Released by Lifetime on January 6th, "A Tale of Two Coreys" offers a glance into the lives of 80's teen actors Corey Feldman and Corey Haim (otherwise known as 'the two Coreys'); detailing the formation of their friendship, life in the spotlight, and struggles with drug addiction/accounts of sexual abuse.
The film begins with both teenage Haim (Justin Ellings) and Feldman (Elijah Marcano) shortly before meeting each other, working on their own film projects while simultaneously striving to overcome feelings of distress resulting from family abuse (towards Feldman) and sexual abuse (towards Haim-and later towards Feldman).
After both actors were paired together in the 1987 film, The Lost Boys, the duo became inseparable, eventually going on to star in several different films together throughout the late 80's (and early-mid 90's, though not portrayed by Lifetime). Of course, their personas in front of the camera hardly scratched the surface of the reality taking place behind the scenes.
A rising addiction to various drugs paired with the trauma of sexual abuse upon both of them played the lead role in the downfall of their careers. While the film did touch upon these aspects during various club scenes, tense moments between adult figures working by their sides, and a look at their times on set, Feldman himself claims “they couldn't go into specifics", seeing as it was a film released for television.
“It's like putting a G rating on an X-rated storyline. There was a lot of sex and drugs that were a part of the story which obviously you can't show on television."
Following their downward spiral, the film flashes ahead to the mid-2000's, where Feldman (Scott Bosely) reconnects with Haim (Casey Leach) after several years, attempting to revive their careers as “serious" Hollywood actors, but to little/no avail. At an older age, the film makes it clear that the ordeals they faced as young actors thrown into the spotlight have long-term effects on several aspects of their friendship and personal lives.
With Feldman being the film's executive producer, he was able to assist in the goals of shining a light on the twisted behaviors occurring in Hollywood through his own personal story. In his memoir, Coreyography (2013), Feldman goes into much greater detail as to the traumas he has faced throughout life in the limelight, with many of them portrayed on a lighter note in the film. Most notably, the sexual abuse both he and Haim were victims of.
Both were molested at a young age by individuals in the industry, leaving permanent scars in their minds that couldn't be erased. It is only right that attention is finally called to this situation, and it has become Feldman's mission to do so through "A Tale of Two Coreys" and many future projects on the line, especially since Haim's death in 2010.
Along with Lifetime's film, Feldman has begun to raise money in hopes of creating his own documentary, through funding known as his “Truth Campaign."
In a brief summarization, Feldman hopes to expose the pedophilic side of Hollywood, to tell the full story of the alleged figures that sexually abused both him and Haim, and create/distribute a film "in a very real way, in a very honest way, with no editing, no censorship, no studio behind it."
On a more personal note, "A Tale of Two Coreys" resurrected several memories from my early-teenage years that have been present in my mind since watching the film.
When I was 13 years old, I became infatuated with the two Coreys. I was able to spew random facts left and right and quote any of their most notable movie scenes. Of course, I knew about the struggles they battled, though my innocence kept my knowledge of the topic on a very PG level.
I even started my own fan page dedicated to the actors and was able to meet Feldman back at his "Coreyography" book signing in 2013.
Over the years as I got older, and my interests broadened to topics other than 80's culture, my love for the Coreys was repressed. Though they were always in the back of my mind, it became a rare occurrence for me to bring them up in conversation.
Two days before the premiere of the film, I noticed Feldman had tweeted the trailer, and upon watching it, I felt a wave of excitement and passion that I hadn't felt towards the Coreys in several years. Immediately I knew I would be watching the film from the minute it began, and that I would be sitting here afterward, writing an article about its message and the effect it has had on me.
As someone who has visually seen the personalities of the Coreys come out through multiple films, TV clips, and interviews, I can proudly state that the cast did a terrific job at portraying them through each of their life stages. While watching the film, memories began flooding back of my several middle school days spent devoted towards the two, everything I had ever learned regarding their careers, and the love I've always kept for them in my heart.
I do wish it had been longer- not as sped up, and more in depth then what was presented. Nevertheless, I was pleased with the outcome.
This film has brought back an older part of my personality, along with many wonderful memories in the best way possible. I thank all who were a part of creating the film for bringing back a time that has been gone in my mind, but certainly not forgotten.
You can watch "A Tale of Two Coreys", now streaming on the Lifetime app and mylifetime.com/movies.