Favorite Friday: The Lost Boys

 I really like vampire movies that are ridiculous.
The Lost Boys certainly fits the bill for ridiculous vampire movies. And it is definitely worth the time to watch and enjoy, preferably with a couple of friends so the silliness can be fully enjoyed.

I won't bother going over the plot since there IS so little of one. Sustain it to say that the movie is about vampires and teenagers dying (if only this were the plot of Twilight). Instead I will go over the points of why this movie is a must-see.

If only....

Anyway, I digress. On to the points of interest!!

Corey Haim on the left, Corey Feldman on the right

1) The Coreys

If I were to hold up any pop film released in the 80s and early 90s that wasn't directed by John Hughes and ask you to randomly select one, the one picked would probably have one if not both of the Coreys.

These two are quintessential 80s pop culture icons, merely for the fact that they are a reflection of everything that is good and bad about the 80s. Separately these two are cinema gold, starring in several respected films (Haim in Lucas, Feldman in Stand by Me). But together? Together they are magic. Poofy hair full of aqua net, outsized jackets in pastel colors and big Ray Ban sunglasses.  Every movie these two did together is sheer 80s gold. The Lost Boys marks their first acting foray together and it is by far my favorite. The two of them together have a humorous teenage chemistry (Feldman with his deep Rambo-voice explaining calmly that they'll have to stake all the vampires before sunrise). It provides a lovely comedic element that makes this film memorable.

Marko played by Alex Winter--that's a mullet

HOO! Look at that feathering!

2) The Costumes and the Hair

Aren't they cute?

Okay let me explain something. The costumes are exceptionally over-the-top goofy and of course FANTASTIC! And who could possibly forget that hair. I mean come on, there was so much hair spray its a wonder the set wasn't officially declared a threat to the ozone layer. I absolutely love Marko's jacket (which sold on eBay last year for several thousand dollars) which looks like a craft project on crack (which it probably was....it WAS the 80s). That on top of Kiefer's badass hair cut and equally awesome black trench coat.

The film is a snippet of an era; a snapshot in time that really helps define what is quintessential 80s.

3) Acting Gems like Dianne Wiest, Edward Herrmann and Kiefer Sutherland
Ah yes, I thoroughly enjoy all of these actors for their bit and starring roles in some of the world's greater films and/or television shows. Dianne Wiest and Edward Herrmann are notable for their television appearances (Herrman does voice overs for the History Channel all the time). Kiefer Sutherland went on after this film to be a greatly accredited actor in the 90s and especially when he was cast as Jack Bauer in 24. 

4) Ridiculously awesome special effects

Kiefer + contacts = awesome

I'm a sucker for cheesy but well used special effects in any of my movies. The Lost Boys is not exception. Whether its the over the top Buffy the Vampire Slayer-esque vampire look or the Jason Patric floating in the air or Alex Winter getting staked by an over-zealous Corey Feldman, one can not escape the thoroughly cartoonish way vampires are depicted in this film. The effects set the film apart from other equally campy vampire films of the same era because of the way the director uses the special effects in way that embellishes the film (wow, go figure) instead of overwhelming the film (cough Avatar cough).

As it stands one of my favorite 80s vampire films and certainly one of my favorite vampire movies in general. Definitely worth watching!