As an avid fan, I’ve read several of Michael J. Fox’s previous books over the years, in addition to of course growing up watching his films and shows. But I had a feeling that Future Boy – which fully chronicles landing the role of Marty McFly in Back tothe Future whilst juggling his already-established role of Alex P. Keaton on the hit sitcom Family Ties in the mid-’80s, would be one hell of a ride. (To this day the original remains one of my personal favorite films of all time)
From initial doubts and hesitations, to almost covertly becoming McFly while Actor Eric Stoltz was still more or less in the position of said lead role, to the ultimate aftermath/snowball effect the eventual decision to just go for it would ultimately have, there’s not a single moment of boredom to be found in between the front and back covers here.
The pace of that time frame in his life, zipping from a full day’s work at one set to another with little to no reprieve in between, is both commendable, and at times in many ways even relatable (my long lost days as a single father kept popping in my head while relieving some of Fox’s own struggles here).
Fox even narrows down several interesting thoughts about BTTF itself I had never considered before. For example – the ending of the original film, where Marty returns to his own time frame and finds his lackluster family now suddenly successful; is it truly a “happy ending,” knowing he now was not a part of any of the shared memories they all have together? (Deep stuff indeed)
To be given the type of insight on a specific moment of time that has had as huge of a cultural influence as Back to the Future has, truly feels like a gift here, and the tenacity that Fox has displayed – both then and now – deserves much respect. Thank you for sharing, Michael.
There were certain movies in the ’80s that just always seemed to be there (no matter where “there” might’ve been at the time). Back to the Future was one such film (along with the likes of Ghostbusters and The Karate Kid, among others), in a sub-genre of its own that I have since labeled “basement movies” (growing up in New Jersey at that time, it seemed like everyone had basements with TV’s/VCR’s in them, and many a movie were viewed in these for the first time via either cable or home video).
Originally released on July 3, 1985, Back to the Future was the brain child from Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale. The story was simple yet complex all at once; high school student Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) travels back in time after an experiment with his scientist friend’s (Christopher Lloyd) time machine (built from a DeLoren, of course) goes haywire and sends Marty thirty years back in the past.
Once there he not only needs to get himself back to his original time frame, but ensure his parents (played by Crispin Glover and Lea Thompson) still meet and fall in love in time to not alter his existence, all the while dodging bullies (lead by Thomas F. Wilson in one of the best roles of its kind).
Originally the role of McFly went to Eric Stoltz, who began filming several scenes before Fox finally committed to the project, forcing him to take on double-duty while simultaneously still filming his hit show Family Ties. The decision was obviously the best for all those involved, and as a result, we were given one of the most flawless films in American history.
While it took four years, the film eventually spawned two sequels, beginning with 1989’s Back tothe Future Part II (my first time going to see one of them on the big screen, although I’m told I was there for the original as well, yet have no memory of this) and concluding with the western-themed Part III in 1990. There was even an animated TV show that ran from 1991-92 on CBS, theme park rides at Universal Studios, and various other video games and multimedia tie-ins, making it one of the most successful franchises of all time (the first film alone grossed nearly $400 million at the box office).
Back to the Future 40th Anniversary poster spotted at theater in Daytona Beach, FL on 9-10-25 (Photo by Jesse Striewski).
Of course, one cannot talk about Back to the Future without mentioning its music, which became equally popular thanks to the inclusion of Huey Lewis and the News’ “Power of Love” and “Back in Time” hits (Lewis himself makes a brief cameo at the start of the first film, and I was able to hear each of these tracks live in 2014 when the wife and I went to go see Lewis and company at none other than Universal Studios Orlando). Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers fame has a small part in Parts II and III as “Needles,” and even ZZ Top appear as musicians in Part III, contributing the track “Double Back” to the film as well. Years later, I was able to photograph Flea onstage with the Chili Peppers in 2017 (see photo below), though ZZ Top have still alluded me all these years later.
Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who played “Needles” in Back to the Future Part II and III, on stage introducing the opening acting at the then-Amway Center in Orlando, FL on 4/26/17 (Photo by Jesse Striewski).
Then in 2023, I was even able to interview an actor from the series for the first time for Rewind It. Courtney Gains, who is seen at the dance scene cutting in with George and Loraine near the end of the first film, lent me some insight into his role as “Dixon;” “To be associated with that franchise in any way is a pretty mind-blowing, amazing thing. My character had already been dropped one time, and if you’re doing a movie they can only drop you one time, and if they bring you back, they can’t drop you again. So they had already dropped me once in the middle of all the chaos of re-shooting everything after dropping Eric Stolz in the lead role and replacing him with Michael J. Fox. Still to this day, one of the best residual checks I get is from Back to the Future, so it’s been a financial blessing in my life.”
The film has indeed blessed many, in many different ways, over the years, and on this “Back to the Future Day” (that passes annually every October 21), I’d certainly hate to ever see a world that doesn’t have Back to the Future in it in some form.
Loud heavy metal guitars shooting lightning. Backwards subliminal messaging. And humpty dumpty exploding from a second story rafter. These are just a few of the things one gets from 1986’s Trick or Treat, the ultimate outcast horror film, and quite possibly, the best of its kind.
Directed by Charles Martin Smith and originally released on October 24 of that same year, it followed teenage rebel Eddie “Ragman” Weinbauer (played by Marc Price of Family Ties fame), a high school metalhead fed up with his jock bullies (lead by Doug Savant). When his rock n’ roll idol Sammi Curr (played by the late Tony Fields) dies unexpectedly, his world is thrown through a loop.
But thanks to a local DJ named Nuke (played brilliantly by KISS bassist Gene Simmons in his best Wolfman Jack impression), he’s given the last known recording by Curr. Upon playing the record backwards, he soon finds he has the power to communicate with – and even bring back from the dead – Curr. At first Curr aids Ragman in standing up to his tormentors, only to regret it when things quickly become deadly.
Ragman is then tasked with stopping Curr’s destructive path, and sets out to do just that with the help of some friends; the nerdy best friend Roger (Glen Morgan), and the lovely young maiden he has a crush on, Leslie (Lisa Orgolini). This eventually leads to a huge showdown at the high school Halloween dance, and the ensuing carnage make for some of the film’s best moments.
Hands down the music is one of standouts of the entire film. Rock supergroup Fastway, which originally featured ex-Motorhead and UFO members ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke and Pete Way, respectively (as well as future Flogging Molly frontman Dave King) provided the soundtrack that acts as Curr’s music, and composer Christopher Young adds an extra eerie layer with his score (special effects wizard Kevin Yagher also cameos at the high school dance as one of the band members). And aside from Simmons’ previously mentioned cameo, there’s even a brief appearance by the one and only Ozzy Osbourne as a televangelist. I’ve been lucky enough to personally see Simmons, Osbourne, and even King all perform in concert since the film’s release (see photo below).
I can vividly recall watching Trick or Treat for the first time at one of those middle or high school sleepovers where someone brought a VHS copy they rented at the local video store. Not too far off from the character of Ragman myself at the time, I was easily able to relate to the film’s material, and have been a lifelong fan ever since. So if you’re staying in this Halloween and looking for something festive to watch that perhaps you haven’t seen before, fire up the old VCR, and get ready to Trick or Treat!
Gene Simmons (who appeared in the film as “Nuke”) performing on stage with KISS in Tampa, FL on 7/28/12 (photo courtesy of author’s personal collection).
