Watch The New Kids

The New Kids is a suspenseful drama movie from 1985 starring Shannon Presby, Lori Loughlin, and James Spader. The film was directed by Sean S. Cunningham and written by Stephen Gyllenhaal. The story follows a brother and sister duo, Loren (Presby) and Abby (Loughlin) who move to Florida to live with their uncle after the death of their parents. The siblings find it tough to adjust to their new surroundings and the new school where they are subjected to bullying and harassment by a group of local delinquents led by a psycho named Dutra (Spader).

The movie opens with Loren and his sister Abby driving down a deserted highway in Florida, their faces reflecting the apprehension they feel as they approach their uncle's house. Their move to Florida was not their choice, but Loren’s uncle insisted they come to live with him after the death of their parents. Uncle Charlie, played by Eddie Jones, runs a run-down amusement park by the name of 'Santa's Funland' that has seen better days. Loren and Abby soon become the targets of the school bully, a gang led by Dutra, played by James Spader in one of his early and arguably most deranged roles.

Dutra and his gang repeatedly torment Loren and Abby, stealing Abby’s purse and attempting to sexually assault her. Loren, a martial arts enthusiast, fights back but is ultimately beaten up by the gang. Dutra, who has an obsessive interest in Abby, tries to win her over by giving her a ride on a motorcycle and taking her to an abandoned car lot. However, she eventually manages to get away from him.

As the bullying and harassment escalate to more dangerous levels, Loren and Abby decide to turn to their uncle for help, but their uncle is unprepared for this kind of trouble, and as a result, Abby and Loren are essentially on their own. They decide to fight back against the gang, and Loren trains Abby in martial arts. The final showdown takes place when the gang invades the amusement park that Loren and Abby's uncle owns.

The New Kids is a suspenseful, tautly plotted film with excellent performances from its leads, as well as a gripping screenplay that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Shannon Presby is impressive as the older brother trying to protect and provide for his younger sister at all costs. Lori Loughlin gives a good performance as Abby, infusing the character with a mix of vulnerability, fear, and strength. But it is James Spader who steals the show with his truly frightening portrayal of the psychotic leader of the gang. Spader gives an intense, creepy and disturbing performance that had audiences both disgusted and attracted to his portrayal of a villain.

The film also makes good use of its Florida setting, with the amusement park setting playing a central role in the final showdown between Loren and Abby and the gang led by Dutra. The climax is both thrilling and satisfying, providing a good payoff for all that came before it.

Overall, The New Kids is a gripping, suspenseful, and thrilling movie that explores themes of survival, bullying, and fighting back against those who seek to dominate you. While it may not be as well-known or remembered as other 80s films, it is still a captivating and entertaining watch that deserves to be rediscovered by audiences today.

The New Kids is a 1985 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1.