Brendon Jones
It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
Mandeep Tyson
The acting in this movie is really good.
Sarita Rafferty
There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.
Lechuguilla
From their dull lives as high-school outcasts, two misfits, named Bo (Charlie Sheen) and Roy (Maxwell Caulfield), vamoose to L.A. seeking sex and excitement. The film's underlying concept is fine. But given the first three minutes, wherein viewers learn about well-publicized American serial killers, the script sets us up for a way too predictable plot.Even in small matters of business, like when the guys stop to get gasoline, we can see what's coming next. The plot offers very little in the way of surprises or depth. The script is too direct and too shallow. Dialogue lacks subtext. And characters are almost two-dimensional cardboard cutouts. They're stereotypes of losers, so too are the pretty faces of those who reject them.There's no real character development here. Roy especially is filled with anger. But we never learn why. They both are such simpletons, so clueless, that when they unintentionally walk into a gay bar, the result is almost comical. And the film is full of plot clichés, like the standard high-speed car chase along urban streets curiously devoid of traffic.Casting is unfortunate. Both Sheen and Caulfield look too old to be in high school. Yet both actors do a pretty good job in their roles. Cinematography is fairly standard. But given the outdoor scenes, the visuals make the film look dated. So too does the background music, which reeks of 1980s junk music.The main problem here is a script that plots a story that is too direct and too predictable. Casting doesn't help, and neither does the music. I could have wished for main characters with some complexity and whose journey had shades of gray. "The Boys Next Door" is a film of marginal interest. It's not terribly bad. But there are other films out there that tell a similar story better.
Foreverisacastironmess
From the start and most of the way through this movie kinda feels like one of those 80's buddy comedy/action flicks, and then thinks it can go back to that after nasty shocking violence. I mean, You've got the boys piggishly chanting "Debbie does Greek!" and a poodle named Boner, right next to some of the worst movie violence ever seen, and I don't think they at all got the balance right-this didn't strike me as a type of movie that should have had any humour in it at all. And the bit when the old lady gets hit with the beer bottle has got to be the cheapest laugh ever committed to celluloid! I felt that the pace was very straightforward and kinda dull, but then it would flare up, if you will, when the violent murders happened, then go back to being average. Accept at the end. After the final murder the film thankfully has an energy that carries it straight to the end. The movie's got a couple of really corny but funny lines, my favourite one is when a gal yells at the boys to "eat her f**k!" What the hell was that?! Awesome! Charlie Sheen. Too cool for school. But that's all he does, try to look cool, spout cheesy-ass lines, and throughout wear a stupid permanent thoughtful frown. And he looked so gay with that stupid Topgun haircut! I can't believe I used to think he looked cute! He looks and acts like the arrogant Hollywood brat I'm sure he was at that point. He had none of the presence that Caulfield did. I think that it would have been a very different and far better movie had someone else played Bo. Someone who wasn't Charlie Sheen. Because I feel that Chuck brought the movie down big time. In fact, for me he almost totally ruins it. The movie would have worked better if Chuckers had done a better job of appearing more shocked and traumatised by the killings. Because at the end, when Bo confronts Roy, it felt very sudden to me. Aside from a few half-arsed mutterings by Sheen, there really is no strong build up to that. Annoying! I don't like it when Bo says at the end that he thinks he's going to go home and move on. Like he has a right to. I lost any sympathy for the character when he joins in the murder of the unfortunate gay guy. It's kinda funny at the end: crazy Charlie Sheen getting dragged downtown by the cops!!! The irony! It's eerie, isn't it? The way it echoes his modern times! There's an impressive intro sequence, with images of serial killers, and parts of speeches from serial killers, but I'm not sure if it's really them. It's kind of misleading, as it gives the impression that the movie is going to be one as shocking as, say, Henry Portrait Of A Serial Killer. And although it is indeed shocking and violent, it comes nowhere near the bleak nightmarishness of that great film. To me the most sickening bit in the movie is when the poor hippie chick gets shaken to death for absolutely nothing. Truly horrific. I thought Maxwell Caulfield was brilliant as the deceptively handsome, blue-eyed mass murdering thug Roy. He's really terrifying as a brawny bully stuck in a rut. There's not much you can say about the character really. He's big, he's mean, he's bitter, he's twisted. That's about it. Always scowling, always trying to bring anything bigger than himself down to his level. There's nothing sympathetic about him. There's a creepy scene early on where he is eyeing a couple at a party with this evil cold glint in his eye. Again, all the more frightening because it's coming from a pair of strikingly beautiful blue eyes. There are two little scenes that are supposed to give insight into his bleak world. One is where it shows Roy's home, the other is way later when he tries miserably to read. They both felt a bit quick and stuck in there to me, but they are both really funny though. I believe that when he gets shot down like the mad dog he is, that just maybe, that was what he really wanted...Despite how brutal and foul Roy is, he's the dark heart and soul of this movie. Imagine if someone as bad as Sheen was had played Roy. Not a pretty picture. Very violent to say it was directed by a woman. Not to say women can't make violent movies,(why would they want to?) but I was surprised that a lady directed this one in particular. But reading about some of the things that have happened in the life of the director, I could see where the movie's dark intensity could have come from. Penelope Spheeris herself is shocked by the film, saying that she would never make such a violent picture today. I think they were trying to make a movie with some great social commentary about young killers, but for me when it's over it really feels like it just fails in that way. It's still a very gripping and disturbing thriller. however. Even if, perhaps, the only "great" about it is the violence itself.
bkoganbing
Just time and circumstances and possibly the unavailability of weapons prevented Charlie Sheen and Maxwell Caulfield from becoming a pair of Columbine style massacre makers in The Boys Next Door. Although the treatment of them is rather sensationalistic and exploitive the film does raise some issues. First and foremost is just how do you recognize a serial killer in your midst.There's nothing wrong with Caulfield and Sheen as actors, but they are terribly miscast. Quite frankly these two guys are way too good looking to be believable as social misfits. Try as a may, I couldn't turn over the fact in my mind that these two couldn't get any dates.Part of it is economics, these two are from the wrong side of the tracks in their small western town. But that sure doesn't explain it, some noted serial killers came from the upper strata.Right after graduation these two decide to go to the big city of Los Angeles where their penchant for violence, especially Caulfield's escalate until they've killed four people in one twisted night. As miscast as they are the two deliver good performances. Honorable mention should also go to Patti D'Arbanville as the bar girl they pick up, Paul Dancer as the gay man who becomes their first victim, and Dancer's boyfriend Kenneth Cortland.The Boys Next Door is not a bad film, but the subject has been covered better in the cinema.
lobsterhead2
ok, for the fans of quality entertainment, i recomend this movie. this one has superb quality action. plenty of beatings, punishment and domination to go around. since plent of other viewers have explained the basics of the film, i will spare the details. i cant recomend this movie if you are too uptight and take yourself too seriously- remember this is only a movie. folks who found movies like a clockwork orange and barfly disturbing will not be able to get any laughs out of this either. those movies are great too!. i will soon own this on dvd b ecause of the funny moments and the excellent violence. these two guys bo and roy, dish out some serious pain and suffering in l.a.you must see this movie.
