Friday Film - Stand by Me (1986)

Stand by Me is the ultimate coming-of-age journey, a timeless tale of adventure (and misadventure) which follows four young lads who set out one summer to find a missing kid.

It’s part road movie, part memory, a bit of a love letter to adolescence, when the responsibilities of adult life felt like years off. 

You should watch Stand by Me because it captures that magic of being outdoors when you’re young: the freedom, the laughter, the danger that feels thrilling but real. The fact they've told their parents they're camping out in each other's back gardens when they're actually hiking multiple miles is relatable.

Based on Stephen King's 1982 novella 'The Body', Stand by Me is one of those films I'm amazed some people haven't seen. Maybe I've seen it enough times to make up for them. 

What makes it special isn’t the plot, but the feeling. Rob Reiner’s direction hits every nostalgic note without ever getting too sweet. The kids talk, fight, joke, swear and stick together in a way that feels completely relatable, like every group of friends who’ve ever wandered out of town and come back changed. 

Outdoors-wise, this is set in a time and place slightly less recognisable, especially if like us you're from the North West of England. King often uses the fictional town of Castle Rock in his writing and this is no different. There’s a simplicity to it that feels right at home in the Hikerdelic world. Neat but worn-in denim and tees, rolled-up sleeves, canvas rucksacks, all weathered by sun and adventure. The wardrobe is impeccable and it's proof that outdoor style doesn’t have to be technical to be timeless. This was, after all, set before the advent of synthetics.

As the wintry weather makes us think twice about that big walk we had planned, you can still get your dose of adventure vicariously through Stand by Me.