"I was 12 going on 13 the first time I saw a dead human body." Stand By Me's opening line is brilliant because it sets up the entire tone of the film. It's dark, melancholy, and more than a little wistful for the innocence of childhood. We can all remember the first time we ever saw a dead body, and it's easy to frame that as a divisive point in our lives. It's really the first time we're forced to confront our own mortality and take our first tentative steps into a scary adult world. The promise of a dead body is what anchors Stand By Me, as we follow the four boys on their journey to catch a glimpse of a poor kid left for dead out by the railroad tracks.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
