Pop-Ed: Corey Haim's Death and the Loss of Innocence

By Kristen Tsetsi Posted Mar 13th 2010 06:57AM

Pop-Ed: Corey Haim's popular 80s film characters were often a direct reflection of the magnificent balance of innocence and reality we came to expect from Hollywood and they existed in a world far removed from the details surrounding Haim's death on March 10.

With his pinchable face and mischievous sideways glances, Haim was the perfect poster boy for that unique decade in movies. We had not yet been inundated with the shallow crudeness of today's storylines whose characters include teenage boys so bent on sex they fornicate with food ('American Pie') or dream of doing it with a human-sized bag of marijuana ('Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay').

There was just something different about films back then. In Haim's glory days, teens weren't depicted as faultless, by any means. They had certainly broken through the purity barrier with lines like "Check out the t--- on that one." But, at the same time, their "very bad" behavior was generally exemplified by hiding an alcohol-filled flask in a locker and was, by today's standards, pretty good.

Kristen Tsesti During Her Corey Haim Years

Take the opening sequence of 1989's 'Dream a Little Dream,' for example. Haim is Dinger, a pin-wearing, ripped-jeans and mousse-haired high school student whose best friend Bobby -- played by Corey Feldman -- wakes him from a nap. In this early scene used to illustrate Dinger's "bad," or even "dirty-minded" character, Dinger opens his eyes.

DINGER (to Bobby): I'm asleep. I'm dreaming. Apache women. Mai Tais. Vanna White and a whip.

Twenty years later, such a scene introducing "bad-boy" characters would certainly involve a dream far more...well, let's say explicit.

There was no better boy than Haim to use for 80s roles. His smile -- even when suggestive of something naughty -- possessed overwhelmingly honest appeal and a cracking, adolescent voice belied his characters' adult posturing. Even as a troublemaker, Haim's characters could be counted on by audiences to be deep-down good, and his slight, vulnerable build was in perfect opposition to the formidable strength his characters would reveal.

In his most well-known films, Haim was either the underdog or the ridiculously pure-at-heart. In 1985's 'Silver Bullet,' he plays Marty Coslaw, a boy who courageously battles a werewolf from a wheelchair. As the scrawny and pitiable 'Lucas' (1986), he overcomes being the smallest, weakest boy on the football team. In 'Dream a Little Dream,' Dinger is a character whose own mother had driven over his leg with her Volvo, leaving him limping with a cane, but still somehow optimistic and confident.

Haim at His Innocent Best in 1986's Teen Classic 'Lucas'

It is perhaps because of all that lovely soul and innocence that Haim has lingered for so many years in the memories of those who enjoyed his on-screen characters. After all, these are the days when even family-hour television includes dick jokes on 'Two and a Half Men,' teenagers in the 2009 premiere of the new '90210' having oral sex in the school parking lot, and "kids" in a 2009 episode of 'Gossip Girl' engaging in a threesome.

To those of us who remember, that relatively-untainted heart at the core of Haim's characters and films is something we still long for.

It's been said Corey Haim meant to forge a comeback from his comparatively obscure adult life with a movie due for release this year. Had he been given the opportunity to continue working after its release, it's possible at least a small part of older-Hollywood's delicate, almost magical melding of purity and grit would have lingered on, clinging however loosely to him like the ever-present message pins on Bobby's and Dinger's jackets. But it's difficult not to suspect that such a rare and irresistible blend, barely clinging as it was for the last twenty years or so, is now gone forever with him.

Kristen Tsetsi, a former cab driver, is the author of the semi-autobiographical novel Homefront. Enjoy more of Kristen's work, including her new video series "Inside the Writers' Studio," at Red Room.

Comments

(44)

Saturday 13 March

By Shersfun

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Enough is Enough, Were Tired of this Story...........Let the man Rest now.

By steve-o

He was a product of the Hollywood drug culture. Isn't that about it?

By Patsy

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Kristen, thank you for writing this article. I couldn't have put it better myself. It's sad the way things have changed over the years in hollywood, and I guess with the death of Corey Haim it's sad and tragic on two levels. One how he died, but also he mark a time in my life and many others when things seemed simplier. To see someone die that was such a fond part of my childhood memories pains me a bit. But he'll always be that boy that I remember crushing on as a kid.

I just wish people would be more sensitive. It's no doubt that his own personal struggles led to his downfall, but that doesn't take away from the great talent that he displayed on screen. The same with River Phoenix, James Dean, and many others who just left too soon.

By Jamfest

Such an awful tragedy. Condolences to his family.

By johnbgoode

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All it took was that one joint & it was all downhill from there. These very words came from Haim himself! Drugs are a dead end, especially the prescription ones (when used improperly).

RIP Corey Haim & best wishes for a speedy recovery Ms.Haim...

By helas

Beautifully written tribute to Haim...it does make one long for that more innocent time, which seems to exist now in media only in shows aimed at very young kids, like 'Zach & Cody', albeit in a much dumber way - in today's kid/teen world, you're either an infant or a foul-mouthed, sex and drug obsessed mini-adult, and the line separating the divide gets younger all the time.

By sunnyd

What a nice tribute to a man that seemed so sweet, innocent and caring. His death is soooooo sad, and has really hit home for me as I have a son named Corey that is also an addict and struggles daily with so many demons. Wishing all that have personal struggles to experience inner peace, joy and self love forever!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday 16 March

By Christy Jo

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This article left me in tears, it was honestly one of the ONLY articles I have read since Corey Haims untimely death that has had kind words for him and for that I am thankful. Corey was a gifted, talented young man and as a pre-teen & teenage girl I also had a huge crush on him, I felt as if I had lost a part of my childhood with his death so thank you for remembering him in a good light with a touch of lighthearted childhood innocence.

By theKiecker

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Pop Culture this...

Because
I got high
Because I
Got High

By Sheila

What a loving tribute to one of the most loving, light-filled souls I've ever had the joy of meeting! This has got to be the kindest article yet...

I had the sweet opportunity of giving Corey several massages when he was in rehab, and he told me the addiction to pain killers began after a fall from the set of "Lost Boys" when he was 14. He said the pain was so bad he felt like cutting off his head, and the only way he could cope was with the painkillers his doctors gave him. Having been hit by a drunk driver at 100mph at age 19, I knew the pain he was referring to...neck pain can give you head pain like no other!!!

He further told me that even though he'd dabbled in street drugs as a young "Hollywood Kid", his addiction was to prescription drugs, that he needed them to live, but he knew they were killing him at the same time. Said he couldn't think straight enough to 'get a grip' on things while taking them, but the pain in his obviously sublaxated neck (one side had what felt like a Frankenstein bolt sticking out...an errant vertebrae) caused so much pain he just wanted to die without them, the pain was so horrendous.

I asked if he'd ever gotten physical therapy or chiropractic, and he said his doctors told him to stay faaaaar away from chiropractors. Judging from his neck issue, it might've done a whole lot of good.

He was brought down by prescription drugs, plain and simple, and to the end, he was a love-filled gentleman...just a slightly confused one due to the drug haze. A sad lesson for all.

By scotthwild

A very nice story Kristen! I couldn't imagine going through what Corey did in his lifetime. All the fame, glory, pain & shame. His was a tragedy long before his death. He knew both the peak & the valley, figuratively. Addiction has a way of doing that to us.

By The Punisher

ENOUGH ABOUT THIS DRUG ADDICT!

WHO CARES THAT A DRUG ADDICTED FOOL OVERDOSED. DRUGS ARE FOR THE WEEK WHO CANNOT HANDLE THEIR LIFE.

By Tammy

It is because of attitudes like yours failure at rehab is so high. Addicts need support-not indifference.

Sunday 14 March

By rosco

do u no what ur talking about (NO) usually a person on narcotics is in serious pain or has a desease that is VERY!!! painfull so to exist in secioty they receive prescripted narcotics legally from doctors (just to function) after 6 + wks addiction sets in and mainly controlled by doctors its like diabetes they NEED meds also , So if u dont know what ur talking keep quiet.also addiction is a desease VERY SERIOUS &SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT AS STRONG AS OTHERS & WHO CAN BLAME THEM FOR THAT!!!! WE ALL HAVE OUR VICES SOME WORSE THAN OTHERS....SO THINK MORE CLEARLY please!!!

By MDP

To "The Punisher" (personally, I think you should have called yourself "The Loser")
You say "ENOUGH ABOUT THIS DRUG ADDICT!
WHO CARES THAT A DRUG ADDICTED FOOL OVERDOSED. DRUGS ARE FOR THE WEEK WHO CANNOT HANDLE THEIR LIFE"

First - a WEEK is a period of time, you meant WEAK. More importantly, your misuse of a word shows your ignorance. Addicts are not weak in the least bit. They struggle through things you couldn't possibly understand. My honest belief is that you are only saying they are weak because you struggle through your own issues and have no desire to learn how to cope. Grow up, someone died here and it is a serious problem. Even if he didn't die of an overdose, past use could have been the cause. We will not know for sure until the coroners report. RIP Corey Haim and heart felt condolences to your family.

By Mike

Man I miss the 80's. Today's shows "suck". Nothing suprises, nothing phazes anyone. Even our elementary students are experimenting in Sexual Behavior they see on television. Rail thin women who look like children, Spoiled Primadonna Primping Men and Women....Kids Cursing Parents...Yeah We Sure Have Evolved.

By joeby

YOUR NEXT FELDMAN!!!

By tnanny09

Wow, I dont think anyone could have written a better tribute to Corey Haim. That brought tears to my eyes as I remember the hansome blonde haired boy from The Lost Boys. That has been my favorite movie since I was 5 yrs old. Even though i wasnt born til 1989, I am a huge fan of "the Corey's" I can't believe that such a talent is gone forever. Rest in peace, Corey Haim! My prayers are with his family & child hood friend Corey Feldman. I lost a friend in August due to drugs, and almost died myself last Easter because of prescription drugs. So 2 all the people shaking there heads thinking its just another hollywood drug overdose...you should't judge too soon because apparently you don't know how hard it is til you've walked in an addicts shoes.

Jumping the gun a bit. Everyone is assuming drug overdose. Many recovering addicts die young. When you assault your body with drugs the damage to organs is not reversable at times. Andy Gibb clean and sober. His heart gave in.

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