In 1987, no one who made “The Lost Boys” thought they’d still be talking about it — and holding an entire “Summer of Santa Carla” convention to celebrate it — 35 years later.
“None of us were that cocky when we were making it, just to be really clear. Including [director Joel Schumacher]. None of us thought, ‘We’re making something that’s going to have an impact on culture,’ or anything like that,” said Alex Winter, who played the mulleted Marko, one of the rock ‘n’ roll vampires in charismatic bloodsucker David (Kiefer Sutherland)’s crew.
The film was originally going to be directed by Richard Donner, whose kids’ classic “The Goonies” was also destined for cult status. Corey Feldman stars in both, and his vamp-hunting Edgar Frog brought the same goofy vibe to the far more bloody, R-rated horror movie.
As Joel Schumacher’s genre classic gets a 4K release, stars Winter, Feldman and Jamison Newlander (who played his brother, Alan Frog) talked to TheWrap about revisiting the movie, sharing it with their own kids, the ’80s wardrobe, and, of course, the shirtless Saxophone Guy.
TheWrap: Would we have as many vampire movies today if it weren’t for this movie?
Winter: Gosh, I hate to be cocky enough to say no. I think Joel’s vision, which could have not worked, but because of his brilliance did work, was to kind of reinvent what vampires were and how they function within their community. He slammed rock and roll and Brando and Dean and “The Goonies” and all these tropes together into one big stew.
When was the last time you rewatched “The Lost Boys?”
Corey Feldman: [Looks at watch] About three hours ago.
Jamison Newlander: Last time I watched it all the way through was probably six years ago.
Feldman: We played film clips during the whole Summer of Santa Carla convention in San Antonio, Texas, so every night I’m looking back and watching clips from the movie. But I haven’t watched the entire film probably in several years. I do plan on watching the 4k version. I have a projector at my house that transfers everything to 3D. I think that will look pretty amazing, the stake coming right at you.
Winter: It’s funny, I just saw the movie for the first time maybe since the premiere, and I didn’t remember the plot that well. My son and I screened it in London, a 35 millimeter print. My kid just had the best time, he’s only 12.
Why do you think it is so beloved, so many years later?
Winter: First and foremost, because it works. It’s a good movie. I didn’t write it, so I think I can say that without any hubris, right? It’s really entertaining, it’s incredibly well directed. It has this insane cast of incredible people, all the New York theater actors [Dianne Wiest and Edward Herrmann] and really cool up-and-coming Hollywood actors.
Joel had a really clear lock on his vision and he just swung for the fences. I remember he told me when I ran into him, 15-20 years later, “I thought I was gonna get fired every single day. I was on that set, so I was just, ‘Eff it. I’m never gonna make another movie again. I might as well just go for it.’” I think that when you do that and succeed, you have a chance at actually making something that has resonance. I’m not going to overstate the film’s brilliance or anything. It’s entertaining. It’s fun and popcorny, but it is a really solid movie.
What was it like watching it again after so many years?
Winter: I’m not really in that much of this movie. I shot on it for a year or so. God knows I invested a lot of time in it, but I basically just sulk quietly and then kill people, which is not a bad gig. I was talking to Jason and Jamison about it not long ago, just what a genuinely wonderful experience it was. There was a quality to making “Lost Boys’ unlike almost anything else I’ve ever done professionally, where you knew you were in good hands and those hands were very compassionate. Joel was visionary, and specific and could be firm, but he was very compassionate and familial. So it was a really lovely memory that all came flooding back when I was watching it.
When you’re meeting the fans, is it usually people who saw it when they when it first came out, or people who are just now discovering it?
Feldman: It’s everything. The amazing thing is when people come up with their kids, and they’re like. “My kid’s five years old, six years old, and they love ‘The Lost Boys.’ It’s their favorite movie.” And we’re like, “Aren’t they a little young”?
Newlander: It’s not as bad as… It’s not a slasher movie, you know, and it has a nice amount of comedy, and it’s about brotherhood…
Feldman: No T&A, so that’s good.
Newlander: So that’s somewhat family friendly. I mean, we do see Jason Patric’s bare chest.
Feldman: [Laughs] But yeah, speaking of Jason Patric, he brought his little boy and his little boy’s best friend to a convention. He asks, “Corey, can my kids get a picture with you? They love the Frog Brothers. They’re obsessed.” And they both wear these Frog Brothers T-shirts, and they’ve got the headbands on. And I’m just blown away by that.
Newlander: Jason Patric’s kids, they love the Frog Brothers probably even more than they love his character.
Feldman: I didn’t say that. Jason’s gonna be coming for you now. [Laughs]
Do you think the rating would be the same if it came out today?
Feldman: Probably not, actually. I think it would probably fall under PG-13.
Newlander: Yeah, even at the time, R was a bit of a stretch, I think. but they wanted an R, wanted it to be a little dangerous.
What do you think is the most ’80s thing about the movie?
Feldman: Definitely the fashion. All it takes is one look at Corey [Haim]’s wardrobe. Prototype. Flock of Seagulls kid. And definitely Alex’s hair with the mullet. There’s some big nods to the ’80s.
Newlander: Yeah, picturing Corey Haim and his character when we first met him in the comic book store. That seems so very ’80s to me.
Winter: Well, I mean, Tim Capello. Come on, there is no other answer. Oiled-up dude with the saxophone is the answer to that question. You could really take anyone out of that and leave Tim and it would be the most ’80s film ever made.
“The Lost Boys” is now available on 4K Blu-ray from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
