Kiefer Sutherland’s Lost Boys Vampire Canonically Survived the 1987 Movie

Surprisingly, David, the main vampire antagonist played by Kiefer Sutherland in 1987’s The Lost Boys, actually managed to survive the events of the film. The deaths of the vampires in this cult-classic appear to be permanent; however, one vampire takes the “Never die” aspect of the movie’s tagline literally. David’s determination to survive against all odds isn’t surprising. After all, he was never going to go down without a fight, so it’s natural he would return for round two.

The second and third movies in The Lost Boys franchise are disappointing. Released more than two decades after the original movie, they have been criticized for several reasons. Two of the most important criticisms are the lack of familiar characters, other than the Frog brothers, and how disconnected they are from the original movie.

As a result, The Lost Boys comic books were published by DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint in 2016 to give the movie a proper sequel. Along those lines, The Lost Boys #1 by Tim Seeley, Scott Godleweski, and Tony Harris brings back the legendary villain straight from the 1987 movie.

David’s Death in the First Lost Boys Movie Wasn’t Supposed To Be Permanent

Not only do the events of the comics take place just after The Lost Boys, but they also feature the same setting and many of the same characters, including David. David’s survival is unexpected, but it’s what was intended in canon. In The Lost Boys #2 by Tim Seeley, Scott Godlewski, and Tony Harris, David even references the fact that the movie’s heroes failed to finish him off. Michael, Sam, and the Frogs never destroyed his body. Thus, he’s back and ready for more.

Kiefer Sutherland’s character was always supposed to survive the movie. David’s death was planned for a sequel, and this plan was finally realized with The Lost Boys comic. Despite every other vampire being eradicated, David’s body is left intact at the end of the movie, other than where he was impaled by Michael. This was done so there could eventually be another movie with David as the antagonist. The title of the comic story, “The Lost Girl,” even references the title of a proposed sequel that director Joel Schumacher would have used to bring back David. Unfortunately, that movie would never come. Yet, the spirit of the movie that could have lives on with The Lost Boys comics finally bringing David back to canon.

David is Back for Revenge in The Lost Boys Comics

At the end of the movie, he’s hanging on by a thread. As it turns out, that thread is all he needs to survive. While David is the only vampire from the first movie to survive, he isn’t alone in the comic sequel. His “lost boys” may be dead, but he has a new gang of vampires at his side. Not only are these vampires stronger than his group in the movie, but they’re wiser and far more organized. This time around, Santa Carla’s resident vampire hunters are unprepared for the threat they face, even with a familiar face among their enemies. David has a grudge, and he won’t be going anywhere until he gets revenge.

Furthermore, David’s determination to live goes beyond his near-death in the movie. At the end of the comics, he manages to survive yet another event that should kill him. This mimics the ending of the 1987 Lost Boys movie in two ways. First, David is intentionally left alive to leave room for a sequel. Second, from the looks of it, the sequel may be further out than originally anticipated. Currently, there are no signs of additional comics on the horizon. Nevertheless, if The Lost Boys comics do get revamped, David is certain to come back for another fight to the death.