• Home
  • Chilli Pepper Scale
  • The Early Research
  • Hall of Fame
    • The List
  • Genres
    • Drama
    • Horror, Thriller, Supernatural
    • Comedy
    • Action, Crime, War
    • Science Fiction, Super, Fantasy
    • Art House, Musical, International
    • Gritty, Challenging, Documentary
    • Romance, Matters of the Heart
    • Kid Friendly
  • Blog
SPICYWATCH

'80's Teen Movies

4/5/2019

4 Comments

 
I was getting ready for work the other day and a song from The Lost Boys soundtrack popped up on one of my Spotify playlists, and wow....what a blast from the past! I was instantly transported back to the 1980's, a time when I was an impressionable teenager who was coming of age and was easily obsessed with things of a pop culture nature (not much has changed there). And it was with a smile that I fondly reminisced the things that I had obsessed over at that time in my life. 
The Lost Boys movie was definitely one of those obsessions for me, I loved that film and had Lost Boys posters on the inside my wardrobe because I wasn't allowed to hang pictures up on my bedroom wall. I thought that it was the coolest movie that I had ever seen, probably because it was packed to the rafters with smoking hot teen boys, but I think that I also loved it because all of the characters in the movie seemed to have so many exciting things going on in their lives, and at that time in my life I didn't have a lot going at all, just an intense teenage yearning and a burning curiosity. 
'80's movies will always hold a very special place in my heart, because I was completely obsessed with them as a teenager. Horror, sci-fi, comedy and adventure movies were my favourite genres and I filled many of my bored teenage days with films that I devoutly watched over and over again on the VCR all by myself in the mostly unused and very cold 2nd lounge room of our house. It was there, huddled under a blanket that I spent many wintery weekends, watching and rewatching my favourite movies obsessively. I was almost able to recite some of those films line for line, and I know that that sounds really dorky, but you have to remember that this was a time before the internet and if you weren't running with the cool kids (which I wasn't) there wasn't exactly a lot to do with your time. Besides, a VCR was actually a pretty cool thing to have back then and having access to your own library of tapes was even better!
I was part of the MTV generation, so watching movies was a way to connect with my teenage awkwardness and also a way to vicariously generate some self discovery through the experiences of other teens on screen. It was clearly a time in my life that solidified my movie obsession and also started a genuine thirst within me for more cinematic experiences that would allow me to vicariously see the world through other people's eyes. However, no matter how many movies I watch in my life, I will always and forever have the softest spot for a good '80's teen flick.
Here is a list of my favourite teen movies (in no particular order) that I have seen way too many times for my own good, and even though some of them are not even 3 chilli peppers worthy of being on my genre lists, I cannot deny that I still have a soft spot for the nostalgia that they ignite in me whenever I watch them. 
  • The Breakfast Club
  • Sixteen Candles
  • Ferris Bueller's Day Off
  • Weird Science
  • Better Off Dead
  • Back to the Future
  • The Goonies 
  • One Crazy Summer
  • Fright Night
  • Stand by Me
and of course....The Lost Boys.
Picture
THE LOST BOYS
Release Date: 1987
Rating: M
Running Time: 98 mins 

With a cast of hotties that had my teenage heart racing like a jackhammer, The Lost Boys changed the face of vampires in movies forever by replacing middle aged Dracula archetypes with a cast of young, attractive, fashion forward vampiric teenagers and started a revolution of teen-vampire based horror/drama. Directed by Joel Schumacher, this comedy/horror although flawed, is extremely fun to watch with its strong cast,  terrific '80's soundtrack and coming of age awkwardness.
Brothers Michael and Sam relocate to Santa Carla, California with their ditsy single mother to take up residence with their eccentric Grandpa. Eldest brother Michael finds himself entangled with a group of rebellious teenage bikers when he falls for the leaders girlfriend Starr; whilst younger sibling Sam sparks an odd friendship with the Frog brothers, a couple of comic book loving self proclaimed vampire hunters. 
The 'Coreys' (Haim and Feldman) as they were called back in the '80's, supply most of the comic relief throughout, with Jason Patric, Kiefer Sutherland, Billy Wirth, Brooke McCarter and Alex Winter cast as team 'vampire hotness.' They are well supported by veterans Dianne Wiest, Edward Herrmann and Barnard Hughes, and Jami Gertz supplies some believable gypsy whimsy as the love interest at the heart of all the dramatics, Starr. 
What can I say? I still have a soft spot for this movie and probably always will, it takes me back to being 15 again every time that I watch it. 
FINAL SAY: Death by stereo! 
3.5 Chilli Peppers

4 Comments
Zoe
6/5/2019 23:01:57

I love 80s teen movies, thanks to your awesome influence! Sixteen Candles will always have a special place in my heart, so funny. Long Duk Dong is certainly a highlight.

Reply
Spicywatch
8/5/2019 17:24:16

Good old Long Duk Dong, what's not to like? Classic stuff!

Reply
Stewart Grenall
12/5/2019 18:24:31

Ghostbusters! Watched it a hunderd times when I was 15.

Reply
Spicywatch
15/6/2019 16:00:36

Ghostbusters, good pick up... a true classic that was definitely a personal fave. Not as many hotties as The Lost Boys though!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Hi, my name is Barb.
    I crave excellent, high quality viewing experiences. 
    ​Share in my addiction. 

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Action
    Art House
    Comedy
    Disasters
    Drama
    Eating Out
    Fantasy
    Foreign
    Gatherings
    Gritty / Documentary
    Horror
    Kid Friendly
    Life
    Mum Stuff
    Romance
    Science Fiction
    TV
    War

    Archives

    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photo from Crysco Photography