Synopsis
Three close friends. Two unforgettable summers. One girl’s darkest secret.

Alys appeared last summer, and then she vanished without a trace. Cait’s new in town and she needs to know the truth: Who is Alys?
“A tantalizing story of summer, secrets and deep unease” – Sue Wallman, author of Lying About Last Summer.

Guest Post: My Favourite Mysteries

This film, based on Stephen King’s Novella The Body, has a very special place in my heart. Four twelve-year old boys go in search of missing boy Ray Brower. There’s a rumour that he is dead and that his body is lying somewhere outside of town. The boys want to find it. They set off together. They walk and they talk. And as they do they share the biggest and the smallest things of their lives so far in small town Oregon,1959.

Conversations range from survivor guilt over the death of a sibling through to a discussion about who, in a fight between Mighty Mouse and Superman, would win. It’s Superman, by the way. “No way can a cartoon beat up a real guy.” There’s a whole heap of other serious, funny, moving, brilliant, painful conversation in between. The boys encounter danger – a man in a junkyard, leeches in a swamp, and there is the classic moment as they walk along the railway line over a bridge that is a real heart-in-your-mouth-gasp-scream-at-the-screenmoment because by this point in the film you love these boys like they are your brothers or your sons. Well, I did anyway. I still do.

This film was made in 1986 and is definitely one of the main influences that the scriptwriters of Stranger Things the Duffer Brothers, drew on when they created the characters of Will, Mike, Dustin and Lucas. In fact if you haven’t watched this film already then do, and look again at episode 4 of Season 1 of Stranger Things. I’m a huge fan of Stranger Things in part because it draws on so many of the iconic movies of my own 80’s childhood. ET, Poltergeist, Alien and Firestarter immediately come to mind, but there are references that reach far wider, small details or scenes that tip their hat to Indiana Jones (literally – see Hopper) and The Breakfast Club (see Steve and Nancy) and even extend to Karate Kid.

But what I particularly love is that I can watch the show with my teenage daughter who is as hooked as I am despite the fact that she sees none of these 80’s throwbacks and references.

Genius Duffer Brothers! I can’t wait for Season 3. And if you ever ask me if I want to sit down and watch Stand By Me again, I’ll say yes. Always yes. It’s a powerful story about friendship and coming of age and it’s brilliance, for me, never wanes.

Massive thank you to Faye for her wonderful guest post and be sure to check out all the other blog stops for more mysteries. Check back tomorrow for a full review of the gripping My Secret Lies With You!