Watch The New Kids For Free

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

After making this film and Tuff Turf in 1985, its a wonder James Spader ever had a long career in the business. Somewhere out there, there is a guy named "Shannon Presby" who can tell his family and friends that he was top-billed over Spader in a movie. I guess there are worse things to be remembered for. The New Kids is the story of a couple of army brats who have to move in with relatives in rural Florida after their parents are killed in the first couple minutes of the film. Its too bad it happens so quick, because the always reliable Tom Atkins plays the father. His role is so brief, you wonder if he even got time to sample the catering. Anyway, the two kids quickly draw the ire of a local redneck gang of teenagers after the pretty girl rebuffs their advances. The bulk of the film is just the rednecks vandalizing the amusement park run by the kids' uncle, and the kids overcoming the odds to fight back. Overall, its unspectacular.The film is directed by Sean S. Cunningham who never achieved the level of success he got with the original Friday the 13th ever again. Spader is a hoot as the local gang leader. His hair is bleached almost white, and he struggles dearly with a southern accent. Lori Laughlin is pretty, and gives a decent performance as the new girl. Shannon Presby as her brother is in good physical shape, but he has no screen presence at all. Its no wonder he never did much else. Eddie Jones as their uncle is quite colorful, and does a fine job as the proprietor of this tiny amusement park/gas station in the middle of the Florida wilderness. The amusement park is used as the location for the final showdown between the gang and the new kids, but it just isn't utilized all that well. It seems the deaths scenes are not graphic enough, or just not blocked very well. The film also loses points for multiple scenes of animal cruelty. Overall this is just a curiosity piece. Its a brainless exploitation vehicle, and its a wonder that Spader ever got serious work again. 4 of 10 stars.The Hound.

I had first seen the new kids back when it was released although not a horror film,it is more like death wish,Sean Cunningham who did the original Friday the 13th back in 1980,really did a great job with producing this thriller about two teens who go to live with their aunt and uncle down in Florida.at a low rent theme park called Santa's fun land.well the move is not a pleasant one,the teens Lori and Shannon run into a unpleasant gang of teens led by creepy dutra played by the very talented James Spader following his break through performance in 1985's tuff turf.great performances by all.i thought the new kids was a very thrilling b-movie with a great cast.Eric stoltz is also on hand as a friendly teen who is there to help.well the new kids is a great 80's b movie that you will not forget.Spader deserved an award for this creepy performance.10 out of 10

This very interesting but sadly underrated gem directed by Sean S. Cunningham ("Friday the 13th") offers an original variation of both the revenge thriller and vigilante action movie, since it has ordinary common high school teenagers in the lead roles. Basically this means the film begins with harsh but fairly harmless bullying but yet ends with extreme violence and relentless murder. The transition obviously isn't very plausible, as mean bully kids don't just turn into mad dog killers overnight, but "The New Kids" is nonetheless a competently made and occasionally very suspenseful thriller with tons of action, likable performances and an irresistibly charming 80's atmosphere. Following the sudden death of their beloved parents in an accident, athletic siblings Loren and Abby McWilliams move to Florida to help restore their uncle's ramshackle amusement park. They promptly run into conflict with the local school's gang of bullies because Abby refuses to accept an invitation to the dance from the tough leader Eddie Dutra. The mutual mockeries and paybacks gradually escalate into pure terrorizing until, one night, Dutra's entire gang invades the theme park with the intention to kill. Cunningham professionally builds up a tense and ominous atmosphere towards a highly explosive and grisly climax with some ultra-brutal killing sequences and engrossing make-up effects. The extreme violence will undoubtedly appeal to fans of 80's slashers as well as cheap and sleazy exploitation flicks of the 70's. The film benefices from an exceptionally great cast, with veteran B-movie stars as well as upcoming talents. Particularly James Spader is excellent and genuinely uncanny as the sleazy leader of the pack. Highly recommended to all type of cult movie fanatics.

This movie makes you want vengeance. I cannot think of another film that makes you want to suddenly appear on the corner of this "every town" with a sawed-off shotgun, a dagger and a pack of Pall Malls. James Spader was great. I am not convinced of his relationship with the other "red necks" in his gang because he is the only one who obviously bathed regularly, but he was very convincing. This movie was also the first time I ever learned of a breed called a Staffordshire Terrier (He doesn't deal cards or retrieve the newspaper but he does make you want to agree with breed specific bans). So Without giving away the story, I will make comments such as, Lori Laughlin is fabulous as ever, beware of anyone who keeps pig's blood in their fridge, and "you don't key another guy's car, you just don't do it." (Pulp Fiction) That is unless you are trying to bait them into retrieving a rather large arsenal. Of course, all of this testosterone is tempered with the fact that there are several cliché's employed, terrible acting by everyone but the principles, obvious setups that have only one conclusion, and the inevitable, yet tragic, ending for the Staffordshire Terrier. Rest in pieces.