Stand By Me - A Movie Review

Follow the train tracks and we’ll be there by morning. Just watch out for the train.

Based on the novella by Stephen King, Stand By Me is a riveting 1986 film about four boys on a mission to find a dead body in the woods. Each struggling with their own dilemmas, this journey helps the boys reflect.

Stephen King noted that Stand By Me was the best film adaptation he had ever seen out of his books. I am an avid Stephen King fan so I have binged almost anything Stephen King related. If there is any film that describes friendship perfectly, Stand By Me is an endearing and gut-wrenching tale. Friendship is never something that anyone should take advantage of.

Will Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell met critical acclaim for their powerful performances. They dug deep displaying moments of emotion, rage, and fear. My favorite moments were scenes of the boys messing around, joking, and lightly poking fun at the other.

I liked was how the boys weren’t afraid to show affection, a trait that is often avoided in media. Friendship is all about being there for someone during the toughest times. Moments like the boys comforting one another were tender.

My favorite traits about Wheaton’s performance is how he acted through his eyes. For a boy so young, he has been through a lot of pain, becoming a shadow in his home life. That’s something that the friends share in common which brought them together. He and Phoenix were terrific sharing a couple of noteworthy scenes.

Other credits to include are Kiefer Sutherland, Casey Siemaszko, Gary Riley, Bradley Gregg, Marshall Bell, and Frances Lee McCain. Expect appearances by John Cusack and Richard Dreyfuss. Casting choices for this film were impeccable. Everyone explored the minds of their characters, figuring out hidden depths to include.

Stand By Me mainly focused on the quartet, but writers decided to give the antagonists of the story a subplot of their own. While the actors, specifically Kiefer Sutherland, were great, I think that it slowed down the film.

To me, their scenes felt like filler. They were the ones to find out about the body first, which is what prompts the quartet on this adventure. Not much comes about from their subplot other than the final big confrontation. Be prepared for a gripping finale.

The film is poignant. I always tear up at the climax. In that scene where Chris breaks down, the late River Phoenix actually had to be comforted by the director. The finished scene is one of the most tear-jerking scenes in the whole film.

In his career as a director, Rob Reiner admits that Stand By Me is his favorite. Rob Reiner successfully worked very closely with the boys, encouraging them to be genuine. He told the story from well-crafted editing. Locations were great, too. I love the 80's setting for the film and all the songs that are heard in the soundtrack.

Growing up is never easy. In order to meet the goals, we have to stay positive following our own pathway. Make friendships. Friendship is so important. I am so thankful for the friends that I have made to help me coming the person I am today. Friends will always be there for you no matter what.

I could watch Stand By Me over and over again. It is a beautiful film sporting a friendship that will never be forgotten on the big screen. For all you Stephen King lovers, go find Stand By Me. It is a wonderful tale that will never lose its incredible message.