Alex Winter Recalls ‘The Lost Boys’ As The 80s Classic Arrives In 4K

It's like Christmas has come early for fans of the 1987 teen vampire movie The Lost Boys.

In the summer of 1987, audiences and critics were enamored by the vision of bloodsuckers in Santa Clara, California. The film, which was made for $8.5 million, made $32 million and boasted a cast that included the likes of Diane Wiest and Edward Herrmann. Alex Winter's role in the movie was a big one.

I talked to Winter about The Lost Boys, the auditioning process, and how far he went to make sure the actor agreed.

Simon Thompson asked if you had any idea that The Lost Boys would become a cultural icon. The movie came out and was popular, but it has gone beyond that.

I was not sure if it would be a hit. You are not sure. It felt like there was a lot of support behind it, unlike other things I'd done before that, but it was different. When it came to our chances, it felt like it was going to do well at the box office and they made it for a certain price. That leap to the cultural impact it has today is not something that it does. Bill and Ted were not with us. We definitely did not. The first one was not going to see the light of day, that's for sure. You have to put that at his feet with The lost Boys. He was well educated when it came to movies and fashion and he had a good grasp on that era's trends. The film hit the way it did because he was good at predicting trends, and he came from fashion.

About two years ago, I talked to the man about his relationship with the man. He told me that he could give people pearls of wisdom. It's possible that at the time he didn't realize how important it was, he didn't give you anything that was so important.

In the winter there was a lot. He and Mike Chapman taught me a lot. I followed him around and watched him light up because he was a genius and more effusive than Mike. Even though he didn't get the job, he was effusive in his praise. When I was auditioning for The Lost Boys, I was a film student. The person in charge of casting found me through work I did as a child. She put me in front of two men. I came in dressed like a punk rocker from the 80s because I was a film student and a New Yorker. He said, "Oh, I like you." We talked a lot about culture, about his reference points, and how he intended to mix different styles, from the Nicholas Ray style to the 80s style to rock 'n' roll style. When you were discussing acting, he was very clear about his character. There were many questions we had. When the kids came in, we were like, "What the f**k are you making exactly?" I had a moment when I got to LA and he put me in hair extensions, but I didn't know what he was talking about. Do you mean in terms that I can understand? He was very clear about how the mash up would work. I was like "I'm in your hands" from then on. We had his back.

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How many other people did you read for?

I read for David over and over and over again because I didn't have to do anything. He cast me in the role of David and I was amazed. He did a lot of amazing theater work in Canada. Every great young New York theatre actor that was working at the time was cast byJoel. The auditioning process for David was fun because I was matched up with some stars who didn't get the part. Richard asked if you could actually ride a motorcycle or if you were just another actor who could ride a motorcycle. There was no bullshit because I pulled out my helmet because I was on my motorcycle all the time in New York.

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With an ensemble piece like this, and so many people read for it, do you still come up to people that you didn't know about?

It happens in the winter. It happens with a lot of movies. We read for Near Dark after I saw someone who may have been Arquette. I was dropped from it because we were too young and they had different actors play it. They made the correct decision because it's a masterpiece. Every now and then, it happens. I think the auditioning process for me was just another chance for me to play. You didn't think you'd get anything. You had fun, and then you left. I have found a few. I've come across a lot of big female stars who say they were close to playing Star in that film. It's nice.

The poster has your face on it. How big of a deal was it for you to have that experience?

I don't believe my face is on the Death Wish III poster. It wouldn't be appropriate. It was a big deal to be on the poster. My first big break was when I was 13 years old and I was on the side of a building on Broadway. Sandy Duncan did Peter Pan and it's Broadway, which is a big deal. It's not the same as the movies, but I was part of a group that was getting a lot of press and TV ads. I will not diminish the gratitude I had for being cast in The Lost Boys. You knew you were in for a treat. I left school to do it. I didn't go back after leaving NYU. After The Lost Boys, I went to Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. He was worried that I wouldn't take the role because he knew I was a full time student at film school. He called my mom and asked if I could do the movie. I did not live at home. I decided to do it in retrospect because I was not a 12 year old. I was a grown up. My mom was like, "I had a nice talk with this man, what the f**k is he calling you for?" and I was like, "What the f**k is he calling you for?" It was a pleasure to be a part of that set. It was gorgeous to be in.

The Lost Boys can be seen in 4K Ultra HD.