Stand By Me is one of those films I’ve somehow not got round to seeing until now, when it’s been projected onto the big screen for its 40th Anniversary, and what a spellbinding experience!
At the time of its original release, only U and PG-certificate films would’ve been available to me, with this film most likely being a 15-certificate at the time, same as it is now. It’s the sort of film that should still be seen by those of around 12 and up, even though the content within applies to a 15-certificate, given that Richard Dreyfuss‘ (Polar) writer character, Gordon “Gordie” Lachance, is looking back on his life as a 12-year-old, in August 1959.
Then again, while it’s great to reminisce now I’m older, in 1986 this sort of film wasn’t really on my radar.
In the fictional Oregon town of Castle Rock, the name of which came from the late Rob Reiner‘s film company, Gordie (Wil Wheaton – Toy Soldiers) whiles summer days away with Chris Chambers (the late, great River Phoenix), Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman – The Goonies) and Vern Tessio (an unrecognisable Jerry O’Connell – Satanic Panic), the latter asks a daunting question, “Do you want to see a dead body?”, as he’s overheard about the missing boy, Ray Brower (Kent Lutrell, who later became a stuntman in his career).
As well as packing a lot into its short 89-minute running time, Stand By Me has a superb ’50s soundtrack, with tunes including The Silhouettes’ Get a Job, The Chordettes’ Lollipop, and of course, Ben E King’s classic track, from which the film gets its title.
Based upon Stephen King‘s novella, The Body, each character also gets to make their mark, such as for the rumbunctious Chris and Teddy, plus Vern, who hid a jar of pennies under the house, but then his mum threw the treasure map away that he made, and somehow, he can’t remember even slightly where he buried them; and our lead, Gordie, whose brother, Denny (John Cusack – Being John Malkovich), was killed in a car accident, four months earlier.
Plus, there’s always some arsehole kids around, this time with Kiefer Sutherland (Juror #2) taking their lead as Ace Merrill, as they all go playing “Mailbox Baseball”. Yep, they’re a bunch of wankers, and are in need of a cold slap.
Because I watch too many films, when the scene comes where two of the lads need to jump off a railway track as the train comes along, yes, they used some green screen in that, but at least back in 1986, they’d have shown a train, whereas 40 years on if it was being made, now they’d make it CGI!
And I never knew before that a famous Duke Nukem 3D line was inspired by Teddy’s, “I’ll rip your head off and shit down your neck”, with Duke’s being slightly different, “I’ll rip off your head and shit down your neck”.
Looking back, as the film does a lot of, it makes you stop and think when River’s character comments on Corey’s, “He won’t live to be 20, I’ll bet”, since River Phoenix was just 23 when he passed away, long before his time.
And how true when Dreyfuss’ writer character notes how friends come in and out of your life.
For a first viewing of Stand By Me, there’s so much to get into this film, and so much to get out of it. Plus, while my Odeon couldn’t even find one slot for the 25th anniversary of Amelie (another film I still haven’t seen!), this one was scheduled just once, initially, before being given nine screenings across its first seven days, and then allocated another one per day for its second week, from this Saturday to Tuesday. If it sticks around for a third weekend, I may check it out again.
NOTE: There are no mid- nor post-credits scenes.
Stand By Me is in cinemas now, and is available to buy on 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 89 minutes
Release date: April 10th 2026
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (35mm (Eastman 100T 5247))
Cinema: Odeon Trafford Centre
Rating: 9/10
Director: Rob Reiner
Producers: Bruce A Evans, Raynold Gideon, Andrew Scheinman
Screenplay: Raynold Gideon, Bruce A Evans
Novella: The Body, by Stephen King
Music: Jack Nitzsche
Cast:
Gordie Lachance: Wil Wheaton
Chris Chambers: River Phoenix
Teddy Duchamp: Corey Feldman
Vern Tessio: Jerry O’Connell
Ace Merrill: Kiefer Sutherland
Billy Tessio: Casey Siemaszko
The Writer: Richard Dreyfuss
Charlie Hogan: Gary Riley
Eyeball Chambers: Bradley Gregg
Vince Desjardins: Jason Oliver
Mr. Lachance: Marshall Bell
Mrs. Lachance: Frances Lee McCain
Mr. Quidacioluo: Bruce Kirby
Milo Pressman: William Bronder
Mayor Grundy: Scott Beach
Denny Lachance: John Cusack
Waitress: Madeleine Swift
Chopper: Popeye
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.