Think you know vampires? There's Edward and Damon and Stefan and Spike and Angel and this is where the sound of a record scratching plays so we can hold the phone for a second.

Don't know what a scratching record sounds like? Like a real scratching record, not just a scratch mixed in with a beat? Here you go:

https://youtu.be/Ll6CNFVFTC8

Now that I have your attention, I'm going to ask you to go back. Back before Spike and Angel, before Damon and Stefan (the CW versions AND LJ Smith's original novel versions from the 90s). Back to a time when AquaNet was killing the atmosphere, the dudes wore more makeup than the chicks and no one blinked an eye, where zubaz and acid wash were a thing (Google it), and neon was everywhere.

Back in the 80s Joel Schumacher created what has become an epic and game-changing vampire movie called The Lost Boys. What originally started its life as a script for a campy kids movie eventually morphed (thank god) into the cult classic that we have today. It's so much a cult classic that in its 30th anniversary year, the movies on the beach showing that Santa Cruz has done every year for the last ten years (because it is home to The Lost Boys, of course, a good chunk of the movie having been filmed at their boardwalk, on the wharf, and around town) garnered a whopping 7,500 person turnout in June of 2017. They even set up a Lost Boys walking tour with a downloadable map to make sure you hit all those Lost Boys landmarks, and the owner of Atlantis Fantasy World (the comic shop in the movie, just not under that name) put on a costume contest to win a set of back issue Reign of Frogs comics (a set of "sequel" comics that were issued about ten or so years ago that are now out of print).

On top of that a glorious man named Paul Davis busted his butt for the last ten months putting together an epic making-of book that includes a pile of stories and interviews we've never heard plus literally hundreds of never-before-seen photos. To help celebrate I'm running my own epic celebration of all things Lost Boys fandom over in my little Wattpad corner, aptly titled The Lost Boys 30th Anniversary Fanfic Contest Extravaganza, #TLB30 for short! You can find it here: https://www.wattpad.com/story/106178739-the-lost-boys-30th-anniversary-fanfic-contest. Everything from fanfiction to fan sites to graphics manipulation and so much more has been highlighted so far.

And the piece de resistance of it all? The contest itself. Find it here:https://www.wattpad.com/403052039-the-lost-boys-30th-anniversary-fanfic-contest. What can you win? A copy of Paul's book signed by the author PLUS all of the actors in attendance at the book premiere at HorrorHound Weekend in Indianapolis next month. And it's gearing up to be an epic event. I want you all to enter because 1) fanfic writing is fun and 2) this is, like, one of the greatest movies ever and I just KNOW you'll love it and want to enter.

So if you're already familiar with the movie, go check out my book and write me some fanfic to judge! If you're not then I think you need these things in your life. These 6 things that showcase just how awesome a movie The Lost Boys is. Ready? Here they are.

Well first, let's start with the trailer.

https://youtu.be/5WlON7r0m7E

Looks killer, right? Okay, now on to the THINGS.

1. The Lost Boys started the sexy vampire craze.

Seriously, no fooling.' Google it if you don't believe me. Before The Lost Boys, vampires in movies were sinister, monstrous things people were meant to revile. Joel sexed up fangs and cast teen heartthrob Kiefer Sutherland as the lead vampire plus a cast of young, sexy dudes (and a sexy lady) to really hammer that idea home.

The Lost Boys is credited with really amping up that sexually alluring monster that you're both drawn to and repelled by. Without this movie you wouldn't have Angel or Spike or Damon or even Edward. So . . . thank the mullets.

2. The music is killer.

https://youtu.be/sqdNcAjj9p4

You're not going to find a whole lot of quintessential 80s synth pop on here. It's mostly rock with a couple of rather 80s-sounding songs (just not Depeche Mode-like). And 80s-looking videos.

https://youtu.be/0eEpXiWOnYE

(Timing's a little off on that one. Sorry about that. It was either that or an even worse-looking video. I chose clarity.)

INXS (that's In-Ex-Es for those not familiar with the band, not inks), Echo and the Bunnymen (with their cover of The Doors' People Are Strange), Tim Capello (Tina Turner's epic sax man, I mean what would an 80s soundtrack be like without a song with an epic saxophone riff?), and the song that IS The Lost Boys, G Tom Mac's Cry Little Sister. Chances are you've heard it before, even if you haven't seen the movie.

https://youtu.be/TuxdjVI-5r0

It's been sampled over and over and over again over the years, including by G himself as he's remade the song for one of The Lost Boys's sequels (which we SHANT talk about) and a country version for True Blood. Seriously, this soundtrack will move in on you and never move out.

3. It's timeless.

Okay, maybe not so much the mullets or Sam clothes.

(Why yes, those ARE shoulder pads in that jacket.)

But maybe you missed the part above where I mentioned that 7,500 people showed up for a screening of the movie in June, 30 years AFTER it came out? It's an ambiance thing. It's a feeling the movie gives you. It's so incredibly 80s without a lot of the cheeseball aspects of the decade, namely the effects.

There's only one green screen moment at the end of the movie where it's pretty obviously green screen, but everything else, the effects are make-up and puppets and real life effects not done by computers. So like Jurassic Park today still looks fantastic because of the real life effects they used, The Lost Boys doesn't date itself with technology. Just its clothing. It's more palatable to our CGI eyes to watch because it doesn't have so much crap effects to look around.

4. It's the birth of the Two Coreys.

https://youtu.be/t50A-1a_5eM

Even the youngest generation knows who the Two Coreys are, mainly because they've seen them in SOMETHING probably best spotted on late night TV. The Lost Boys was only the beginning. They also did License to Drive (another awesome movie), Dream a Little Dream (1 and 2, the first one's far better), and some less-than-stellar gems like Blown Away and National Lampoon's Last Resort. They also had their own TV show for about a year, a reality show following them around. You can probably check out some of those episodes on YouTube.

Regardless, the Two Coreys practically defined the 80s. Watch some I Love the 80s on VH1 if you don't know what I'm talking about. It must be the 1987 episode because they talk about them starting with The Lost Boys (after all the actors gush about how much they love the movie, of course).

5. It's not really an R movie.

I mean it is. The MPAA has it rated as R, but had it been made today it'd be PG-13 at best so it's really a movie that can be enjoyed by nearly all ages. I was 11 when I first saw it.

Aside from one mention of 'shit' (that's it, just one) there's no swearing. For a vampire movie there's relatively little blood and gore. The bonfire scene has a couple of blink-and-you-miss-it moments and there may be an exploding vampire at the end of the movie, but that's it. It's focus is not on physical horror. It's more about the unseen and the motives that remain the scariest part of the movie.

And it's funny. Grandpa is the running comic relief in the film with his Windex aftershave and taxidermy and pot and the Frog brothers are walking Rambo parodies that take themselves way too seriously.

And then there's the whole dinner scene with the Frogs (whose names are Edgar and Alan, BTW), Sam, Sam's mom Lucy, and her date, whom the boys think is the head vampire. THAT just turns into a hot mess.

Don't know what I'm talking about? Then I guess you're going to have to watch the movie then, huh?

6. You'll want to go to Santa Cruz when you're done watching it.

If for nothing more than to visit the infamous Boardwalk.

Santa Cruz is truly a tourist town filled with weirdos and hippies with a rather sizable homeless population. The movie was not wrong about any of that. It's also one of my favorite places on earth, and I've been a lot of places. Between the food and the ambiance and the rides and the smells and the town itself, it truly is a vacation destination.

About an hour south of San Francisco and about 30 minutes southwest of San Jose, Santa Cruz is the only place in California where you can see the sun rise over the ocean (thanks to the hooked-in bay the town sits on) and where you can walk the very route in the opening credits where the Emersons are driving in (West Cliff Drive which, when you truly become a nerd like myself, you'll realize the Emersons, who are coming from Phoenix, are driving from the wrong direction, but taking an exit off Highway 1 just isn't as pretty).

I have yet to meet a Lost Boys fan who hasn't dreamed of visiting Santa Cruz one day if they haven't already, and it's a town that's so incredibly proud of their Lost Boys heritage and they own it hardcore. Do I need to mention the movie on the beach thing again?

vVv

By now I hope you're convinced enough to at least give it one watch. It likes to go off and on Netflix so you can watch for it there, or just buy a copy for like $10. The two-disc DVD special edition that has a ton of extra features is actually only about $7 on Amazon. It's a steal! Or, you know, Apple or YouTube Purchase or whatever.

Then once you're done watching and once you're done cursing me for the new addiction (you're welcome) come on down and write me some fanfic. Just follow the instructions here:https://www.wattpad.com/403052039-the-lost-boys-30th-anniversary-fanfic-contest (TLB30 book, chapter title The Prompt) and tag your story #TLB30 so I and the judges can find it. The prize is epic! That contest ends 8/31.

Can't wait for the prize? You can pre-order yourself a copy of Paul Davis's LOST IN THE SHADOWS athttp://www.cultscreenings.co.uk/lost-in-the-shadows/ (assuming they're not sold out by the time this posts). This book truly is a once-in-a-lifetime deal and once they're gone THEY'RE GONE. Super limited edition. So get your copy NOW if you still can.

As for right now, I'm holding a separate little giveaway for the #wattpadblockparty! Check out my giveaway link below for your chance to win a set of Lost Boys-inspired lip balm (handmade by me from my shop atlunachasestore.etsy.com) and a bag of salt water taffy from Marini's Candy in Santa Cruz! Absolutely love their taffy and I literally buy POUNDS of it when I'm there. My thighs hate me for that. I don't care what they think. Good luck, future Lost Boys fans! This block party giveaway ends on 8/31 when the block party does and is open internationally!

You can also find me on Twitter (@dcompbooks), Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dcompbooks/, tumblr http://donnaduck87.tumblr.com/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/donnaduck13/, and my very own Lost Boys fansite http://www.santacarlatwilight.com

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Enter the #WattpadBlockParty Giveaways for Your Chance to Win Amazon Gift Cards, Signed Paperbacks, E-Books, Shoutouts from Your Favorite Wattpad Authors, and Much More!

Link: https://goo.gl/2x2anC