The New Kids (1985)

Abby McWilliams' (Lori Loughlin, TV's "Full House") nightmare begins when she attracts the unwanted attention of teenage psychopath Eddie Dutra (James Spader, TV's "Boston Practice"). Turned down for a date, Eddie destroys Abby's home, vandalizes her uncle's car and nearly stomps her brother Loren (Shannon Presby) to death. But it's only when he kidnaps Abby from the school dance, that Eddie shows his true feelings. Fueled by cocaine and armed with a shotgun, Eddie's lust turns to uncontrollable rage, as he takes Abby on a date from hell, in this terror-packed thrill-ride from the director of Friday the 13th and A Stranger is Watching.

Fun and Fantastic Trip Back To The 80's

I can't believe I bought a cheap VHS of this movie only to find out they now have it on DVD. I'm buying it anyway.

I think the acting is fantastic and the thrills will keep you on the edge of your seat. It's also fun to see James Spader, Eric Stoltz and Lori Laughlin in their younger years! I find Shannon Presby hot now that I'm older.

This movie always makes me want to work! I can't imagine why! The song "Stand Up" is awesome (wish I had it on CD). But the transitional music between the scenes is bad - though appropriate for 1985 when the movie was made.

It's a must see! January 25, 2006

cant believe its on dvd

this is so weird i never thought they would put this on dvd i had the old v.h.s. copy i loaned it to some one never got it back how long has it been out on dvd i dont know how good it did at the movies but its a b movie are there any special features the whole cast are great shannon presby what ever happen to him john philbin also i just cant believe its on dvd October 26, 2005

Bloodbath at Funland

Is there anyone out there (women included) who didn't develop a crush on the interminably cute Lori Loughlin after watching the 1985 film The New Kids? Probably, but for me, it was different (yeah, that's what they all say)...Lori Loughlin looked so very much like a girl in my neighborhood, whom I also had a crush on, back when I was in my teenage years...seems to me crushes were a dime a dozen back then, as were broken hearts, but I digress (as usual). Co-written by Stephen Gyllenhaal (father of actors Maggie and Jake) and Brian Taggert (Visiting Hours, Wanted: Dead or Alive), and directed by Sean S. Cunningham (Friday the 13th, DeepStar Six), the film features Shannon Presby ("Five Mile Creek"), Lori Loughlin (Amityville 3-D, Secret Admirer), and James Spader (Pretty in Pink, Less Than Zero, Stargate). Also appearing is Eric Stoltz (The Wild Life, Mask, The Fly II), Eddie Jones (C.H.U.D., Invasion U.S.A.), John Philbin (The Return of the Living Dead, Point Break), Vince Grant (Timequest), Paige Lyn Price (All the Right Moves), and Tom Atkins (Halloween III: Season of the Witch, Creepshow).

Loren (Presby) and Abby (Loughlin) McWilliams are teenaged siblings who face a difficult task of moving on after the untimely deaths of their parents. Shortly after their parents are laid to rest, Uncle Charlie (Jones) shows up and offers to take the pair in, to which Loren and Abby accept and move to a jerkwater town in Florida. On arriving they discover Uncle Charlie has just purchased a dilapidated amusement park called Santa's Funland, to which he plans on fixing up and making his fortune. As kids begin to settle into their new lives, Abby finds some of the local boys have taken a shine to her, particularly that of Dutra (Spader), the creepy, wild eyed, albino leader of loose knit gang of rednecks whose hobbies include dogfights, shooting guns, using and selling drugs, and betting on who can nail the new girl...smooth move Dutra makes his play, but Abby, sensing what an obvious sleaze ball the guy really is, turns him down. Well, Dutra doesn't accept rejection well, and he and his boys participate in a little vengeful vandalism and property damage. Loren fights back, pretty effectively too, but Dutra isn't the type to let things go being all insane and such, and matters escalate to the point where Dutra and his cronies kidnap Abby during the big dance for a little after party get together...Abby manages to escape (with a few well placed groin kicks), but Dutra knows where she's going, and heads her off at the pass (the `pass' being the amusement park). Soon enough Loren makes the scene and now the siblings find themselves running for their lives through the theme park, hunted by liquored up, drug-addled hillbillies sporting shotguns, vicious tempers, and murderous intent.

I enjoyed this movie specifically for the fact it didn't try to be more than it was, which is a really well done, exploitive B film. Yeah, I suppose having Lori Loughlin in it didn't hurt its chances with me, but since Ms. Loughlin refuses to return my calls or participate personally in my romantic visions of whimsy (have I somehow overestimated my animal magnetism?), any bias leanings I would have normally felt towards the film, or any of the projects she appears in, have leveled off since...the real highlight here, for me at least, is James Spader as Eddie Dutra, king sleaze in a group where that's one hell of an accomplishment. Picture his character from Pretty in Pink, only with less money and a whole lot meaner...and ruthless...and violent...and with an odd southern drawl...and an albino. Love that custom maroon boogie van he drives around in...it's always interesting to see someone still perpetrating a fad that long since seen its day, even in 1985 (`vanners' saw their heyday in the late 70s, despite the protest of a few of the more dedicated members). He was just so slimy, so vile, so despicable, and so entertaining. Look for the scene when Loren sneaks into Dutra's room in the middle of the night to collect on a debt. The décor of Dutra's room speaks volumes towards his character, a great example of fleshing out a character without wasting a lot of screen time. There were some interesting characters in his little band of hoodlum rejects, but Dutra was, without a doubt, calling the shots. Another aspect I liked was the fact that the characters of Loren and Abby weren't weakling types normally prone to victimization, but strong characters that stood up for themselves, even despite facing greater odds. This was obviously a quality they got from their father (played by Atkins), who we saw a bit of near the beginning of the film. The dialog works, as does the acting (for the most part), and the location shots are excellent. Cunningham keeps the story moving along well, priming the audience for what they know is coming, in that of a final showdown, and what a confrontation it is...what makes the film so much fun, especially towards the end, is that the villains are so absolutely and completely rotten that when they do get their comeuppance, you can't help but let out a fulfilled cheer, much like I do when Chuck Bronson blasts a cap into a worthless punk in one of those Death Wish movies. A couple of memorable sequences is when Loren rigs the Ferris wheel and takes Moonie for a ride (Dutra had planted Moonie on top of the Ferris wheel with a rifle), and when Loren is fighting with Gideon (Philbin) near the roller coaster...this scene gave new meaning to the phrase `a little off the top'...you have to see the film to understand the full extent of that comment. And watch Abby get jiggy with a two by four...few things can get your point across like a good piece of lumber upside someone's head. All in all this is a great little film, worth at least a rental if you enjoy the seedy side of cinema, and don't mind a little blood along with perceived violence towards animals (I do think the lopping of the chicken head was real), followed by a slightly predictable ending which I didn't see coming, but enjoyed nonetheless.

The quality of the picture, presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1), looks excellent, and the Dolby Digital Stereo comes through very well. There aren't really any special features, but there are some unrelated trailers for other Columbia Tristar Home Video releases like Frankenfish (2004), Devour (2005), Vampires: The Turning (2005), and Kingdom Hospital (2004).

Cookieman108

If I learned anything from this film it's that dousing a woman with lighter fluid and then threatening to set her on fire does not make her more accepting towards intimate relations...
October 24, 2005

Finally!!!

OMG!!! Finally The New Kids get the DVD treatment. I've been waiting for this to come out forever it seems like. All I have to say is if you've never seen this movie buy it anyway. Trust me if your an 80's fan you'll love this hidden gem. I highly recommend it if your a James Spader fan also.

Here's a short description of the movie from IMDB:

A brother and sister arrive in a small town to help their relatives run an amusement park, and they find the town is terrorized by a local street gang.

Cast:

Shannon Presby .... Loren McWilliams
Lori Loughlin .... Abby McWilliams
James Spader .... Eddie Dutra
Eric Stoltz .... Mark September 14, 2005

6-packs and skateboards

I went to the high school where this was filmed. Some of us were asked to be xtras in the movie over summer vacation. I was seriously considering doing it but hey, it was the 80's and that summer was spent riding skateboards with my friends and going to punk rock shows in Miami at the Cameo Theatre. I lived a few miles from where the carnival scene was set up (Anderson's Corner). My friends and I would get some randumb redneck to buy us beer at the Tom Thumb up the street and we'd skate over there at 2 am and smoke & drink in the Tilt-A-Whirl. Anyways... The movie has become somewhat of a cult classic. You'll get a good laugh out of James Spader's accent at the very least. August 10, 2004

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