BEGAN as content about my book series inspired by The Lost Boys. Book One is Wishful Sinful. Fanfic hijinks & fandom fun ensued. Still post some original works. And I maintain David & the boys sparkle on the *inside* per glittery vamp blood post-staking-Marko (RIP Marko, and his wannabe hairband mates). I LOVE all things sparkly. Lost Boys, included.
haii~~~ i have been LOVING your flatliners fanfiction and i was wondering if you have seen the 2017 remake? and if you have what your thoughts are on it? thanks so much for the awesome fics (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)
AW thank you so much for the compliment!!! I really SHOULD give it a try. Especially since they gave Kiefer a role, even if he isn’t reprising Nelson Wright.
Because really after all of THAT… Nelson would be out of his damn mind to try it again 🤣 EVEN IF I have him try it on Michael Emerson then himself, when his confidence/arrogance and curiosity win, since he ASSUMES he won’t have anyone haunting him, like Michael did. Since he forgot all about Billy Mahoney. And doesn’t think David will come calling.
If anyone else cares to chime in… HOW scary is it? The 2017 Flatliners? I don’t do slasher. I don’t do super terrifying stuff. Like for example Kiefer in Mirrors is a HARD pass.
But if it’s maybe not a lot scarier than the first one, like low-key dread, maybe a few jump scares, etc… I would consider it.
Basically, I found the trailer kinda horrifying. 🤣
THANK YOU again so much for the praise, and for engaging with me about my work, generally. I collect all my positive feedback in a doc, to cheer me up as needed. 😊
I'm not sure if reblogging my own answer increases the likelihood that the person who asked will see, versus just making an edit to my original post. But I'm gonna give it a shot. Lotta thoughts, under the cut.
But first... Nina Dobrev, because, HAWT, but honestly the entire 2017 cast... 😍. I guess I'm still biased post-Vampire Diaries... even if Damon was maybe a LITTLE prettier than Elena... but they looked great together, too... real-life couples always do, I think, even if they ultimately split. That kind of chemistry can't be faked.
But yes, lots of gorgeousness, in both films.
I MADE it. Through the whole remake. GOD people in scary movies. Like... WHY DO YOU WALK TOWARD THE SUSPICIOUS NOISE???
WHY don't you wait OUTSIDE when supernatural shit is happening, and there's a big burly (and attractive) friend of yours coming over, already on the way???
Oy.
The acting honestly wasn't bad. But the characters... Is it the acting or the writing? I'm not sure. Maybe the story wasn't as character-driven as the original. And I think you lose something when you take a topic like near-death experiences, and turn it into a straight plot-driven thriller piece. With character motivation still there, but not as primary.
Not to shame Kiefer, but his character wasn't super-interesting, either.
He was convincing, but seemed very flat. Side-character, yes, but I still feel like they could have done more there. Or written it as a Nelson reprisal, and he found out someone else had discovered his notes, or come up with a similar idea, somehow? And he provided insights? Tried to stop them? Would that have been believable? I'm not sure. But I didn't dig him much in this. Sorry, Kiefer.
We'll always have... many, many of your other roles. Seriously.
The complex humanity of the characters in the 1990 one, and their relationships. The way their connections evolved organically as the experiment progressed.
That was all very powerful. And call me old school, or maybe just a hardcore Joel Schumacher fan. I may not be Christian, but I preferred the iconography in the 1990 one.
A little cropped, but look at how gorgeous that setting is. Lots of statues. Religious figures. At one point, a roof leak makes it look like the statues are profusely weeping.
The 2017 version gives the audience "pure energy" and balls of light and traveling through the city by yourself, and a more modernized versus rather classical aesthetic.
(The first flatline experience in the movie)
And let me add, in my opinion (obviously) Elliot Page delivered the most convincing performance of the film.
(Side, Side note... I just saw an article locked behind either a "we don't like ad blockers" or paywall or both, that pointed out the 1990 film has some "sins" in the sense of racism and misogyny.... honestly, yes, I can see that as valid. So maybe take my love for it, with that hefty grain of salt.)
Another flatline depicts cruising empty streets with an ex-girlfriend holding you tight, from the back of your motorcycle, until it all got dark and spooky and the buildings became rundown, etc., etc.
There were some variances with the other flatline experiences, but it felt kinda meh to have two that were THAT similar. City streets. Whole city to yourself. Yes, one of them was aerial and the other on a bike. But still.
I think at least FOR ME, the characters in the remake didn't feel as believable. Or maybe not as compelling. I didn't find myself relating to any of them, apart from tearing up just a tiny bit about the little sister, at one point.
Whereas I think Joel Schumacher puts you IN the drama of the Nelson/Rachel/David dynamic. Did I relate to any of them personally? I'm definitely no saint. But maybe you don't have to identify directly with what they're going through, in order to feel it, empathetically.
Also, on maybe a shallow note, the sex in the remake that was supposed to feel kind of emotional, wasn't as powerful as the afterglow, sex-hair kiss goodbye when David leaves to try and find Nelson, and Rachel puts on one of his bathrobes, in his absence.
Not that all the sex in the first one WAS meaningful. Hello, Joe Hurley.
But you FELT Nelson's wistful longing for Rachel, even if maybe he'd never known her that deeply. The regret. And his difficulty in admitting he needed help, and turning to David. And then everything getting all twisted around again and his apologizing to Billy while flatlined.
I read a review that argued the visions in the first one were all guilt-induced hallucinations. That Billy wasn't really Billy, and Nelson injured himself. I don't really buy that, though? Because Billy still kicked Nelson's ass, the second time Nelson went under. And it looked like Nelson saw a glimpse of "heaven" there. So Billy was pretty likely actually Billy then, and STILL violent, to start.
I think in Nelson and Rachel's experiences, since his victim and her father WERE dead, they were both legitimately haunted. That when Nelson first flatlined, Billy would have possibly forgiven him outright. They may have had a moment where Nelson relived and remembered and regretted.
But they all played around with the natural order of the universe and didn't stay dead. So the interaction with Billy turned very negative. As a consequence of their arrogance and meddling. Maybe Nelson somehow beat himself up when he saw Billy, but I still think Billy was really there.
And Rachel. She saw what happened to her father in her flatline. Had she stayed dead, they may have reconciled, right then and there. But she had to work through her guilt with David, until she was able to accept her father's apology, and see his presence not as something terrifying, but something loving.
The remake leaves you hanging. Guilt hallucinations? Demonic presence? The hint of demon-y stuff I think was what creeped me out. Even if it's just a PG-13 movie. It's a scary concept, without a ton of gore to warrant an R rating.
I'm glad I watched the remake. I think it might be good storytelling fuel, as a counterpoint to the first one. SO... again, thank you for the ask. You made me brave.
And he's cute right? Blond motorcycle guy? Not that I have a type... 😂
Still steering clear of Mirrors, even if someone commented something in one of my fics kind of evokes it as a three-way crossover.
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In theory, more of a hetero-sexy song, given "Let me kiss mascara tears," but then, it having been a movie, odds are pretty dang good Kiefer WAS wearing mascara, right? AND as we all KNOW, it's not like cosmetics are gendered. Let them have their fun.
This was the song that inspired the chapter title name, though.
Sensual and emotional more than sexual.
And some dirt on Max. And why David (in this fic, at least) is the way he is. Given he started out, here, significantly more happy-go-lucky. And openly emotional, and romantic.
But with the other guys and Lisa out for the time being, David and Dwayne peel back layers of bravado, and just bask in what remains.
something we enjoy with our eyes *** i’m still ascending like a Flava Trumpet Vine, heart-shaped leaves verdant, curling, turning, bending b
In order to save my cat the humiliation of having to sell photos of her toe-beans, I'm starting a Patreon. 😂 We'll see how it goes. I have a free post up which admittedly is a poem I already shared here (hence why I am confident offering it free).
But there will be more free and paid-members-only content to follow. Possibly even tonight, yet. $5 a month for extra content and works in progress updates.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
I had hoped for a still just of the bedroom in that apartment, by itself, but didn't find one. But it's sweet, the way they're looking at each other, even if their characters were often at odds, in the film. I'd read they IRL began dating due to meeting during filming Flatliners.
Why isn't everyone as freaked as Michael, by the end of the chapter? Hm... yeah, there will be a reason for that. Not that I've figured it out yet. Heh. But we'll get there.
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I hadn't looked into the story behind this one before deciding to watch it tonight. The title just kinda popped into my head, from my various searches into what all Kiefer has starred in. It was very, very good.
But I have to say, probably my FAVORITE scene was him talking on the phone to his assistant Michelle, about the graphic design done with the fashion photoshoot he'd been behind. He says he wasn't aware her graphic artist needed a seeing eye dog. Was she? She disagrees, but we don't hear her end of the conversation. Just his statement that she does, too, "...darling."
And THEN he asks, "Are you at least sleeping with him? You are. Good, at least one of us is getting something out of this." 🤣
Not ONLY was it incredibly witty writing, and very well-delivered. I also got to hear him say my name. 😂 Like when I discovered Richard Gere's love interest in American Gigolo was named Michelle. Not that I was ever hardcore obsessed with Richard Gere. But it was a nice touch.
Anyway, excellent movie. I found it free to stream in the tubi app with commercial interruptions, but you might find it elsewhere, too.
The title comes from a line that "The kingdom of joy is protected from evil by a red door," or something to that effect. There's a miniature house from their shared childhood that has a red front door, and Kiefer's character has painted the front door of his luxurious home a vivid red, etc.
Kyra Sedgwick and Stockard Channing are brilliant, as well. Especially Stockard Channing. I love her.
There were little things I thought of both right after ordering, and just now. If David were vamped out, he wouldn’t have his gloves on, I don’t think, cuz claws. But also Michael wasn’t wearing sunglasses in the Chinese takeout scene. BUT they’re still awful cute, right? And they did get a lot of great, little details in there. Pardon the journal page with a little popcorn butter on it.
I’d seen this quarter design before and had ALWAYS loved it, because bats are rad AF.
But when I recently encountered it again (my photo above), I was reminded of my silly lil “Going Batty” fic. This is totally Dwayne and a character who shows up in the last chapter.
Trying to help the lil guy feel more at ease in his new environment. 💚💜🖤🦇🖤💜💚
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Linking it again for the curious, if anyone hasn’t yet read it and thinks they might enjoy it. Lost Boys as bats. Primarily David-focused, but they’re all there. And Dwayne steps up, in the end, in a big way.
tw: mental health issues but also a text line resource
I haven't posted anything real mental-health-related in a bit, but I had to text a crisis line just now. Life is a lot. And it has been very, very hard, lately. For numerous reasons.
The number is 741741.
I previously used this number by texting "HOME" but didn't seem to have as much luck with that one? My therapist suggested it with text word "HOPELINE." Then again, I think I was a lot blunter, and a lot more open tonight than I have been in the past.
You have to flat out tell them how bad it is immediately, while you're waiting to be assigned someone. The "HOME" line, I once never got any response at ALL. Because I just listed off a triggering event, not "I am having _______ thoughts."
But they may also be tremendously busy at times.
He (below pic) lives with my parents now (kitty squabbles with the other one) and had to have one fang taken out, when he had his teeth cleaned. But here is my boy Happy, for tax, showing what I later dubbed his "Kiefer teefers." Love to all. Be well. Get help when you need it.
Not my first rodeo, likely not the last. But I'm still here, another night.
TW: Discussion of spiritual meanings associated with spiders, and spider sightings, below. And a photo of a spider-themed Christmas light display.
I also took some time to look up spiritual symbolism of spiders. Because I have been seeing them around a lot lately. Generally, I'd see them indoors more often, in the winter, when outside is so hostile? So it's a little unusual maybe, now that it's summer.
One particular spider at work-- a variety I have never seen before ever, in my entire life. I told my kiddo I'd try to get a pic next time because she was super curious.
The one at work crept out of hiding to sip from a drop of water on the floor by the sinks, then did some exploring. I'm weird, yes, but I talked to it and said, "I don't know about everyone else, but I will leave you alone. Just please try to stay out of my footpath." It came CLOSE to where I had been walking, but kept to the edges. I had forgotten about it by then but saw it around the corner and was SO glad I hadn't stepped on it. Bad luck, they say.
I once ferried a ridiculous amount of them outdoors, at a different job, because I had a phobic coworker who would have killed them otherwise but gave me the option of saving them IF I wanted to... and she said her superstitious grandmother would have LOVED me for it.
Anyway.
The website I found was Druidic in focus. Which felt intuitively right. A theme that popped up repeatedly was writing. MANY many other things too, but writing was more consistently mentioned. That spiders are the gatekeepers of the earliest alphabets because for example, the shapes of Ogham appear in their webs. And weaving/spinning stories. That the tales you tell create webs for others.
Art, as well. Creation. Cycles. Infinity (8 legs, 8 eyes, 8 is infinity, when turned sideways), the Wheel of the year, creation/death/rebirth.
There's a lot more. The part about trying to focus on your own goals and not the accomplishments of others, trying not to feel resentment, etc., also kind of hit home. But I honestly just need to do more of the making of things. And keep on letting the chips fall where they may, in terms of how it's all received.
Finding balance. Living effectively (since webs serve so many purposes). All good advice. I will try to be kinder to myself. Keep making the things. More making, less judging, less this isn't good enough. As best I can.
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I decided tonight was the night I would finally watch Rush again. First off, lemme say…. I am by and large not a fan of facial hair when it looks too “beardy.” Like, Jim Morrison was a stunning man, but I like his clean-shaven photos/video appearances better.
BUT… 😍 Jason Patric in this.
I mean, he was pretty enough for David… 🤣
AND there is this WONDERFUL moment when he’s under suspicion of being an undercover cop, and his partner and a dealer go to “clear up the confusion” (he IS an undercover cop). And he’s passed out cold on the couch.
They wake him up gently.
His first words? “What time is it?”
I know I may be a MASSIVE dork for this, but it gave me the giddiest Lost Boys flashback. Waiting for him to ask for his sunglasses. 😂
I vaguely remembered that he really “did it” for me when I first saw this movie growing up. Because of course he would. Problematic bad boi. He’s pretty fast and loose with how he does his job. And his kinda rockstar vibe. Ticks a lot of my boxes. It’s all coming back to me.
So I guess maybe my passion for danger wasn’t entirely a late-blooming situation? As my history attests. David/Kiefer just kinda snuck up on me, midlife. 🤣
But at the same time, kinda like Michael, Patric’s character here is TRYING to do the right thing. It just requires getting his hands dirty. To the point that he begins to lose himself.
Had to pause the movie and share all that. 😂
But if you like him at ALL, I HIGHLY recommend it. I’ve seen him in a few other kinda niche things years ago that I also plan to track down, in time.
I really needed this tonight.
Pretty guys. Damn. My standards are ridiculously off-kilter. Beautiful and damaged. But they ARE mine. And I have just enough issues committing, myself, that I’m drawn to the chaos.
Fresh Love, and the Scientific Method, Chapter 4: Embellishments
...but I might revisit it, soon. Didn't realize I'd done so, until I'd posted the chapter. Which is okay. Somewhere, I had found a pictograph or something with the terminology I've used thus far. Poof! Gone. Should have saved it. Alas.
A tweaked update to a piece I already posted here. More details filled in. Language cleaned up (stylistically, not in a censorship way... if anything I made it slightly "dirtier"). Content added to help it fit a little better with the rest of the ongoing collection, on AO3, from this alternate universe.
Flashback about some holiday nostalgia they all shared, during Michael's first winter in Santa Carla, even if David and Star didn't fully reconcile until one semi-drunken New Year's Eve.
And the romance of mixtapes. I suppose I should throw something about that in the tags, too. Hm. Truly, a lost art. Mix CD's were the next best thing, almost. Playlists have the beauty of infinity and won't wear out (I literally killed multiple cassette tapes from using them as a constant soundtrack to my life). But earlier analog stuff has its own retro charm.
shoutout to @ria-coolgirl for the idea that got this one started!!!
Just Like Birthday Cake: Play Misty for Me (Chapter 7)
Ending with a delightful acknowledgment of reader's question in the last chapter, as to exactly what Dwayne meant when he said he'd love to see reader ride a "painted pony."
They still haven't made it back to the cave, so this could play out a bit, yet. Gee, what a freaking shame that would be. 🤣
Bit of an homage to:
a fan theory as to how the boys conned everyone and faked their deaths AND got Max killed
Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula adaptation (yes, I know, a fair amount of vampire fans believe the Dracula/Mina romance is toxic and unsexy, but bear with me)
AND a detail from the novelization of The Lost Boys, which I just recently read.
All of which are mentioned and elaborated on, in notes.
I did my best to summarize the fan theory as I remember it. If I made any mistakes, if you know who first posted or if YOU are the one who first posted, by ALL means, correct me or figuratively raise your hand and take credit where it's due.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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And a little teaser as to the reasoning behind the title!
C'mon Baby, Chapter 15: Michael's First Lap-Dance, Amidst Fragmented Moonbeams
A little music, to set the scene. Maybe a bit hippie for the boys? But it's very guitar-heavy. On the harder, more psychedelic side. And SOOO many instrument solos... Imagine an exotic dancer, or former exotic dancer, coming out of retirement to a freaking 17 minute song, just for you. But she does (suspiciously) have the song at the ready.
Something's been going on in that office... but Michael is every bit as much the entertainment, as Candy.
