The Lost Boys (Directed by Joel Schumacher) 1987

Right, slap bang in the middle of the dominance of heavy metal music, 'The Lost Boys' emerged - a vampire movie completely at the other end of the scale from 'Nosferatu' yet still as riveting. 'The Lost Boys' was a simple vampire tale, but one of fun more than horror. Featuring a strong cast, including Keifer Sutherland as the blonde vamp leader, 'The Lost Boys' tells the tale of a family and their move to Santa Carla, California only to become involved with a gang of vampire rockers. Corey Haim stars as the fatherless boy who, with mother (Dianne West) and brother (Jason Patric) move from Arizona to stay with their grandfather - but things take a turn for the worse when Sam's (Haim) brother Michael (Patric) falls for local girl Star (Jamie Gertz). Star just so happens to be part of a vampire gang, who begin to draw Michael into their deadly grip - but Sam, with the help of new found buddies the Frog brothers (played by Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander) are on the ball, and eventually it's down to them - and with a little help from Grandpa - to rid Santa Monica of its fanged marauders.

Admittedly, 'The Lost Boys' is light on gore, but it makes up for that with the acting and humour, and is typical of an '80s film and yet still doesn't appear dated a few decades later. Interestingly, of all the good vampire films to have emerged over the years - such as 'Near Dark' - 'The Lost Boys' wins every time due to its feel-good factor and strong cast. There's nothing overtly dark about the movie, although I'm sure when this first hit the cinema it was rated an '18' - but if anything it seems to be aimed at the rebellious souls among us, especially those in the '80s who allegedly turned to the dark side by listening to heavy metal music and reading horror comics. Not a life changing film by any stretch of the imagination but one which you'll watch and feel all the better for it. One of THE essential vampire films.