Film Review: Stand By Me (1986)

(source: tmdb.org)

Stephen King, the most successful American writer of our times, has built career on his horror novels, almost all being adapted to big or small screen. Yet the most popular screen adaptations of King’s work belong to different genres. One of the earliest was Stand Be My, 1986 period drama directed by Rob Reiner, nowadays known as one of the most beloved films among those who are nostalgic towards 1980s and one of the classics of coming-of-age genre.

The film is based on King’s 1982 novella The Body. It begins in September 1985 when middle-aged writer (played by Richard Dreyfuss, who also narrates film) finds out about tragic and senseless death of an old friend and begin to reminisce about the first time he saw dead body. Plot then switches to September 1959 in Castle Rock, Oregon, small backwards town where the writer, revealed to be 12-year old Gordon “Gordie” Lachance (played by Will Wheaton) grew up. Gordie has a literary talent, but instead of thinking about future he remains traumatised by tragic death of older brother Denny (played by John Cusack in flashbacks) that occurred few months earlier and psychologically wrecked his family. He spends most of his free time hanging out with three of his friends – chubby and cowardly Vern Tessio (played by Jerry O’Connell); military-obsessed Teddy Duschamp (played by Corey Feldman) who got abused and crippled by his mentally unbalanced father; Chris Chambers (played by River Phoenix), the most-level headed and resourceful member of the group, who nevertheless suffers because his family’s criminal reputation. Vern informs his friends that his older brother Billy (played by Casey Siemaszko) found dead body of a local boy which had gone missing. Since Billy did it while driving stolen car, he can’t report it to police, so boys decide to find the body themselves in hope that they will become local heroes. They begin their journey, during which they will experience many adventure but also learn something about themselves. In the meantime, John “Ace” Merrill (played by Kiefer Sutherland), high school bully and leader of a local youth gang, races to find the body instead.

Stand By Me is very simple film, but even in its simplicity it delivers very fine film making and powerful story during its hour and half of running time. Much credit must go to screenwriters Bruce A. Evans and Reynold Gideon which adapted King’s text to the screen with very few alterations. One of them, almost inexplicably, switched setting from King’s iconic fictional town of Castle Rock from Maine to Oregon, but, on the other hand, this allowed cinematographer Thomas Del Ruth to put woods, mountains and other Oregon location to good use. Another great asset of the film is Rob Reiner, an actor and former television star whose switch to directing career in 1980s resulted in series of iconic and popular films, most of them comedies. Stand By Me is, on the other hand, anything but comedy. There is some humour in it, but it is always under dark shadow of some serious issues that trouble protagonists – an abuse, uncertain and bleak future in small town and, finally, mortality which they face just before they are start journey towards adulthood. Howard is perhaps not as playful with his style as in This Is Spinal Tap, but he directs film confidently, especially in the scenes that flawlessly switch between various time periods. Scene during which the protagonists have to cross narrow railroad bridge over ravine not knowing whether train might come is one of the most suspenseful in history of 1980s cinema. Film also uses late 1950s pop music to good use to create feeling of nostalgia that, at times, contradicts darkness and violence of plot. That includes eponymous 1961 song by Ben. E. King which features lyrics that fit film’s main theme of friendship. “Stand By Me”, unsurprisingly, reappeared on music charts quarter of century after its original release.

Reiner’s talent as director was much helped by his experience as an actor. As such he had formidable young cast at his disposal. Four young protagonists are played by four immensely talented actors in their early years who would make their names in Hollywood as adults. Jerry O’Connell, the youngest and least recognisable, later became television star. Will Wheaton earned his share of glory (and some say, infamy) as Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: The New Generation before becoming prolific writer (just like the character he played). Corey Feldman, on the other hand, became best known for his messy private life and later crusade against abuse. Scenes featuring River Phoenix probably create additional level of poignancy in this film, because his career looked most promising of all four actors, only to be cut short by Phoenix’s tragic death only few years after this film. All four actors deliver great performances and have excellent chemistry together and, according to their later testimonies, they all achieved it by having large part of their real characters in their roles and truly enjoyed their time at the set.

Although some of the scenes briefly dance at the edge of pathos and although some of protagonists’ dialogue might be meaningless to someone not familiar with 1950s American pop culture, Stand By Me is one of those rare nostalgic films that is actually timeless. At least for the audience which can identify with the writer’s character and his look at unforgettable and seemingly friendships that can be made in someone’s early years.

RATING: 8/10 (+++)