The Lost Boys (R)

Scary '80s vamp film. Older teens only.

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About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
3
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Warner Bros.
  • Directed By: Joel Schumacher
  • Cast: Jason Patric
  • Running Time: 97 minutes
  • Release Date: 7/31/1987
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 1/27/1998
  • Genre: Horror
  • MPAA Rating: R
  • MPAA Explanation: language and violence

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie isn't suitable for kids. While not constant, there are some graphic gory moments. One is a vampire feeding frenzy and the other is the climactic scene where the brothers defend themselves and their friends from attacking vampires. Killing of innocents are mostly implied. One notable scene features a hallucination of maggots and rice.

Families can talk about peer pressure. Why did Michael go along with the pack? Even though he later regrets it, what could he have done (if anything) to keep himself from falling into their trap?

Message

Social Behavior:

Main characters are good children, brothers who look out for each other and their family. All socially deviant behavior (in this case, vampirism) has consequences (in this case, death).

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

One reference to possible marijuana use.

Violence

Implied killing of innocent people, gory deaths with a lot of bitings, dismemberments, and impaling.

Sex

Implied sex.

Language

Infrequent use of the word "s--t."

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Afsheen Nomai

In THE LOST BOYS, the Emerson family has just moved to Santa Carla, self-titled murder capital of the world, and already oldest son Michael (Jason Patric) has fallen in with the wrong crowd. Out one night he meets Star (Jami Gertz), whom he follows and who introduces him to David (Kiefer Sutherland). David is the leader of a gang of vampires and, after a hanging out, Michael unwittingly joins their clan. Meanwhile, David's brother, Sam (Corey Haim) befriends the Frog brothers (Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander), a pair of young vampire hunters. When David finds out what is going on, he and the young kids embark on a mission to destroy the head vampire and return their lives to normal. Dianne Weist also stars, as Michael and Sam's mother.

Is it any good?

3
The Lost Boys is a fun film to watch and is certainly one of the better vampire films to come out in the 1980s. Although he might not have been trying to, Kiefer vamps it up well and is enjoyable to watch. The film works a lot better as camp than as a serious vampire film, however, parents should be warned that there are some scary moments.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

5


Posted on 07/03/08 by lindsey123 Kid contributor, age 13

5


Posted on 04/28/08 by aidenconvict Kid contributor, age 14

5


Posted on 03/12/07 by bgt Kid contributor, age 13

Age 13+
5

Posted on 08/11/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

should not be "R"

I am 13 years old and had a very hard time convincing my parents to let me see this moveie because of it's "R" rating. After seeing this film I was unsure of why it was rated R. There was some language, but nothing worse than the "S" word, which is used in PG-13 movies all the time. There was brief sexual content, involving two characters making out on a bed, the girl didnt have a shirt on, but you could only see her back. This film is quite gory with teenagers violently killing vampires, but with all the gory video games today, this should not be an issue for most kids. I would say this is a great movie that everybody should see, but i might caution children under 12 who want to see this.

Adult Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

Age 13+
5

Posted on 08/11/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

should not be "R"

I am 13 years old and had a very hard time convincing my parents to let me see this moveie because of it's "R" rating. After seeing this film I was unsure of why it was rated R. There was some language, but nothing worse than the "S" word, which is used in PG-13 movies all the time. There was brief sexual content, involving two characters making out on a bed, the girl didnt have a shirt on, but you could only see her back. This film is quite gory with teenagers violently killing vampires, but with all the gory video games today, this should not be an issue for most kids. I would say this is a great movie that everybody should see, but i might caution children under 12 who want to see this.

Kids Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

5


Posted on 07/03/08 by lindsey123 Kid contributor, age 13

5


Posted on 04/28/08 by aidenconvict Kid contributor, age 14

5


Posted on 03/12/07 by bgt Kid contributor, age 13

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