An American horror comedy; A story about a single mother and her two sons who become involved with a pack of teenage vampires when they move into an offbeat Northern California seaside town. The main theme is vampirism as a metaphor for mythic male bonding, resisting growing up, commitment, and marriage. It is well photographed with rich and dark colours, great costumes, an anthemic score and some great pop music that fits well. The storyline starts out well too, creating a mood of a punkish, after-dark teenage world. But, by appealing to a broad audience it never delivers on either sub genre - not enough laughs for a comedy, mimicking "The Goonies" for cornball, and no sense of dread for a horror. Inevitably, it has to face the serious business of a third act of horror, but in doing so resorts to a formula of unimaginative action, chasing, and special-effects gore. Some young teenage viewers will find it pleasing, especially the anodyne humour of one-liners from its kooky characters, and they will find the horror quite startling. All the performances are good and there is a genuine sense of fun, passable, and watchable, if sometimes a bit anaemic.
Review of The Lost Boys
