THE LOST BOYS

US, 1987 97 minutes, Colour.
Jason Patric, Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Haim, Diane Wiest, Corey Feldman, Barnard Hughes, Edward Herrmann, Jamison Newlander, Alex Winter.
Directed by Joel Schumacher.

The Lost Boys is a vampire comedy thriller aimed at the teenage market. It was produced by Richard Donner,(The Omen, Superman the Movie), who also directed The Goonies. The film relates very much to this latter - a group of young boys, adult adventures given the teenage touch. Direction is by Joel Schumacher (St. Elmo's Fire).

The film has a glossy look, lots of songs, comic horror special effects - and quite a good cast including Diane Weist and Edward Herrmann. Jason Patric and Jami Gertz have the hero and heroine role, the film is stolen by Corey Haim as the young brother, Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander as Rambo-like teenagers, Kiefer Sutherland is the head vampire and Barnard Hughes is Grandpa.

The film does not take itself too seriously - but has some comments about contemporary youth, about American towns, about horror traditions.

1. Enjoyable film? Vampires? The American way of life? American teenagers? Family? Serious and humorous?

2. The atmosphere of the American town of Santa Clara, California, the coast, hones, shops, the outskirts, cliffs and caves? The importance of stunts and horror special effects? The musical score and the wide range of songs used?

3. The title and its focus? The youngsters of Santa Clara and their disappearance? Michael and Sam caught up in this atmosphere? The youth cult and weirdness? Redemption from these lost cults?

4. The focus on the family, Lucy and the divorce, her decision to go to California, her father? Michael and Sam? The atmosphere of the town? Friendly, hostile? The disappearing teenagers? Their settling into the home? Their relationship with Grandpa? His wise comments? his eccentric behaviour? His stuffing of the animals? His gifts?

5. The focus on Michael and Sam? Michael as the teenage hero? Meeting the boys? Attracted towards Star? The tough gang and David? The going to the underground hideout? David's friends? The drinking of the blood? Michael's transformation? His becoming more like a vampire and Sam's reaction? His reflection, flying, outside the window? Michael and Star? The child vampire? The plan to kill the chief vampire? Michael's reaction to Max? His clashes with his mother? The plan to attack the cave? The tests? The rescuing of Star and Laddie? The clash with the vampires? The excitement in the house? Michael and David and the confrontation? David's death? Lucy and Max? The revelation about Max? The help of Grandpa? Michael being transformed? The humour with the contrast of Sam and his friends, Edgar and Allen, the comic books, the warnings about the vampires, their Rambo dress and style? San and his mother, Michael, Star? Getting involved in the adventures? The help of his friends? The final fight with holy water, arrows and stakes? The happy ending?

6. The vampire gang: David as leader, his friends, their hovering around the town, the carnival, in the dark? Traditional vampire effects? Modern youth with the punk touch? Their vampire behaviour - jumping off the bridge? The cave, the drinking of the blood? The menacing? Star? The build-up to the attack, the confrontation, the fight and deaths?

7. Star, the heroine, attracted to Michael? Eddie? The rescue and the fight?

8. The mother, the divorce, love for her children, their erratic behaviour, trying and her having to cope with teenage children? father? The job, meeting Max, his invitation to the home, the family testing him out and his passing the test? her attraction towards Max and the final revelation that he is the
head vampire?

9. Grandpa, his animals and their being stuffed, The final saving of the family?

10. The picture of the American town? Families? Youth? The symbolism of the gang and their vampire power in getting control of people and destroying them? The going against the usual vampire genre insofar as hero and heroine can be rescued?