MovieChat Forums > The Lost Boys (1987) Discussion > "You're the man of the house..."

"You're the man of the house..."

posted 9 years ago by GirlwonderReturns
11 replies | jump to latest

So when Max shows up at the house, he tells Michael he won't come in unless Michael invites him. This is an old thing in vampire lore - that a vampire either can't enter a home without being invited by the man of the house, or as in this movie, the invitation renders the target powerless.

However - how is Michael the "man of the house"? Wouldn't that be Grandpa? It's his house. What, once you hit 70 you're not a man anymore? That part always bugs me, cause Grandpa was a badass.

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[–] chrissyko66 9 years ago

Ha! Never thought a that

[–] antonasmodeus 9 years ago

The OP has a point but Michael was set to join the vampire clan and Max was just being courteous.

[–] Darren (1183) 8 months ago

Yeah, that was always my take on it. Max was just saying whatever he needed to get anyone who lived there to invite him inside. That was all it took.

[–] junior_panther 9 years ago

I just rewatched this like 4 hours ago and I was thinking the same thing. Grandpa should be the man of the house, but then I realized or better yet thought that "the man of the house" doesn't necessarily have to be the only person to invite him in, anyone that lives in that house can invite him in. He was just be "polite" towards Michael (sucking up) if you will. Well that's just my theory.

[–] India_Ana 9 years ago

I was wondering if it had to do with Max being the head of "his" house ... him, his mother and his brother ... not necessarily the actual house.  But I think anyone living in a house can invite a vampire in ... so he just said that to impress Max.

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[–] Drooch (5333) 2 years ago

It’s Max using flattery, appealing to a young man’s masculinity, to get the invitation he needed. Have to say though, it was quite a risk turning up like that - what if nobody formally invited him in?

Max: Hi Lucy, I’m a gentleman and I won’t enter your house unless you invite me.

Lucy: Oh, don’t be so silly Max. How was your day?

Max: No really. Invite me.

[–] Oskar (277) a year ago

Anyone can extend the invitation for tricks to be "powerless" against the respective vampire, Max was just yanking his chain and using flattery.

[–] Obifuntoknowme (1104) a year ago

Mmmm, this is interesting.

So let's play a little game and pretend that Michael DOESN'T invite Max in. As he's the head vampire what the hell would've happened then?

[–] sslssg (30051) a year ago

I've always wondered in the invitation to Max included the whole clan. I mean no one invited David, Paul, and Dwayne in.

[–] ExTechOp (2770) a year ago

In this movie's lore, they don't have to be invited in

Inviting them in just renders them immure to garlic, holy water and garlic

[–] Otter (24464) 10 months ago

The vampire was trying to manipulate the kid into inviting him in, by implying that that's what the man of the house would do. All kids want more autonomy and authority than they have, all boys want to be men or at least be treated by men, and you can see that Sam is bothered by the implied disrespect, and the reminder that he's still a little kid who does what his mother tells him to do.

I can't believe I have to explain this to anyone. It's so obvious.