Director: Joel Schumacher
Production Company: Warner Bros.
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Synopsis: Battle of good vs. evil supernatural creatures in a quaint Californa town.
Series: The Lost Boys (#1 of 3)
Genre: Comedy Horror
Release Date: July 27, 1987 (premiere New York)
Rating: R for Restricted content
Running Time: 1 hour 37 minutes
Trailer: Click Here
Rent/Purchase: Rental Site ; Purchase Site
Reviewed by: Karen St. Claire as Neckromance
Final Score: 5 Moons (out of 5)
Welcome to “Santa Clara”, a quaint beach town deemed “Murder Capital of the World”. Amidst a laid back beach community, a rockin’ Goth town of vampires is lurking. A battle between the vampires and the vampire hunters becomes an “All in the Family Feud” in this cult classic comedy horror flick.
CONTENT
This wickedly amusing comedy horror opens up with the goth rock song by LA Guns “Cry Little Sister”. At the seaside boardwalk carnival, the Lost Boys vampire clan has arrived… they are the bad boys stirring up ruckus on the carousel and are kicked out by authority. With supernatural flight ability, a vampire takes revenge.
Relocating from Phoenix to this seaside beach town, a recently divorced mom (Lucy) and her two sons, the older one Michael and the younger named Sam, along with their Siberian husky are enjoying the music on the radio while driving their retro jeep with a u-haul trailer hitched tagging along behind. Through the winding oceanside road, a sign appears reading, “Welcome to Santa Clara,” but, on the back, is graffiti-ed “murder capital of the world” in red letters. A tribute to the Doors “People are Strange” is playing while the newcomers get a glimpse of the townsfolk, a variety of laid-back beach types are mixed with numerous goths. Several missing persons fliers are pinned to community boards. There is tons of amusement in this touristy-type town.
Arriving down the dirt road, Michael is now tagging behind on a motorbike. They arrive at grandpa’s big retro cabin, a quirky home filled with tons of taxidermy, grandpa’s favorite hobby. Sam inquires about the murder capital of the world rumor and grandpa confirms in a wisecrack fashion that if they dug up all the corpses, “it would be a very overpopulated town.”
An outdoor concert takes place at night amongst bonfires. Fronted by a body building long haired saxophone player/vocalist, the audience is captured. Michael and Sam are in attendance and pretty soon Michael becomes attracted to a girl in the audience. The two make ample eye contact.
At the local video store, the mom, Lucy, walks in to help a boy who was lost. Not far behind, his mother comes in to rescue him. The Lost Boys have arrived and the store’s watchdog snarls at their presence. During this segment Lucy meets Max, the owner of the video store. Lucy also had noticed the help wanted sign outside and inquires about the job.
In the meantime Michael starts following the girl (who is with a small boy) through the carnival. Sam is tagging along when Michael decides that it’s time for his younger brother to get lost. The younger brother, Sam, an avid comic book fan, then takes off and goes to a local comic book store where he meets up with the Frog brothers, a couple of adolescent boys who call themselves vampire hunters and claim that the vampires in the comic books really do exist. Sam is encouraged to read the vampire comics. When he claims that he doesn’t like horror comics, he is told to think of it as a survival manual.
PRESENTATION
Presented in goth beach vibe, the vampires grab their motorcycles and take a run with a quick stop for a communion break. They do not swarm down but rather lift their prey in an upward turbulent sweep. The girl that Michael has been eyeing is seen with one of the lost boys on the back of his cycle. Music is playing while body piercings by biker types are taking place on the boardwalk. At this point the girl (now alone and dressed in gypsy attire) walks up to Michael and says, “It’s a rip off… if you want your ear pierced, I’ll do it.” This is how they meet. Her name is Star. As Michael invites her for a bite to eat, he is intercepted by a lost boy vampire who commands that she come with him. He challenges michael to keep up with him and the clan as they all head on over to Hudson’s Bluff by the motor-cross. The wild ride is mixed with industrial goth bridges and blue midnight mist cast against a glowing dense beam from the lighthouse. In the midst of the madness, the vampire initiation begins.
AUDIENCE FIT
The wild vampire cave in the next scene is lit by torches. The fire is then met with cyber-goth industrial metal barrels that appear to hold white petroleum for a clean burn to keep the flames roaring. Numerous dripping lit candles add a romantic glow to compliment the ambience of the vampire hideout. After a major earthquake demolished the ‘Hottest Resort in Santa Clara’, the ruins “fell right into the crack…and now it’s ours”, exclaims one of the vampires. An extravagant metal chandelier inside a cement fountain are highlighted along with an elaborate Jim Morrison painting of massive size. The vampire’s are dressed in classic goth rock attire and carry rock star attitudes. One of them is a small boy dressed in military goth, which the elders along with star look over like a son. The vampires also carry the supernatural abilities of mind control.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
One of the most entertaining movies of all time, this horror comedy is filled with intrigue as to what lurks around the next corner. It is full of supernatural goth as it intermingles with the natural world of the norm. It has moments of quirkiness which adds to the comedy aspect. The contrast between the two brothers, one of the vampire hunter clan, and other being a newly initiated vampire, makes an interesting story as to what happens next. At the bridge, dare you jump when the crazy train keeps a’ rollin’??? With moments of romance and dinner parties, it has an interesting twist at the end. I highly recommend this movie and give it a 5-star rating across the board in the ‘Brilliant Moon’-lit mist.
CONTENT: 5.0 Moons (out of 5)
PRESENTATION: 5.0 Moons (out of 5)
AUDIENCE FIT: 5.0 Moons (out of 5)
FINAL SCORE (not an average): 5.0 Moons (out of 5)
