When released in 1985 the movie THE BOYS NEXT DOOR didn’t do
major box office figures and went to video faster than many films at the time. Directed
by Penelope Spheeris the film has since received both critical praise and cult
status. I’ve often read of people searching for copies of the film when it has
gone out of print. Those folks will be pleased to see that Severin has just
released the film on blu-ray with plenty of extras on hand as well.
The film starts off as a road movie. Just graduated from
high school Roy Alston (Maxwell Caulfield) and Bo Richards (Charlie Sheen) are
two young teens restless and unhappy about their lot in life. Both are facing a
lifetime of living as blue collar workers with little hope of anything more to
be offered from the world. Roy is the more explosive of the two, feeling the
need to release his pent up rage. Instead using the graduation money Bo’s
grandparents left him they head out for L.A. to experience one last night of
freedom.
Once there the rage that fuels Roy is turned loose beginning
with a gas station attendant that he beats nearly to death with a crowbar from
their trunk. Leaving him behind the pair next hit the boardwalk where Roy
tosses a bottle hitting a woman in the head. When three young girls try and
stop him he nearly runs them down. This is their initiation into a world of
violence begun by them.
Talking to one another Roy tells Bo about this pent up rage
he feels all the time and this need to release it. He tells him that he dreams
of a day when the entire world will “go caveman” and abandon all rules, just
let them return to their primal ways. Ever the firm friend Bo agrees with him
not realizing how far Roy is willing to go to make that dream come true.
As the police try and find the duo in the wake of their
violent spree more people die. Picked up at a gay bar they went to not
realizing what it was, Roy kills a young gay man in his apartment taking his
gun. He then shoots a couple parked in a car. While Bo is concerned about this
he stands by his friend. Another murder takes place and they are eventually
chased by the LAPD into a mall. Whether they will walk out or not isn’t
revealed until the end of the film.
The movie plays like a REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE for the 80s.
Troubled teen movies have been a staple for years but this movie took things
further than any had in the past. The theme of violence as an outlet for
frustration matched the punk rock music of the time but was disturbing to most
viewers. The hopelessness of the two main characters, facing a life of
servitude in careers they have no real interests in is what drives their
violent crime spree. But is violent outburst the real solution?
The pair are an unsympathetic couple as displayed here. You
can understand their frustrations but the choices they make are a lethal
combination of subversive attitudes and childlike ignorance of the consequences
of their actions. Because of that and the amount of destruction they cause
there is little way you can side with either of them, both Roy the instigator
and Bo the follower.
As I said the film became a cult favorite among young people
years after it was released. Those young fans sought out the hard to find VHS
tapes of the movie and then sought it out on disc as well. It was released on
disc in 2001 but then disappeared until now with the new Severin release on
blu-ray.
Scanned in 4k from the original negative the film has never
looked better. And they’ve packed in plenty of extras to enjoy as well. Those
include an audio commentary track with Spheeris and Caulfield, “Blind Rage” an
interview with Stephen Thrower author of NIGHTMARE USA, “Both Sides of the Law”
an interview with actors Caulfield and Christopher McDonald, “Give Us Your
Money” interviews with street band performers Texacala Jones and Tequila
Mockingbird, “Caveman Day” Cinemaniancs interview Spheeris and Caulfield,
“Tales from the End Zone” an interview with actor Kenneth Cortland, “The
Psychotronic Tourist-The Boys Next Door”, alternate opening title sequence and
extended scenes and the trailer for the film.
Not for the faint of heart but not as violent as many movies
made today, the film has some disturbing images and concepts to deal with. But
it also opens the door for dialogue on these issues. What better effect could a
movie about disengaged youths have than that?
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