‘The Lost Boys’ by Future Cinema

Canary Wharf has a certain image to it. The area is home to a number of banks and businesses punching the clock from nine to five, and to my mind it seemed like a grey, serious place for much of the week.

I can therefore only speculate that anyone unfortunate enough to be working there on a Saturday would have looked on in complete amazement at the thousands of people dressed as gothic punks attending a mass outdoor screening of The Lost Boys.

The California Classics weekend, featuring The Lost Boys and Top Gun, was put on by Future Cinema in an attempt to bring the glamour of Eighties California to London. As I approached the arena a carnival sprung into view, with bikers, skateboarders and a tonne of sand. The effort put into this event was immediately obvious. My attention was so drawn to the spectacle I almost missed the dozens of actors roaming the place, one of whom immediately showed a great deal of disgust at my Frog Brothers outfit.

The actors remained in character the whole day, and were all too happy to engage with the crowds. Bikers frequently pulled right up to people, glaring angrily and revving their engines before shooting off at speed. The Lost Boys‘ den was faithfully re-created, with passing visitors encouraged to drink from a special bottle, and fall to the dark side. The attention to detail, and emphasis on little surprises was most evident here. The exit to the den had a hidden tequila bar, specially placed so that most of the crowd would miss it. The discovery of little touches like this really added an extra level of fun to the event.

As the sun went down, it was time for the film to start. An army of Frog Brothers stormed the stage to lead a mass sing-a-long of the film’s theme before the main event was underway. If you’ve not seen The Lost Boys, it’s an incredibly camp Eighties horror film with a cast of actors who were huge at the time, if not anymore (Keifer Sutherland being the notable exception). The film is hugely enjoyable, perfect for a screening where the crowd are encouraged to cheer and whoop along.

While there were some definite organisational issues (the queues were huge, anyone wanting food could expect to wait over an hour), the event was a clear success. It’s slightly bizarre to be in a beachside carnival surrounded by skyscrapers, but in a way it added to the unreality of the whole event. The Lost Boys who had been prowling the place so menacingly at the start were nowhere to be seen after the film, ensuring nobody was heading home to have nightmares.

The Lost Boys was part of California Classics by Future Cinema. For future screenings, visit the website.