From the start and most of the way through this movie kinda feels like one of those 80's buddy comedy/action flicks, and then thinks it can go back to that after nasty shocking violence. I mean, You've got the boys piggishly chanting "Debbie does Greek!" and a poodle named Boner, right next to some of the worst movie violence ever seen, and I don't think they at all got the balance right-this didn't strike me as a type of movie that should have had any humour in it at all. And the bit when the old lady gets hit with the beer bottle has got to be the cheapest laugh ever committed to celluloid! I felt that the pace was very straightforward and kinda dull, but then it would flare up, if you will, when the violent murders happened, then go back to being average. Accept at the end. After the final murder the film thankfully has an energy that carries it straight to the end. The movie's got a couple of really corny but funny lines, my favourite one is when a gal yells at the boys to "eat her f**k!" What the hell was that?! Awesome! Charlie Sheen. Too cool for school. But that's all he does, try to look cool, spout cheesy-ass lines, and throughout wear a stupid permanent thoughtful frown. And he looked so gay with that stupid Topgun haircut! I can't believe I used to think he looked cute! He looks and acts like the arrogant Hollywood brat I'm sure he was at that point. He had none of the presence that Caulfield did. I think that it would have been a very different and far better movie had someone else played Bo. Someone who wasn't Charlie Sheen. Because I feel that Chuck brought the movie down big time. In fact, for me he almost totally ruins it. The movie would have worked better if Chuckers had done a better job of appearing more shocked and traumatised by the killings. Because at the end, when Bo confronts Roy, it felt very sudden to me. Aside from a few half-arsed mutterings by Sheen, there really is no strong build up to that. Annoying! I don't like it when Bo says at the end that he thinks he's going to go home and move on. Like he has a right to. I lost any sympathy for the character when he joins in the murder of the unfortunate gay guy. It's kinda funny at the end: crazy Charlie Sheen getting dragged downtown by the cops!!! The irony! It's eerie, isn't it? The way it echoes his modern times! There's an impressive intro sequence, with images of serial killers, and parts of speeches from serial killers, but I'm not sure if it's really them. It's kind of misleading, as it gives the impression that the movie is going to be one as shocking as, say, Henry Portrait Of A Serial Killer. And although it is indeed shocking and violent, it comes nowhere near the bleak nightmarishness of that great film. To me the most sickening bit in the movie is when the poor hippie chick gets shaken to death for absolutely nothing. Truly horrific. I thought Maxwell Caulfield was brilliant as the deceptively handsome, blue-eyed mass murdering thug Roy. He's really terrifying as a brawny bully stuck in a rut. There's not much you can say about the character really. He's big, he's mean, he's bitter, he's twisted. That's about it. Always scowling, always trying to bring anything bigger than himself down to his level. There's nothing sympathetic about him. There's a creepy scene early on where he is eyeing a couple at a party with this evil cold glint in his eye. Again, all the more frightening because it's coming from a pair of strikingly beautiful blue eyes. There are two little scenes that are supposed to give insight into his bleak world. One is where it shows Roy's home, the other is way later when he tries miserably to read. They both felt a bit quick and stuck in there to me, but they are both really funny though. I believe that when he gets shot down like the mad dog he is, that just maybe, that was what he really wanted...Despite how brutal and foul Roy is, he's the dark heart and soul of this movie. Imagine if someone as bad as Sheen was had played Roy. Not a pretty picture. Very violent to say it was directed by a woman. Not to say women can't make violent movies,(why would they want to?) but I was surprised that a lady directed this one in particular. But reading about some of the things that have happened in the life of the director, I could see where the movie's dark intensity could have come from. Penelope Spheeris herself is shocked by the film, saying that she would never make such a violent picture today. I think they were trying to make a movie with some great social commentary about young killers, but for me when it's over it really feels like it just fails in that way. It's still a very gripping and disturbing thriller. however. Even if, perhaps, the only "great" about it is the violence itself.

Penelope Spheeris received kudos as director of "Wayne's World." I know that flick was funny as hell and made gobs of green, but "The Boys Next Door" is one of her best. This film combines her earlier efforts, particularly "The Decline of Western Civilization" and "Suburbia," into a nihilistic tale of two guys that ultimately realize that everything has its price. Sheen and Caulfield are very convincing as friends. When they first arrive in L.A. and stop at a gas station, Caulfield steals the show by brutally beating the gas station employee and justifying his actions to Sheen by basically saying: it happened, you can turn me in, you can come with me; let's see what the night turns up?

Pure genius this movie is one of the best ever. Mostly because of Maxwell Caulfield's outstanding performance words cant describe how good he captured the mind of a sociopath. I was totally blown away by this movie when I saw it for the first time about a year ago. This movie was never accepted by the mainstream mostly because they cant relate and they never will. But those who can will love this film there's no one like it and its mostly because of Caulfield's performance. I have never seen anyone play a sociopath more convincing.Roy-"That motherf*cker... is the one who will keep us from going anywhere"

"The boys next door" is a superb movie. Bo and Ray, two mischevious best freinds, set out for a hightime weekend after graduation. They get spun out of control, and eventually, kill in cold blood for no apparent reason. This movie will make you go away thinking. With a twist ending that is supremly unexpected, and altogether a deliberate ironic musing, this movie is a must see! It is one of those rare movie, where you go away saying, "Hey, that movie was actually really good!" What I liked about this movie, is it is what I like to call a Sleeping Suprise. Its one of those movies that you casually pass by in the movie store, roll your thumb over in a tv guide, but when you finally do get around to watching this movie, you know you have witnessed something you should have seen earlier. I loved this movie, and you will too. With great acting, a realistic story line, and superb script, "The boys next door" will leave you thinking about the minds of a serial killer, and the qualms of a deeply distubed mind.With inside information about real life serial killers, it will leave you looking over your shoulder for days to come! 8 out of 10...