The Lost Boys

[I, Brian]

Deciding to revisit some nostalgia (and continue the process of converting my vinyl LPs to shiny CDs) I ordered the Lost Boys soundtrack from Amazon.

And it's been absolutely great re-visiting it.

Although some of the songs, by themselves, would otherwise fall down, their use together in the compilation makes for a sometimes eclectic set of bedfellows.

"Cry Little Sister" remains both brilliant and haunting, and "For the Shock of Miss Louise" continues to impress for it's originality. Of course, there's also Echo and Bunnymen, INXS (who I'd otherwise care little for), a surprise vocal by Roger Daltrey on "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (which was written by Elton John, but only later performed and recorded him) - and then a couple of small-time soft-rock groups who manage to somehow enhance the collection, rather than destroy it.

But the film itself...

...I can't wait to watch it again. I've been holding off from buying it on DVD because it looks effectively like a cheap and second-rate lift from video, and I'd prefer to get a properly remastered "special edition" version. But...as it's cheap I think I'll spend a few pounds to get it next time.

The Lost Boys as a film was pretty life-changing for myself when I watched it when younger - Michael's dilemna of being enticed into the darkness was such a powerful metaphor for the agonies of adolescence, as we struggled with the different ways life and consciousness pulled on us, and ultimately, wrestled with our own dark sides as our personalities took deeper form.

The Lost Boys presented an image - and after watching it I stopped growing my hair. That was about 1988, and I'll only ever had it trimmed since (next time on Tuesday, and it's a tad shorter than it has been, as I need to keep my hair at least tidy-ish for work).

The image stayed, though - it helped define that dark trench-coat look (I still have one, though I need to buy a newer one).

Our sixth-form college also put up a Lost Boys poster - big horizontal one of Kiefer's face, and the motto:

Sleep all day. Party all night.
Never grow old. Never die.
It's fun to be a vampire

(The poster mysteriously disappeared and magically re-appeared in my bedroom, above the headboard - when I went to uni it suddenly disappeared as my middle-brother traded it for tobacco).
I also found myself tracking down Kiefer Sutherland films and watching them (the only other one I really remember was "Promised Land", because of it's poignant theme of growing up into disillusionment - teenage dreams falling to grown-up harsh realties - and the memorable ending as 2 school-child friends collide paths). (Flatliners was fun, but popcorn disposable.)

I haven't seen the Lost Boys in years - no doubt a lot of it will seem *even more* cheesy now. And it'll seem more strange that Ted from Bill and Ted will be running around, baring fangs, trying to look nasty.

I'm really looking forward to watching it, though - I'll hold off until my other half comes back next week with the kids, after visiting family.

And so I turn this thread over into a discussion about the film "Lost Boys", with a couple of memorable quotes...

"I don't want to have to kill you Michael"
"Worms!"

[Morning Star]

I recently bought the video for a friend of mine. She loves it, I then watched it for the first time as well. Man, I loved that twist in the end and the grandfather's final comment cracked me up. The 80s were an excellent period for 'coming of age' films. You could find one in every genre, though the most common seemed to be comedy/dramas (Breakfast Club, St Elmos Fire, 16 Candles) and horrors (Silver Bullet, Stand by Me, Lost Boys...)

[littlemissattitude]

I've always liked "The Lost Boys". I think part of it is that they chose to use Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk as one of the primary locations for the film. I've been there a couple of times, and found it to be a strangely eerie place, especially at night.

As far as the soundtrack goes, what stands out for me is the Echo and the Bunnymen cover of the Doors' "People are Strange". I really love the Doors, and covers of their songs usually just irritate me, but this cover was really carried off well, I think.

Also, as a bit of trivia, in the INXS songs on the soundtrack, they are joined by another Aussie vocalist, Jimmy Barnes, who had a pretty good album out the same year as the film (1987), called "Freight Train Heart". I remember hearing him referred to at the time as "the Australian Bruce Springsteen", but I don't think the comparison is quite apt. I'm going to have to dig that tape out and listen to it - it's been awhile.

[Princess Ivy]

I think it was this film that started my Vampyre phase, Not that I've gone off vamps now, but it started me watching and reading everything I could lay my hands on.
Wonder what happened to Haim and Feldman? they were fantastic as the brothers Frog!
I loved everything about the film,
In fact, I think i'll put it on tonight when the kids and hubby are in bed...

[I, Brian]

Last set of rumours I heard about both, both Corey's lost most of their film cash to parent greed and cocaine. Bit sad, really.

[LadyFel]

I'm currently listening to 'Cry Little Sister' on Winamp...I love the movie and that song...

My mum didn't let me watch it for a long time as she thought I was too young, but I remember setting up the video to tape it one night when I was about 14... Within two weeks I knew the entire script off by heart, including the most banal bits, like the guard at the beginning telling the guys to get off the boardwalk...

I also remember that I developed a passion for long floaty dresses and skirts at the time, like the ones Star wore, which still hasn't left me...They were never full of sequins like hers but there it is...

I recently wathced it again to show my husband what he'd missed, he wasn't too impressed, and, I have to admit, even I found it a touch corny...but I loved it all over again

[dwndrgn]

One of my favorite 80's films. I think I liked it because it seemed to me to be more adult than the other teen flicks - or maybe more cerebral. The whole film had a wonderfully eerie feel that would have given you goosebumps but wouldn't have really scared you. I don't really know why I liked it so much - it was just cool

The soundtrack though - one of my first and one of my favorites! Great stuff. I could listen to it over and over (and did, until I wore the cassette out!). Unfortunately I haven't yet got it in CD, but I will someday...

[LadyFel]

I can't find the CD anywhere, I'll have to order it, but the casette died a death a few years ago, half the songs were unrecognisable by the time I finished wih it...I think it must have spent two years straight in my player...

[Niolani]

I was a little kid when it came out so i didn't see it until I was 16 when my uncle sat me down to watch it. I had never heard of it and he wouldn't tell me what it was about so I felt confused and a little frightened. I really liked it, I love horror movies but this was relatively unique with a great soundtrack that you don't normally get in that genre. I bought the video within two weeks.

[Jason_Taverner]

that film stays with me and all my friends we used to love it and quote bits of the script to each other I just which they would make a good special edition on dvd and do it the justice it needs, but just the other night after a night out me and my mate where wandering home having a bit chat about how our home town is getting worse and worse and I said 'sometimes this place gets me down if there one thing I can't stand about it..' and he said 'all the goddam vampires!' cheesy but we were drunk and we haven't seen it in yrs just funny how u don't forget things

[Trey Greyjoy]

Originally Posted by Princess Ivy

Wonder what happened to Haim and Feldman? they were fantastic as the brothers Frog!

Feldman is still around...kinda...
His last real appearance was on the Surreal Life. I think he dabbles around in the music industry. He still has a lot of his money, enough so that he doesnt have to work at least and live somewhat comfortably at least. I see him in bit cameos every so often.

Haim is a really sad story. Im not sure what exactly happened but the last time I saw him interviewed he appeared to have suffered some sort of brain damage, most likely from all the drug use. He was living in a small apartment with his mother and had visions of a future musical career. In actuality he just passed the days away by plinking out random tones on a keyboard. I felt really bad for him. That was all several years ago. Im not sure what may have happened since.

Lisence to Drive is another great Haim/Feldman flick (at least I thought it was funny).

[sanityassassin]

Lost boys is a great film and I've loved it for years although at one point I watched it too many times it is cheesey now and "bill" Alex Winter was not scary at all as a vampire because he is always Bill S. Preston to me but the frog brothers were great.

The soundtrack is amazing Echo and the bunnymens people are strange is a classic and not to ruffle too many feathers IMHO one of the few covers that is better than the originial I've got the soundtrack and still play it now and again. I've also got the 12" of people are strange which has other covers on it as well and they are quality tracks

[MoonLover]

It's been one of my favourites for many years. It pretty much started my interest in vampires. I remember everyone in my class wanting to get bitten by Kiefer Sutherland.

"You wait till Mom finds out!"

Karen

NB to Littlemissattitude - Jimmy Barnes is still kicking on and recording. He was inducted into our rock'n'roll hall of fame last week, actually.

[GrownUp]

Ah yes. The Lost Boys.

I saw Salem's Lot and when I was very small and spent much of my childhood curled up trembling in corners and jumping at shadows as a result. It was only when Lost Boys came out that I could be cured. If vampires get me they must be cool vampires.

And the soundtrack! The soundtrack to my schooldays too! And my cassette copy is wearing away too, and I'm searching for a CD copy too. I used to love "Beauty Has Her Way" by Mummy Calls.

Death by stereo!

[LadyFel]

Originally Posted by Trey Greyjoy

Haim is a really sad story. Im not sure what exactly happened but the last time I saw him interviewed he appeared to have suffered some sort of brain damage, most likely from all the drug use. He was living in a small apartment with his mother and had visions of a future musical career. In actuality he just passed the days away by plinking out random tones on a keyboard. I felt really bad for him. That was all several years ago. Im not sure what may have happened since.

I never knew that...So when would they have filmed the extra material and interviews on the DVD special edition, he seemed pretty normal there to me...(two nights ago - I was gonna watch the film, and then put the other DVD in by mistake, and in the end didn't bother with the movie because they used so many scenes in the extra stuff there was no point any more)