When in discussion regarding the best vampire film of the 1980’s, it’s likely a slew of quality features will be mentioned. There’s a good reason for that: the 80’s saw the inception of quite a few impressive vampire pictures. Common titles to arise in this form of debate include TO DIE FOR, FRIGHT NIGHT, THE HUNGER, LIFEFORCE, VAMPIRE’S KISS and many, many others. In the end however, it always seems to come down to two seemingly clear-cut front-runners: THE LOST BOYS, and NEAR DARK. Attractive casts, and unique scenery clearly help to separate these two films from the majority of the pack, but the fanatic within me pushed me to really studythese two films, because after all: I too want to know what the best vampire film of the 1980’s truly was.Behold, the fruits of my labor:
NEAR DARK:The tale of Caleb (Adrian Pasdar) Colton, who stumbles upon the beautiful drifter Mae (Jenny Wright) quickly takes a nasty turn that will alter the course of Caleb, and his families lives. This random stranger just so happens to be a vampire, traveling with a hideous band of blood suckers through Texas in search of their next meal. When Caleb begins his sexual advances, Mae can’t resist taking a bite. Apparently one bite is all Mae requires to get attached, because before we know it, Caleb is in the middle of this group of plasma thieves, and their savage journey of survival, and what‘s worse: he‘s now rapidly turning into a vampire himself.
The rest of Mae’s traveling buddies don’t take too kind to this new addition, and force Caleb to either kill, and complete his group initiation - or die himself. Caleb, clinging to humanity can’t bring himself to make his first kill, thus becoming a target of these transient savages. Things get real interesting when Caleb’s father (Tim Thomerson) and sister (Marcie Leeds) find themselves tangled up with Mae’s gang. What transpires within the final reel is a battle between humanity and vampirism, as Caleb must defeat those who aim to destroy him, and his family.
There are some great perks to this low budget shiner. The atmosphere is wonderful. The rural, western setting is territory rarely ventured (in this genre), and the steadfast darkness of the film manifests constant anticipation of the awful. The cast is great; Lance Henrikson provides one of his best performances as Jesse, the leader of this ensemble, and Bill Paxton (as Severen) is maniacally appeasing. Jenette Goldstein rounds out an impressive group. The plot works well (and has been mimicked many times since), the cinematography is solid, and the gore, while reserved is impressive at times. My two complaints in regard to this film: 1) The action slows dramatically at times. 2) There’s some stiff dialog that fails to capitalize on the power of a few of the films key scenes.
THE BREAKDOWN:
Cast/Acting: 7.3
Atmosphere/Sets/Location: 8.9
Fear Factor: 5.5
Makeup/Mechanical Effects: 7.5
Replay Value: 6.9
Total Score: 36.1
THE LOST BOYS:
Lucy (Dianne Wiest) Emerson moves her two sons Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim) to the town of Santa Carla California. The trio move in with Lucy’s father (Barnard Hughes), a quirky taxidermist with some unusual habits. Everything seems to be in order, Lucy finds a job, and the boys quickly take to the night life. Michael, the eldest of the two also takes a liking to Star (Jami Gertz), an attractive local who happens to hang with a group of nasty bikers led by David (Kiefer Sutherland). While Michael chases Star, Sam ventures into a comic book shop, located on the boardwalk. Here, Sam meets Edgar (Corey Feldman) and Allen (Jamison Newlander) Frog, two obsessive, self-proclaimed vampire hunters. They tip Sam off, but the idea of real life blood suckers in Santa Carla just doesn’t fly with him, and he disregards multiple warnings.
It turns out the erratic Frog brothers are right about Santa Carla - there are vampires here, they’re busy hanging out with Star and the love-struck Michael. It isn’t long before Michael’s drinking blood, sleeping his days away and growing some impressive incisors. Sam and the Frog brothers devise a plan to exterminate the main vampire, and save Michaels humanity - but this clumsy crew of makeshift mercenaries botch the job, and they‘ll all be forced to face the consequences.
There’s one reason, above all that this film stands out amongst most others: it’s highly enjoyable. When a motion picture is genuinely fun, it holds significant replay value, and that’s where Joel Schumacher won big. LOST BOYS never lulls. From the teaser, through every act leading up to an exciting finale, LOST BOYS just doesn’t slow down. The scene transitions are very smooth, and the cinematography is busy, but not too busy. The cast is excellent; Kiefer Sutherland is a menacing villain, Jason Patric is great in the shoes of the afflicted hero, and hey - we get Haim and Feldman before excessive drug use had completely diminished their then promising talents. Santa Cruz was a choice location to film, and between the appealing scenery and some extremely well fleshed out characters, we’re treated to great atmospheric illumination. All in all, LOST BOYS is a little action, a little humor and a lot of horror that, to this day - remains a serious fan favorite.
THE BREAKDOWN:
Cast/Acting: 8.1
THE LOST BOYS:Lucy (Dianne Wiest) Emerson moves her two sons Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim) to the town of Santa Carla California. The trio move in with Lucy’s father (Barnard Hughes), a quirky taxidermist with some unusual habits. Everything seems to be in order, Lucy finds a job, and the boys quickly take to the night life. Michael, the eldest of the two also takes a liking to Star (Jami Gertz), an attractive local who happens to hang with a group of nasty bikers led by David (Kiefer Sutherland). While Michael chases Star, Sam ventures into a comic book shop, located on the boardwalk. Here, Sam meets Edgar (Corey Feldman) and Allen (Jamison Newlander) Frog, two obsessive, self-proclaimed vampire hunters. They tip Sam off, but the idea of real life blood suckers in Santa Carla just doesn’t fly with him, and he disregards multiple warnings.
It turns out the erratic Frog brothers are right about Santa Carla - there are vampires here, they’re busy hanging out with Star and the love-struck Michael. It isn’t long before Michael’s drinking blood, sleeping his days away and growing some impressive incisors. Sam and the Frog brothers devise a plan to exterminate the main vampire, and save Michaels humanity - but this clumsy crew of makeshift mercenaries botch the job, and they‘ll all be forced to face the consequences.
There’s one reason, above all that this film stands out amongst most others: it’s highly enjoyable. When a motion picture is genuinely fun, it holds significant replay value, and that’s where Joel Schumacher won big. LOST BOYS never lulls. From the teaser, through every act leading up to an exciting finale, LOST BOYS just doesn’t slow down. The scene transitions are very smooth, and the cinematography is busy, but not too busy. The cast is excellent; Kiefer Sutherland is a menacing villain, Jason Patric is great in the shoes of the afflicted hero, and hey - we get Haim and Feldman before excessive drug use had completely diminished their then promising talents. Santa Cruz was a choice location to film, and between the appealing scenery and some extremely well fleshed out characters, we’re treated to great atmospheric illumination. All in all, LOST BOYS is a little action, a little humor and a lot of horror that, to this day - remains a serious fan favorite.
THE BREAKDOWN:
Cast/Acting: 8.1
Atmosphere/Sets/Location: 9.0
Fear Factor: 5
Makeup/Mechanical Effects: 7.5
Replay Value: 8
Total Score: 37.6
There you have it, according to my personal judging criteria LOST BOYS edges NEAR DARK by a meager 1.5 points. It’s definitely not a landslide victory, but in the end - the replay value sees me leaning in Schumacher’s direction. Regardless - win, lose, or draw, both of these films are great, and deserving of the cult followings they’ve earned.
Cheers to the 80’s, and flicks far better than they ever should have been!
There you have it, according to my personal judging criteria LOST BOYS edges NEAR DARK by a meager 1.5 points. It’s definitely not a landslide victory, but in the end - the replay value sees me leaning in Schumacher’s direction. Regardless - win, lose, or draw, both of these films are great, and deserving of the cult followings they’ve earned.
Cheers to the 80’s, and flicks far better than they ever should have been!
Comments (19)
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|2009-04-04 21:01:37 mike krone
Nothing will replace that year when the Lost Boys came out and we caught it every night at the 10 o'clock showing. I'll agree with others here that Fright Night is the superior vampire movie. The hipness of the Lost Boys is still a blast though and has yet to be topped by other movies that have tried to rip off its style. Watching Near Dark again recently, it dragged for me and didn't hold up.
Never LET THE RIGHT ON IN you silly boy, it renders you powerless.
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|2009-04-02 08:04:43 Mason88
Don't forget the best line in Near Dark. "I hate it when they aint been shaved"
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|2009-04-01 01:56:27 Grant aubin
You must be joking/
.
Lost Boys was a fun flick to watch when I was a kid. AND Kiefer Sutherland was pretty cool in it. But Near Dark is a cold stone classic. Not only is it a kick-ass vampire flick, but it's an amazing western. Lance Henriksen and Bill Paxton are absolutely awesome in it. and the direction, lighting etc rock.
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|2009-03-19 15:48:35 starkiller
The theme sond is called "Cry Little Sister" by Gerard McMahon.
I love both films, but in the end, The Lost Boys wins out. I agree with Mat Molgaard when he says Lost Boys has more replay ability. It is true, because of several things. 1) The Lost Boys had a much better storyline 2) Great actors 3) Great soundtrack 4) All around it was just more fun to watch.
As for Fright Night, It was mentioned The Lost Boys was not scary enough, well, the same goes for Fright Night. When I first saw the film, I though it was a comedy. There was nothing scary about it. Don't get me wrong, it was a good film, but it does not compare with The Lost Boys or Near Dark, which are darker, more serious films.
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|2009-03-19 00:40:23 Cancerkid27
I think the ending to Near Dark is weak. So I have to agree the Lost Boys is slightly stronger. It's interesting how both films came out around the same time and how much Lowlight er Twilight ripped them off. I think the thing that really puts the Lost Boys is that great theme song. I crank that song all the time on the pod I can't remember the name I think its by G Tom Mac or Big Mac or something.
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|2009-03-18 13:47:45 NySnake78
Lost Boys hand’s down, but with Fright Night as a close, very close, second.
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|2009-03-17 23:04:55 NIGHTTHING
Why hasn't anyone mentioned the great Tangerine Dream score to Near Dark? I think it gives the edge to ND over Lost Boys. And nothing in the latter film comes near the dark comedy of the barroom scene of Bigelow's flick.
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|2009-03-17 15:19:03 frightfan
I vote NEAR DARK and give a respectful bow to FRIGHT NIGHT.
THE LOST BOYS has a lot of things right, especially the wry humour which, in 20/20 hindsight, anticipated the cynicism and angst of Generation X to a tee. It is also beautifully shot a paced out, as one comes to expect from Schumacher (sp?). However, it failed miserably on the most important aspects of vampiric cinema -- namely sex and scares. My personal scare-meter goes limp on this flick. Perhaps if I could go back to being 12 and turn female, it would seem less lame. Finally, the cheeky "gosh-darn-is-that-ME-in-Tiger-Beat?" performances were just the final stake in the heart. To end on a positive note though, THE LOST BOYS has one of my all-time favourite final lines -- those who've seen it know...
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|2009-03-16 13:31:40 Sam Zimmerman
Chris totally has it right, as much as I love both Lost Boys and Near Dark. Fright Night owns '80s vampire flicks. Jerry Dandrige is one smooth bloodsucker.
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|2009-03-15 14:06:21 www.mymavra.com
Ravinus is absolutely right! I would only give the Coreys a minus 3 though, but I would also have to give it another minus 2 for the homosexual subtext of having teenage Corey Haim with a poster of "dreamy" Rob Lowe on his bedroom wall, so it evens out. That old Lost Boys Fango cover brings back some memories, that was the first one I ever got! I had to beg my parents to buy it because I just had to know what that magazine was all about. I wish I still had it.
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|2009-03-15 13:39:25 Mark
I gotta go with Near Dark in this one. Something about the Lost Boys to me feels like its the 1980s cast and crew of the Goonies went over and made a vampire movie. There were many vampire cliches' that were used over and over again from previous movies.
Near Dark seemed to break the rules from not using goofy vampire teeth to people having transfusions and becoming human again which is something you don't see in every vampire movie.
Near Dark also has a more delicate and convincing touch as far as a love story since it was directed by a woman.
I would also go with Bill Paxton as the most fun character from either movie. Near Dark gets my vote.
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|2009-03-15 11:49:50 Matt Molgaard
I appreciate all the input here - this was an enjoyable piece to write, as I enjoy both of these films. Chris, I agree that Lost Boys is not incredibly scary - hence the 5 rating. It's definitely more fun than frightening.
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|2009-03-15 09:10:55 Jane
Great article-I think it was a very well done comparison/contrast. Thought out, and I totally agree- The Lost Boys will always be my favourite vampire movie, of any time.
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|2009-03-15 09:05:28 Ravinus
You forgot to subtract 5 points from Lost Boys due to the casting of the Corey douches. Near Dark wins.
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|2009-03-15 04:29:05 Syre
Spot on review. Both films are solid little vampire flicks. Hard to compare in terms of style, substance, setting and characters, but The Lost Boys is The Little Engine That Could and edges out Near Dark. If you're just a youngin', you could easily bash The Lost Boys for it's 80's aura; especially evidenced by that horrendous tablecloth trench coat Haim sports. But all in all, it still holds up well. It's funny, scary, and enjoyable through and through.
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|2009-03-14 21:53:35 Chris Alexander
What the...?
Lost Boys is pap and is about as scary as a shoe. Near Dark is ferocious and is as much a gangster film as it is a western as it is a horror show. There, I did the analysis for you.
But the best vamp movie of the 80's is still FRIGHT NIGHT, fangs down.
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|2009-03-14 18:14:50 Matt MolgaardAppreciate your thoughts Joe. As for why I chose Near Dark VS Lost Boys, well - I think I clearly explained my reasoning in the opening paragraph, but I'll add on and say that online forums influenced my selections drastically. Believe it or not, I did a lot of reading and opinion seeking from online communities before I chose what movies to pit against each other - these were not random selections. I also agree with the fact that Fright Night/Lost Boys is also a good match up, and that Lost Boys is definitely on the 'pop' side (so to speak) of the horror genre.
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|2009-03-14 13:36:49 Joe Nardi
I think you are pretty silly in putting LOST BOYS up against NEAR DARK. Maybe up against FRIGHT NIGHT, in which case I believe FRIGHT NIGHT is the better picture. NEAR DARK is an altogether different vampire film and it does not even belong with the traditional vampire movies. Anyways just my thoughts, I am sure there are other people who HATE lost boys, especially die-hard gorehounds, because it's mainly a pop film and I for one don't believe that it holds up as well as other flicks made during that era.
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