Mise en scene in the opening scene of "The Lost Boys"

Over the opening credits of "The Lost Boys", divorcee mother Lucy is driving her two sons Michael and Sam to their new home in California's Santa Carla. As they drive into the town, Michael sees the welcoming sign for Santa Carla in an eyeline match shot, and then once they've passed it he sees that "Murder capital of the world" is spray-painted on the back of it. This symbolises how from the outside Santa Carla may appear to be a perfectly normal town, until you're there and you realise its dark secret. They notice the strange behaviour of the residents, such as teenagers smoking, and everyone wearing sunglasses and sunhats. This is understandable given the California heat, but it's actually a hint towards the reveal that the majority of Santa Carla's inhabitants are vampires. This is evident in that many of them are tanned as you'd expect, but some have pale skin, which is curious. The Doors' song 'People Are Strange' plays on the soundtrack. This was a good choice of song because the song is about being an outsider and a stranger and how the people in a strange place treat you, which is really what the film is all about. The theme of Michael and Sam feeling alienated and like outsiders in their new town is introduced here, setting up the rest of the film.