Initially a window dresser, Joel Schumacher realized filmmaking was his passion, so he moved to LA in the early 1970s. While studying at UCLA, he was working as a costume designer on films like Woody Allen’s Sleeper and Interiors. After earning a Master of Fine Arts degree, Schumacher wrote the screenplays for Sparkle, Car Wash, and The Wiz. His first two films as director, The Incredible Shrinking Woman and D.C. Cab, made modest profits and received mixed reviews. His next film, 1985’s St. Elmo’s Fire, was a smash hit, earning over $37 million on a $10 million budget. Following its success, Schumacher was hired by Warner Bros. to direct a film originally offered to Richard Donner. The film was a story of vampires inspired by Peter Pan that also served as a coming of age story. That film would be released in 1987 as The Lost Boys.
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Synopsis
Michael (Jason Patric), Sam (Corey Haim), and Lucy Emerson (Dianne Wiest) have just moved into Santa Carla, California. One night, they decide to check out the nearby boardwalk, Lucy looking for work and the boys strolling around. Sam checks out a local comic book store and meets the Frog Brothers, Edgar (Corey Feldman) and Alan (Jamison Newlander). Meanwhile, Michael meets Star (Jamie Gertz), a young woman who hangs out with David (Kiefer Sutherland) and his biker gang. They invite Michael into their group despite Star’s hesitation, but soon Michael discovers things about him are changing. He becomes sensitive to sunlight, his reflection is fading, and he develops a thirst for blood, almost attacking Sam. While Michael battles with his vampirism, Sam recruits the Frog Brothers to figure out who the head vampire is. Will Michael succumb to his vampirism, or will the head vampire be defeated?
Review
Much like Near Dark, which came out the same year, The Lost Boys is a fantastic modernization of vampire mythology. While that film had a more Western feel, this has a punk rock feel, from the clothes to the music. For being his fourth film, Schumacher shows just how talented he was as a filmmaker, giving this a rich style. He uses tons of shadow, harsh lighting, and deep colors to help create a mood that’s both haunting and inviting. Cast-wise, everyone delivers a fantastic job, with Patric and Haim being solid protagonists. As the villain, Sutherland is very cool and sinister, while the amazingly gorgeous Gertz acts as Michael’s voice of reason. Feldman and Newlander are fun as the Frog Brothers, two guys who take vampirism seriously while everyone else doesn’t. Also noteworthy is Edward Hermann, a seemingly kindly man whose true intentions become clear later on.
The other three lost boys, played by Brooke McCarter, Billy Wirth, and Alex Winter, unfortunately, aren’t given much to do. On that same note, Wiest and Bernard Hughes have some decent moments, but they also aren’t given much. Also, there are times when the editing can get choppy at times, making it difficult to understand what’s happening. While the soundtrack is great, the song “Cry Little Sister” is played several times throughout, so get used to it. On a more positive note, the makeup effects from Greg Cannom are impressive, especially the vampire designs and gore effects. The film also serves as a nice coming of age story, the vampirism a metaphor for change and finding identity. While it does have its flaws, this is yet another great example of a modern vampire story done well. Overall, The Lost Boys is a fun film to sink your teeth into.
Buy The Lost Boys from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2CwvN8C
Joel Schumacher, 1939 - 2020
This review is dedicated to the memory of filmmaker Joel Schumacher, who passed away on June 22, 2020, at the age of 80.
