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Major Vampire Plot Hole in "The Lost Boys".

posted 2 years ago by OnanTheBarbarian (13134)
16 replies | jump to latest

Hey, I loved this film. It's a fun spirited exploration of the topic. What's it like to be a normal human being turning into a vampire? It's also great camp 80's stuff.

But it's not true to historical vampire lore or the Hollywood interpretations of it.

The Plot Hole: The movie claims that if the leader of the vampire clan is killed, all his subjects revert to plain ordinary living human beings. Dracula is rolling over in his coffin. That's not how it works. Where's Ann Rice when you need her?

It's a bad fix to close the film, and it makes us take it less seriously in terms of the vampire theme.

[–] Ace_Spade (9657) 2 years ago

Every vampire fiction, mythology, or legend has its own rules. The Lost Boys made up its own rules, so that's not a plot hole, it's just a differentiation from other vampire stories. The plot hole would only come up with a lack of internal logical consistency.

Also, as you say, it's a fun, campy '80s flick, and a couple of plot holes wouldn't wreck it anyway.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (13134) 2 years ago

I think it's a logical inconsistency in the whole concept of vampirism. And it was an unnecessary addition to the lore.

The vampire was supposed to be immortal and undead as long as he drank blood. This would have created a whole lot of havoc in the vampire community if your benefactor in Transylvania has a stake driven through his heart, you're in the middle of sucking blood, and all a sudden your vampirism is undid? It makes no sense.

[–] Ace_Spade (9657) 2 years ago

When does the movie contradict it, though? It's not a logical inconsistency if the movie is consistent in its logic.

The lore is whatever the movie wants, and I'm with you insofar as I don't particularly like that rule, but I like the movie and I don't mind the movie having its own rules. I like it when vampires are affected by religious symbols, too, but Interview with the Vampire, Underworld, Vampire$, and Blade all get rid of that rule, and I enjoy those stories (to a greater or lesser degree). As for necessary or unnecessary, what's "necessary" to vampire lore? It's fiction; let the story decide what is needed.

You're right: this could make a "chain reaction" where killing a very, very old vampire might annihilate swathes of the undead in one strike, but again, the film doesn't ever contradict this, so it's still not a plot hole or logic gap.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

The "kill the leader and all the followers are neutralized" thing is a very old trope, one that's generally brought up by lazy writers who can't think of any other way for the heroes to beat overwhelming odds. It isn't generally found in vampire movies but is a staple of the Fantasy genre, thanks to Prof. Tolkien (who used it but didn't make a big deal out of it), and it's been used in a bazillion movies and even "Star Trek".

It should be banned. Writers should now be forced to actually come up with original and believable ways to win.

[–] thingmakersback (1442) 2 years ago

Yeah, it is very old. I can't recall a pre-modern version (I remembered Medusa and then checked to discover that what I actually remembered was people and critters turned to stone and restored to life by the death of the witch in C.S. Lewis) but the original novel Dracula comes pretty close. You could be pedantic and say that Mina was not yet a vampire, but at the end, when Dracula is destroyed, Mina is "purified" of her taint of vampirism and the scar of the cross on her forehead disappears.

I think your argument comes down to personal preference...

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

Yeah, it really is a matter of personal preference, and I've just see it too many times. Other people probably aren't as bothered.

The oldest use of the idea was "Lord of the Rings", and since everyone in the Fantasy genre copied everything else Prof. Tolkien put in those books, everyone else in Fantasy/sci-fi felt free to use that idea along with everything else! Although I don't know if it actually was Tokien's idea, I just can't think of an earlier use.

[–] thingmakersback (1442) 2 years ago

Now you have me going... Will delve into fairy tales and folklore.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

Thanks! I can't be arsed.

But since the whole Fantasy Genre is based on stealing from Prof. Tolkien, maybe that really IS where that trope came from...

[–] Oskar (315) 2 years ago

The "vampires burn in sunlight" thing didn't even exist until Nosferatu. Calm down. Vampires aren't real, so they can have any powers or limitations the creator decides.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (13134) 2 years ago

That's not even comparable.

The idea that when the lead vampire dies all those he's bitten revert to normalcy is a feelgood inconsistency. If vampirism is acquired through a bite, then it's a physical state. The vampire isn't under the leader's "spell". His state of being was transmitted by blood.

If you like fiction, the fictional world must have an internal consistency.

The premise of this otherwise great movie is that all the vampires become living mortal people again. It's a happy ending which is an insult to lovers of the vampire genre.

[–] Oskar (315) 2 years ago

It only applied to half-vampires - Star, Michael, and Sonny would have reverted. David, Bill S Preston Esquire and the others would not.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (13134) 2 years ago

Exactly. So the characters you're supposed to like go back to being living mortals. And everyone else dies. It's stooopid!

[–] Oskar (315) 2 years ago

To be fair: Welcome to Hollywood Movies!

[–] kenburke (2396) 2 years ago

I think that only had to do with the half-vampires (Michael, Star, and Laddie).

[–] maximmm (3405) 2 years ago

Well - it's definitely a happy ending
how do you feel about all vampires dying when the OG dies? Seems like that's the alternative take from Hollywood - lol
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/50595195787799883/

In the end, it's all BS - they are not even pretending there's any sort of science to it all, so ignore the vamp BS
Every vamp film/series has its own set of rules - some fly, some don't, some do this, others don't, BS, BS, BS

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (13134) 2 years ago

Well this one doesn't fly.