With an incredible soundtrack, top class cast and a lesson on how to remove leeches from your genitalia, Stand by Me remains a cult classic over 25 years later.
There are many ‘coming of drama’ dramas in Hollywood’s back catalogue yet in our minds, none accurately capture the interaction, fears and lifestyles of young boys better than director’s Rob Reiner Stand by Me. Who would have thought that such an accurate portrayal of adolescence would come from a novella written by none other than Stephen King?
Though many of us didn’t grow up in the 1950s or have ever debated on what exactly Disney character Goofy actually is (thought we did afterwards), it’s hard not to relate to the witty dialogue between four young boys (played by Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell and the late River Phoenix) who take off in search of adventure and eh… the dead body of a missing boy in Oregon. Well, this is Stephen King after all, right?
Stand by Me is based on a novella from Stephen King’s collection Different Seasons, a four-story release that also spawned Bryan Singer’s Apt Pupil and Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redepemtion, otherwise known as arguably the most celebrated film of the past 20 years. Not bad going for a writer famed for his expertise in the horror market.
Aside from its dialogue, this is a film which holds up due to its excellent tension-filled scenes, such as a dramatic predicament on a train bridge or the arrival of gang of bullies in the third act, led by none other than a young Kiefer Sutherland. Thankfully, the former 24 star doesn’t resort to ‘enhanced interrogation techniques’ in this case.
For many men, however, Stand by Me will always be remembered as the movie with that leeches scene. Without getting into too much detail for newcomers, there’s an extremely painful and wince-inducing lesson for us all on the dangers of swimming in swamps. As incredibly uncomfortable as the scene is too watch, bear in mind that Stephen King states on the movie’s DVD extras that the leeches incident in question actually happened to him as a youngster. Poor guy…
While Stand by Me holds up remarkably well for repeat watches (perhaps because the 1950s setting is seen through the prism of a late 1980s and therefore more modern perspective), it’s a film with an excellent chance to play ‘spot the future star’. Aside from the aforementioned Sutherland, there’s a supporting role for John Cusack, one of the finest roles in the tragically short life of River Phoenix and in the case of the chubby put-upon character Vern, an actor who would surprisingly grow up to become a 1990s heartthrob and husband of Rebecca Romijn.
Although Rob Reiner has been notoriously quiet over the past ten years, he managed an incredible quartet of 1980s releases which included fellow cult classic This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally and Stand By Me. Though it’s hard to pick a favourite from those four, Stand by Me offers a unique possibility to revisit most viewers’ largely imagined nostalgia and for that reason alone, is always rewarding.
For more cult films, check out the Jameson Cult Film Club.
