Brian's Review - The Lost Boys

Captain Hook never would've messed with these Lost Boys.

Released: 1987
Genre(s): Comedy, Horror, Fantasy

The '80s: oversized leather jackets, big sunglasses, and even bigger hair. Oh, and vampires, according to 1987's "The Lost Boys," a wild horror-comedy that does an incredibly effective job of being just as thrilling as it is outrageously funny, even two and a half decades after its inception. The cast is comprised of a veritable who's who of the era's teen stars, expertly conveying this film's goofball undertones by portraying panicked, high-strung adolescents. The tongue-in-cheek humor here is made all the more apparent by some enjoyably gruesome action, as the young protagonists battle a vicious vampire gang with weapons so appropriate for a group of comic book-reading, overly-imaginative teens that they practically shoot out silliness. The movie does a great job of not taking itself too seriously, but simultaneously slips in some delightfully disturbing and twisted mythology, and the atmosphere is never too far off from chilling. The normal corniness of the '80s is prevalent throughout this dark and delicious telling of small town vampire lore served Americana, but the execution and pacing of "The Lost Boys" keeps things interesting, while the laughs are all intentional, rather than an unfortunate byproduct of the generation's cheesier sensibilities. While I'd be lying if I claimed that the film has much (if any) substance, I can advocate for the fact that it's not a necessity for a movie like this: "The Lost Boys" is made for those who like cheap cinematic buffets, serving up horror, comedy, and just plain fun in satisfying portions; it never tries to be more than it needs to be. If you're getting sick of angsty, brooding, sparkling vampires, and prefer your creatures of the night to be loud, raucous, and rocking a pair of Ray-Bans, throw on this old-school laugh-and-thrill fest and enjoy a piece of the '80s that wasn't (quite as) awkward.

Rating (out of 5): 4