From killer cars to creepy clowns, Hollywood is littered with cinematic adaptations of Stephen King books. Growing up, I was properly freaked out by many adaptations of King’s works, including films like The Shining, Creepshow, and Pet Sematary. But the best King adaptation wasn’t a horror movie at all: Stand By Me adapts one of the horror maestro’s best novellas, and you can now stream this ultimate coming-of-age film on Netflix.
The movie is set in 1959 and focuses on four young boys who set out on a Quixotic quest to find a dead body. Their goal is very grim, but the movie finds plenty of humor in the interactions of its young characters and the over-the-top obstacles they face (which range from a scary dog to a relentless locomotive). It’s mostly a boys-against-nature tale, but local gang members also serve as an ongoing threat, one which might just finish off our young protagonists if Mother Nature doesn’t get the job done.
Stand By Me was directed by Rob Reiner at what was arguably the height of his impressive career. In the years immediately after this 1986 film, Reiner went on to direct other major hits like The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, and Misery (adapted from another Stephen King novel). For a time, Reiner was responsible for some of the greatest and most influential movies of the ‘80s and ‘90s, but Stand By Me is arguably his most memorable work, thanks largely to the performances of his brilliant cast.
Wil Wheaton (best known for his later performance in Star Trek: The Next Generation) plays our lead character. One of his best friends is played by Corey Feldman, best known for roles in various iconic ‘80s movies such as The ‘Burbs and The Goonies. The young cast is rounded out by River Phoenix and Jerry O’Connell (still best known for his multiversal sci-fi television show Sliders), while the older gang of boys is led by Keifer Sutherland, best known for movies like The Lost Boys and his hit television show 24.
Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell in Stand By Me.
In retrospect, the flexibility of its plot is part of what makes Stand By Me so great. The boys have a very simple-sounding task: finding a dead body before anyone else does. But they don’t know exactly where he’s located, requiring them to (a bit like the Hobbits in Fellowship of the Ring) venture outside of their comfort zone and navigate threats their simple lives had never really prepared them for. The movie is about the journey much more than the destination, and the true joy of watching Stand By Me is seeing the characters mature as their bonds are tested by one off-kilter challenge after another.
The film is a period piece, and Stand By Me sets the scene with a soundtrack full of yesterday’s bangers. Obviously, the title song “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King gets plenty of love, but you’ll also hear toe-tapping tunes from other classic artists such as Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis. These awesome songs help to make the movie feel immersive, and they play a huge role in this film’s uncanny ability to transport you to the past.
Will you agree that Stand By Me is the ultimate coming-of-age film, or will you decide it’s more barf-o-rama than bildungsroman? The only way to find out is to stream it on Netflix. By the time it’s over, you might just be tempted to reach out to the friends you had when you were 12; the ones unlike any you’ve ever had before or since.
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