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The Lost Boys Reviews

1987 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 17,078 members

One of the better vampire films about two new-in-town brothers who discover a local gang of motorcycle youths are more undead than alive. Younger brother Sam works hard to eradicate the ghoulies but his older brother falls in love with the bunch's lone female - and is gradually becoming a vampire himself. An interesting candy-.. Read more

Starring Corey Feldman, Jami Gertz, Corey Haim, Jason Patric
Director Joel Schumacher
Genres Horror

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  • Critics' reviews (5) of The Lost Boys

    View all
  • 2 stars out of 5

    There's a nasty surprise in store for divorcee Dianne Wiest when she moves her family to the Californian coast. The local teenage gang is a pack of punk vampires with designs on her kids. A slick, noisily empty, and ultimately desperate attempt to update the undead genre for the MTV generation, Batman and Robin director Joel Schumacher's neon-drenched violent nightmare is an anaemic blend of Hollywood glitz and endless pop culture references. Famous primarily as an early highlight in Kiefer Sutherland's career, no amount of chic flash and gore makes up for the few surprises, obvious twists and witless sitcom dialogue.

    • Radio Times
  • This pathetic attempt at comic horror (deriving from an initial project to rework Peter Pan in vampiric terms) not only... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • "...Haim is enormously appealing....Timely, sardonic and shrewd..."

    • New York Times
  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of The Lost Boys

    View all
  • 14 out of 14 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    This Film made Vampires Cool!

    Vampires are not meant to be cool. They are the evil undead. They kill people and exsanguinate them. But put them in leather jackets, riding motorbikes, sporting haircuts 80's footballer would be proud of, and what do you know? Cool vampires!

    The film is a heady mix of horror, comedy and pop video expertly woven by Joel Schumacher who includes some plot twists to bamboozle Van helsing himself! The acting is good, especially from the two Corey's, and Sutherland is excellent as the lead vampire. The final third of the film is full of innovative scenes of vampire despatching with decent if basic effects. Quality viewing.

      • Lee Owen from Worcestershire, UK
  • 9 out of 11 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Classic...and with the best extras I've seen too

    I can't add much to the other reviews here: but this is one of the best (and most famous) movies of its type - well acted, well directed and well written.

    It's almost worth getting just for the soundtrack alone, but I can't recommend this enough. The extras (disc 2) are also well worth a rent: almost an hour of interviews and retrospectives with cast and crew, plus a music video - not just the usual blather but an detailed look-back at the film, its making and what happened after its release.

    d

      • Drew Bolton from Eastbourne
  • 7 out of 7 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Keifer's Finest Moment

    There is no doubt that Lost Boys is one of the finest modern vampire movies ever made. It's cult status is assured, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's somewhat second rate. It has a great young cast and mixes the humour in in just enough amounts to add to the vampire theme without killing it.

    Keifer Sutherland shines in his role but all the cast look very good, and some never bettered their performances.

    If you've not seen it, rent it - you won't be disappointed.

      • rinty from South Yorkshire
  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of The Lost Boys

    View all
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Classic!!

    When I first watched this many years ago when i was a teen ( i wont say how many!) i loved it, and I just watched it again for old times sake with my ten year old son, and he loved it too! The special effects are nothing compared todays, but my boy laughed himself silly at the funny bits and really enjoyed it. Definitely one for the nostalgic who grew up in the eighties with Jason Patric on their walls!

      • Jules from Liverpool
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Classic!!

    When I first watched this many years ago when i was a teen ( i wont say how many!) i loved it, and I just watched it again for old times sake with my ten year old son, and he loved it too! The special effects are nothing compared todays, but my boy laughed himself silly at the funny bits and really enjoyed it. Definitely one for the nostalgic who grew up in the eighties with Jason Patric on their walls!

      • Jules from Liverpool
  • 14 out of 14 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    This Film made Vampires Cool!

    Vampires are not meant to be cool. They are the evil undead. They kill people and exsanguinate them. But put them in leather jackets, riding motorbikes, sporting haircuts 80's footballer would be proud of, and what do you know? Cool vampires!

    The film is a heady mix of horror, comedy and pop video expertly woven by Joel Schumacher who includes some plot twists to bamboozle Van helsing himself! The acting is good, especially from the two Corey's, and Sutherland is excellent as the lead vampire. The final third of the film is full of innovative scenes of vampire despatching with decent if basic effects. Quality viewing.

      • Lee Owen from Worcestershire, UK
  • 9 out of 11 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Classic...and with the best extras I've seen too

    I can't add much to the other reviews here: but this is one of the best (and most famous) movies of its type - well acted, well directed and well written.

    It's almost worth getting just for the soundtrack alone, but I can't recommend this enough. The extras (disc 2) are also well worth a rent: almost an hour of interviews and retrospectives with cast and crew, plus a music video - not just the usual blather but an detailed look-back at the film, its making and what happened after its release.

    d

      • Drew Bolton from Eastbourne
  • 7 out of 7 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Keifer's Finest Moment

    There is no doubt that Lost Boys is one of the finest modern vampire movies ever made. It's cult status is assured, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's somewhat second rate. It has a great young cast and mixes the humour in in just enough amounts to add to the vampire theme without killing it.

    Keifer Sutherland shines in his role but all the cast look very good, and some never bettered their performances.

    If you've not seen it, rent it - you won't be disappointed.

      • rinty from South Yorkshire
  • 6 out of 7 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    80's Classic!

    This is one of my favourite films.. the story is simple but fun.

    Sure it has dated slightly over the years, but if you haven't seen this yet then rent it. Even if you have seen it it watch it again! :)

      • A customer from Kent
  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Cult Film

    Wonderful teenage film I remember watching this film at the cinema. Great casting, music, horror with a touch of comedy. Eighteen years on and I still enjoyed and my teenage children loved it as well. So must be something about this film that can still entertain teenagers of today it certainly stands up well for an 80's film. Not only did my teenagers love it but also their friends who came round to watch it as well. I was told by one that it didn't realize 'old films' could be so great. For those of you old enough to remember it, greatway to recapture your youth. Great cult film for youngsters to watch and learn to love cinema.

      • A customer from Plymouth England
  • 5 out of 8 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    Still no sleepless nights for Lee & Cushing

    This is total rubbish, in that knowing allegedly ironic style-over-substance manner so beloved of Joel Schumacher, but my missus likes it, so I'm renting it! (If you're married, you'll understand.)

      • walriley from merseyside
  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    My fav film

    What can I say my favourite film of all time, classic corny 80s film but what a fantastic story: vampires, hell dogs, just brilliant!

      • frodo from tyne and wear
  • 5 out of 8 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    The Lost Decade

    Decided to rent this out of nostalgia value and also having reappraised Kiefer Sutherland somewhat since watching 24. But despite the happy memories of teenagedom it didn't come out too well.

    Special effects are pretty ropey by any standard, the soft rawk soundtrack is pretty poor, and fortunately Jason Patric has pretty much disappeared off the radar nowadays. Apparently the extras on Disc 2 (which we didn't see) are good to see how fat Corey Haim et al. have become now - but this was just left to our imagination.

      • ViceSquad from Gloucestershire
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    who doesn't like this film?

    fantastic fun..this film has it all for me..the characters are interesting..the storyline is exciting..it's funny and very watchable

      • lorraine from bolton
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Classic!!

    When I first watched this many years ago when i was a teen ( i wont say how many!) i loved it, and I just watched it again for old times sake with my ten year old son, and he loved it too! The special effects are nothing compared todays, but my boy laughed himself silly at the funny bits and really enjoyed it. Definitely one for the nostalgic who grew up in the eighties with Jason Patric on their walls!

      • Jules from Liverpool
  • Critics' reviews (5)

  • 2 stars out of 5

    There's a nasty surprise in store for divorcee Dianne Wiest when she moves her family to the Californian coast. The local teenage gang is a pack of punk vampires with designs on her kids. A slick, noisily empty, and ultimately desperate attempt to update the undead genre for the MTV generation, Batman and Robin director Joel Schumacher's neon-drenched violent nightmare is an anaemic blend of Hollywood glitz and endless pop culture references. Famous primarily as an early highlight in Kiefer Sutherland's career, no amount of chic flash and gore makes up for the few surprises, obvious twists and witless sitcom dialogue.

    • Radio Times
  • This pathetic attempt at comic horror (deriving from an initial project to rework Peter Pan in vampiric terms) not only... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • "...Haim is enormously appealing....Timely, sardonic and shrewd..."

    • New York Times
  • "...[Haim and Feldman] teamed up -- hilariously..." -- Rating: B+

    • Entertainment Weekly
  • Wild nonsense which affronts all classes by its sheer excesses.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide

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    • One of the better vampire films about two new-in-town brothers who discover a local gang of motorcycle youths are more undead than alive. Younger brother Sam works hard to eradicate the ghoulies but ...

    • The Lost Boys
      One of the better vampire films about two new-in-town brothers who discover a local gang of motorcycle youths are more undead than alive. Younger brother Sam works hard to eradicate the ghoulies but his older brother falls in love with the bunch's lone female - and is gradually becoming a vampire ...

Rating breakdown

17,078 Member ratings
  • 100
2,868
  • 90
2,168
  • 80
3,923
  • 70
3,291
  • 60
2,457
  • 50
1,202
  • 40
541
  • 30
306
  • 20
213
  • 10
109

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