One of my all time favorites.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The New Kids starts off in teen drama mode, with brother and sister Loren and Abby (Shannon Presby and Lori Loughlin) going to stay with their uncle and aunt in Florida after both of their parents are killed in a car crash. At their new school, the siblings run into trouble with a gang of redneck thugs led by drug dealing sociopath Dutra (James Spader at his most loathsome), but hold their own having been brought up to be tough as nails by their army colonel father (Tom Atkins). Pretty blonde Karen (Paige Lyn Price) and ginger nice guy Mark (Eric Stoltz) are suitably impressed.Unfortunately for the kids, matters slowly escalate, until Dutra and his cronies eventually abduct Abby and hold her and her uncle captive at his ramshackle amusement park. At this point, director Sean S. Cunningham switches to full-on exploitation mode, delivering a satisfyingly violent final act in which Loren must use lethal force in order to rescue his sister. This part of the film makes great use of its fun-land setting, with Loren sending one gang member to his death from a ferris wheel, electrocuting another on the dodgems, and crushing one guy's head with a roller-coaster car. Spader gets his comeuppance by having his face set on fire with a flaming gas-pump hose.6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for the eye candy—lovely Lori Loughlin and pretty Paige Lyn Price—and for including a montage set to a cheesy '80s rock tune.

Military brats Abby McWilliams (Lori Loughlin) and her brother Loren (Shannon Presby) have to move in with their aunt and uncle after their hero dad is killed with their mom in a car crash. Their relatives are reopening a rundown amusement park in Glenby, Florida. Abby gets hounded by the crude Gideon Walters. There is nice guy Mark (Eric Stoltz). Then local thug leader platinum blonde Eddie Dutra (James Spader) comes sniffing around. Soon it escalates with Dutra, Walters and the rest of the gang vandalizing the park and terrorizing the siblings. The group is a bunch of dogfighting rednecks dealing with drugs.Shannon Presby doesn't have the star power to lead as he's overpowered by Lori Loughlin. James Spader is pretty good as the bad guy although his blonde hair is so crazy. He's playing a different thug than the rest of the group. Eric Stoltz doesn't have much screen time. The story is really basic. I think if it's just Abby, the movie would be more powerful. She would be a girl alone against the thugs. In general, this is a bland movie with the exception of the final battle that includes a fight over a flaming gas nozzle.

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.

This movie is a treat...you relate with the main characters right of the bat. I wont give the plot away but basically weirdo leader Eddie sets his sites on pretty Abby who turns him down as nicely as possible but i guess this guy does not take rejection lightly so basically a battle is waged against Abby and her brother by the weird gang of rednecks...in the mix there is an amusement park getting fixed up and animals getting slaughtered. Its good though check it out you will love it if your into 80s style movies :)The bad guy or guys..are just right..very creepy and psycho. I like how you see the main guy Loren grow into a strong guy who just wants to protect his baby sister from the bad guys who just cant get a clue.