with this sizzling vampire flick. The bold camera work (from cinematographer Michael Chapman) with plenty of fun flare completely engulfs you into this new wave-tinged world. The costumes are so 80s that it will rip you right back into that time and space. There are plenty of wild moments of blood, explosions, and flames. Schumacher pulls no punches and goes hard with all the style he can find. Every night sequence is drenched in shadows and mood lighting. The approach is rough around the edges, but it feels so visceral that you cannot deny it. But the music…that is where this film finds its personality. There is a bloodbath to “Walk This Way” by Run DMC and Aerosmith. There are at least 10 sequences that highlight the super 80s theme song “Cry Little Sister” by Gerard McMann. The aethereal feel of that song just gives The Lost Boys the right feeling.

Does the script do the film any favors? This is probably the weakest part of the film outside of a few strengths. The film has some solid comic relief along the way from Grandpa (Barnard Hughes) including his final line of the film as well as the Frog Brothers (Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander). There are some interesting twists and turns in Jan Fischer, James Jeremias, and Jeffrey Boam’s script. The final act has some shocking moments that work well to keep up the tension. There are some fun subversions of vampire tropes as well that help the film feel a little fresh. But to be honest, there are not a lot of characters with enough depth to really care too deeply about. Most of the reasons we connect are from the performances (get to that in a minute). The romance at the center of the film is shallow as well which makes it harder to invest. The fraternal dynamics in the film are probably the strongest aspect (either looking at the protagonist brothers or the brotherhood of this vampiric brood). The tween vampire hunters and a quirky Grandpa character are the most fun out of the bunch for sure.

What about this cast? There are some inconsistencies but some of these performances really work. Unfortunately, Jason Patric has little charisma, screen presence, or charm to make a protagonist we care about, and it makes his onscreen romance with Jami Gertz not work so well. Gertz certainly has a vibe and does a fine job on her end. Most of the vampires are just brooding, nothing characters but Kiefer Sutherland just has that presence and menace that makes this film work as well as it does. Sutherland is by far the big standout of the film. Corey Haim is honestly a bit too annoying to like much and his fellow Corey is putting on a deeper voice that is kind of ridiculous. Dianne Wiest is quite charming as the matriarch of the main family and Hughes is so much fun every time he pops up on screen. Future Gilmore Girls and Intolerable Cruelty alumnus Edward Hermann works well in the role of Max (who has some surprises up his sleeve).

Is The Lost Boys a worthwhile venture back into the 80s? Certainly! There are more vibes and atmosphere in this flick than most vampire films you can find, and Schumacher has a singular campy and brutal approach that works so well. Sutherland has made such an impact on vampiric pop culture, and he is just alluring every moment on screen. The music sets up all the vibes and transports you back in time. This might not be the sharpest script out there but there is enough nostalgia and fun to be had with this 80s vampire flick.

Special thanks to Ethan Conto for nominating The Lost Boys (1987).