The Lost Boys was made 31 years ago
Joel Schumacher is a director that is either loved or hated. Hated mostly because of his Batman films. A hate that I neither condone nor entertain; their comic book films, no different from the tongue and cheek jokefest that is most superhero films nowadays and coming in the near future. In 1987 Horror movies were at their peak in the nineteen eighties and vampires were on a revolving door of used movie monsters during the decade. We already had Tobe Hooper’s mini-series Salem’s Lot based on a Stephen King short story and a few years prior to the Lost Boys we had Tom Holland’s Fright Night. However, there was a script floating around Hollyweird playing with the concept of the immortal Lost Boys from Peter Pan except with Vampires. The project was set to be directed by Richard Donner who had already gained success with The Goonies and was going to repeat the same ideas of adolescents with the Vampire genre.
Of course, like many things, schedules were conflicted and Richard was unable to direct the film. So the script fell into the Hands of Joel Schumacher (Saint Elmo’s Fire). Joel like most of his films wanted to change the themes of the film from the light hearted Goonies into a more mature film that blended humor with supernatural horror. The ages were raised and rewrites happened. The film was given a sexier feel to it, very stylized, more Miami Vice than Huck Finn if I can even make a comparison.
The cast consisted of young up and coming actors like Jamie Gertz, Jason Patrick, Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Haim and Feldman, Ed Hermann, Billy Wirth, Alex Winter, Brooke McCarter, Jamison Newlander, Bernard Hughes and the animal actor that played Nanook.
The film has become a classic with young people and especially today’s middle-aged nostalgiholics (yes, i made that up).
Filmed almost entirely on location in California except for the Vampire cave which was a soundstage. The film embraced and showcased a young vibrant and hip story of two young boys moving to a new town and becoming complete fish out of water outsiders to an environment and understanding that is completely foreign to them. If you thought fitting in was bad enough, imagine trying to fit in as a young man with the next person possibly being a face ripping vampire. 
I remember not only the concert at the boardwalk, motorcycle chase scene and the iconic bonfire scene. But, the one memory that is easily triggered is of the Soundtrack. The soundtrack rocked but, everyone only remembers Tim Capello’s shirtless saxophone cover of “I Still Believe” and the main theme, “Cry Little Sister” by Gerard McMahon. Other things to appreciate is the way it’s filmed. I’ve always liked Schumacher films for the way they look and the attention to mood even if there is some levity sprinkled about. Another example of this is his films: Flatliners (1990), Falling Down (1993), 8mm (1999), Flawless (1999), Tigerland (2000), The Number 23 (2007). 8mm being a very very good film. Tigerland is also recommended.
I remember Sutherland and is band of vampires being one of the coolest looking gangs of white kids ever on film.
The Lost Boys was released in theaters on July 31, 1987, peaking at to the number 2 spot at the box office and earning $32 million domestically with a budget of only $8 million. If you think about that $32. million in today’s market would make this a pretty successful film. A modest success like this would’ve spawned a dozen sequels and comic books in 2018. Look at the nonsense Blumhouse puts out and no one bats-an-eye.
That being said, Schumacher did try to pitch a Lost Boys sequel to executives but his proposal fell on deaf eyes and vacumm sealed wallets. I must admit upon reading his idea right now about the possibility of Kefer Sutherlands character somehow surviving being impaled on antlers and returning to a sequel revolving around a coven of female vampires sounds very intriguing. But, what do suits in hollyweird know? They know jack s#*+.
It wouldn’t be another 25 years or so that a sequel would be made; a direct to DVD sequel and it’s follow-up centered on the now adult Frog brothers still battling the undead in Santa Carla, California.
Vertigo comics, the adult themed extension of DC comics had plans for a Lost Boys comic book following Sam, Michael and the Frog Brothers in Santa Carla however, I never saw it to read it.. If you any of you have please leave a comment telling us what you thought about it and the DVD sequels.
Other than that, keep it classy and keep your fingers on the Rewind Button.
