In The Lost Boys, what California coastal town is transformed by vampires?

In The Lost Boys, the California coastal town transformed by vampires is Santa Carla.

The 1987 horror comedy presents Santa Carla as a fictional seaside community in California. Its boardwalk, amusement attractions, and nightlife create the setting for a town where a vampire gang has established itself. The name is central to the film’s atmosphere and is repeatedly associated with the local disappearances.

Santa Carla is not a real California municipality. The movie was filmed primarily in and around Santa Cruz, and local landmarks help give the fictional town a convincing coastal identity. This has led to a common mix-up: viewers sometimes answer Santa Cruz because of the filming locations, but Santa Carla is the town named in the story.

The film was directed by Joel Schumacher and released in 1987. It combines teen adventure, horror, comedy, and a soundtrack-driven style typical of several commercially successful genre films of the decade.