Plot: Michael (Jason Patric) and his little brother Sam (Corey Haim) have just moved to a small coastal locale in California, relocating with their mother in search of a fresh start of sorts. The family’s eccentric grandfather has taken them in and while their mother looks for work, Michael and Sam begin to check out the local social scene, in their own ways, of course. Sam winds up at a comic book shop where he meets Edgar Frog (Corey Feldman), a quirky local who shoves a vampire comic into hands. Meanwhile Michael catches a glimpse of the beautiful Star (Jami Gertz) and is smitten, though the gang of bikers she hands out with aren’t a welcoming group, to say the least. But Michael gets to know the colorful band of misfits, led by David (Kiefer Sutherland) and soon, he notices there is more to the bikers than meets the eye. But what secrets do David and his friends hold and if Michael gets close enough to find out, will he wish he had never gotten involved with this crew in the first place?

Entertainment Value: A video store staple of 80s horror, The Lost Boys is a fun, stylish vampire yarn that boasts atmospheric visuals, an impressive cast, and quite a sharp soundtrack. The narrative here is quite good and weaves together several threads in a competent manner, to give us an involved, but not convoluted experience. The tone is dark and serious, but the film also knows when to inject some humor and does so with effective results. That isn’t a simple balance to strike, to have those bursts of humor but a sincere, serious narrative at the same time, but The Lost Boys nails it and keeps you hooked throughout. The movie is also super polished, with slick visuals and remarkable atmosphere, bolsters by some strong 80s vibes. The clothes might date the movie, but otherwise The Lost Boys feels almost timeless and has certainly aged better than many of its peers. The cast is also a selling point, stacked with 80s stalwarts like Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, Alex Winter, Jami Gertz, Jason Patric, and of course, Kiefer Sutherland as our villain. I would easily rank The Lost Boys as one of the better mainstream horror movies of the 80s, as it is loaded with talent and crafted with a great deal of polish, not to mention it is just plain to watch. A high recommendation to anyone who loves horror, vampires, or the 80s in general.

No nakedness. These vampires prefer to eat maggots or hang out on the train tracks, so romance isn’t a high priorities to these bloodsuckers. There is some red stuff however, delivered via some well crafted and still effective special effects. This includes a nice antler impalement, biting into heads like apples and feasting on the flowing blood, a horrific garlic bath, arrow wounds, good old fashion wooden stake handiwork, and of course, some serious plumbing concerns. The makeup work on the vampires is quite good as well and overall, the special effects of The Lost Boys are rock solid and look good even after decades of passed time. The dialogue is well written and some wild touches here and there, including an obsessed with using Michael’s name, which happens a lot in this one. There’s also some nice one liners and bursts of humor, so a few points are racked up in this department. As for craziness, there is a sense of humor here, but the movie never goes all that wild and sticks to a more traditional, polished take on the vampire world.

Nudity: 0/10

Blood: 6/10

Dialogue: 3/10

Overall Craziness: 2/10

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