10 Harsh Realties Of Rewatching St. Elmo’s Fire, 39 Years Later

Summary

• St. Elmo’s Fire was a product of its time with outdated attitudes and character traits that don’t align with modern cinematic expectations.
• The film had issues with minority representation, female autonomy, and an obsession with marriage, reflecting problematic themes from the 1980s.
• Characters in the movie exhibited troubling behavior like pressuring women into unprotected sex, stalking, and an unhealthy obsession with marriage and virginity.

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The classic coming-of-age drama St. Elmo’s Fire was one of the most popular movies of 1985, although looking back on it almost four decades later, it had its fair share of issues. As the story of seven best friends traversing the challenges of early adulthood, this was a story that many people could relate to while also understanding that it was very much a product of its time. St. Elmo’s Fire featured many outdated attitudes, uncomfortable representations, and character traits that no longer align with modern cinematic expectations.

As one of the major movies associated with the Brat Pack, a group of young actors who appeared in many 1980s teen movies, St. Elmo’s Fire held a special place in the hearts of countless movie lovers. While some viewers may disagree with judging older movies through a modern lens, this process was an interesting way to highlight changing societal beliefs and attitudes. Criticizing St. Elmo’s Fire for not living up to modern social standards can sometimes feel harsh, but it can also act as a point of reflection that should not diminish the love for the original work.

10 Pressured Into Unprotected Sex

St Elmo’s Fire had an issue with female autonomy

When viewed through a modern lens, some of the things the characters in St. Elmo’s Fire said appear outrageous, and the harsh reality was that many of them were manipulative, vindictive, and misogynistic. This was especially the case for the way Alec Newberry (Judd Nelson) spoke to Leslie Hunter (Ally Sheedy) early in the film about sleeping together. Throughout St. Elmo’s Fire, Leslie made it abundantly clear she was not ready to get married or have kids, yet Alec had no issues attempting to pressure her into having unprotected sex.

As Leslie sought to use birth control, Alec dismissively told her, “You don’t need that thing,” and “Let’s play Russian roulette.” Thankfully, Leslie was able to stand up to Alec’s unacceptable request and retorted, “Guess who has to carry the bullet around for nine months?” before Jules arrived at their home. Alec pressuring Leslie into potentially having a baby with him felt like it had less to do with true love and more to do with coercive control, as he consistently sought to force her to commit to him throughout the film while simultaneously cheating on her.

9 The Stereotypical Gay Neighbor

St. Elmo’s Fire had an issue with minority representation

The characterizations in St. Elmo’s Fire left a lot to be desired, and aspects such as the racial representation of sex workers felt incredibly jarring upon rewatch. However, the movie also continually propagated another stereotype through Jules Van Patten’s (Demi Moore) neighbor, Ron Dellasandro (Matthew Laurance.) Although Ron was only a minor character who appeared briefly throughout St. Elmo’s Fire, his depiction as a stereotypically effeminate, cocktail-drinking gay man felt out of step with modern expectations around the representation of LGBTQ+ characters.

Ron’s sexuality was showcased to the viewer through lazy shorthand that stripped him of agency and left him as a one-note addition to the cast, only there to serve the purpose of being LGBTQ+. This, paired with the expectation that he should get together with Kevin Dolenz (Andrew McCarthy), the friend many of the rest thought was gay, made Ron’s character almost like a laughingstock whose only reason for existing was to make a joke about. While this type of representation may have felt normal in 1985, it’s noticeably exclusionary today.

8 Their Substance Intake Was Off-The Charts

St. Elmo’s Fire had an issue with drugs and alcohol

It must be admitted that the story of St. Elmo’s Fire did take some measures to address substance abuse through the character of Jules Van Patten, who was seen using cocaine throughout the film. Jules’ character arc was one of slow decline as she was swept up in an affair with her boss and consistently partying throughout the film. Jules’ drug use reached a breaking point toward the end of St. Elmo’s Fire when, after days of bingeing, her friends had to come and rescue her from freezing in her apartment.

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However, the harsh reality was that lots of the characters in St. Elmo’s Fire were seen partaking in substances throughout, as excessive drinking, drug use, and smoking were presented as normal behaviors for young people. While there’s no reason that these kinds of things cannot be included in a movie, the sheer volume of substance use on display was starkly contrasted with other Brat Pack films like The Breakfast Club. Viewers expecting to find some family-friendly entertainment in St. Elmo’s Fire should prepare to have their expectations confounded.

7 The Sanctification Of Wendy’s Virginity

St. Elmo’s Fire had an issue with women’s bodies

Upon rewatching St. Elmo’s Fire, one unnerving aspect was the representation of Wendy Beamish (Mare Winningham) and the way that Billy Hicks (Rob Lowe) seemed to obsess over her virginity. Billy was a bad boy saxophonist, husband, and father to a young child. Yet he still had an uncomfortable fascination with his would-be love interest in maintaining her virginity for him, and he consistently asked if she was still a virgin throughout St. Elmo’s Fire.

This strange sanctification of Wendy’s virginity felt like it played into outdated concepts of purity and ownership of women’s bodies. The harsh reality was that this was not okay behavior from Billy, and the fact that Wendy later lost her virginity to him was presented in a positive light made the entire storyline feel outdated, even for 1985. Wendy’s narrative arc felt like she was just there to be a prize for Billy, and with the power of almost 40 years of hindsight, the whole thing was just off.

6 It Has No Consistent Tone

St Elmo’s Fire had a tonal issue

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Looking back on St. Elmo’s Fire all these years later, one of the most striking issues with the film was that it was all over the place. Right from the opening scenes, it was difficult for a viewer to find their footing, as the movie began with Billy nearly killing Wendy due to a drunk driving accident. St. Elmo’s Fire then quickly moved on from this shocking set-up as the group regathered to drink together at their favorite college hangout spot, St. Elmo’s Bar.

At some points, St. Elmo’s Fire was lighthearted and fun, and at other times, it delved into deep melodrama to the point that it was hard to determine exactly what kind of film it wanted to be. Although St. Elmo’s Fire followed a group of close-knit college friends, it did not have the same effective energy as other films with the same cast, like The Breakfast Club, and the tonal changes felt jarring. While a shift in tone can often be advantageous in a movie when it served a larger purpose, in St. Elmo’s Fire, these shifts felt haphazard.

5 Kevin’s Sexual Orientation

St. Elmo’s Fire had an issue with minding its own business

One consistent throughline in St. Elmo’s Fire related to Kevin Dolenz’s sexuality, as his friends, especially Jules Van Patten, questioned his true orientation. While Jules’ accused Kevin of being secretly gay and encouraged him to come out of the closet by dating her neighbor Ron, it was painfully obvious to the audience that he was truly in love with his best friend’s girlfriend, Leslie Hunter. Having held a candle for Leslie for several years, Kevin never dated any woman because he longed to be with Leslie one day.

Although Kevin’s friends were not correct in assuming his sexuality, one harsh reality that’s painfully obvious when rewatching St. Elmo’s Fire was that it wasn’t any of their business. There should have been no issue if Kevin actually was gay, and it would have been his right to come out of the closet in his own time when he felt ready. It was unfair for Jules to try to force a relationship on him that he was not ready for.

4 Everyone’s A Terrible Person

St. Elmo’s Fire had an issue with unlikable protagonists

St. Elmo’s Fire followed seven best friends trying to navigate life after graduation, but the harsh truth was that almost all of them were insufferable and highly unsympathetic. Straight from the get-go, Billy caused an accident through reckless drunk driving, Alec pressured his girlfriend into unprotected sex, and Kirby was a straight-up stalker. The affable and likable energy of the cast from The Breakfast Club was wholly missing from the characterizations of this group of wayward post-college young adults.

Of course, the characters in St. Elmo’s Fire not being perfect was the point, as it set up the potential for them to overcome their issues and come out as better people. Unfortunately, that did not happen, and the messaging in St. Elmo’s Fire was unsatisfactory. While some aspects, like Jules’ drug use, were lightly addressed, by the time the credits rolled, it felt the terrible behavior would continue as Alec was going to keep on cheating, Kirby was still going to stalk women, and Jules had not gotten to the root of her issues.

3 The Obsession With Marriage

St. Elmo’s Fire had an issue with matrimony

Although Kevin Dolenz asserted that “marriage is a concept invented by people who were lucky to make it to 20 without being eaten by dinosaurs,” that’s not to say St. Elmo’s Fire did not have an unusual obsession with the concept of being wed. This was seen primarily through the unfaithful yuppie Alec Newberry, who believed that only marriage could stop him from cheating on his girlfriend, Leslie Hunter. Looking back on St. Elmo’s Fire all these years later, the importance of marriage to these young adults who were barely out of college felt incredibly outdated.

In the decades since the release of St. Elmo’s Fire, society has changed drastically, and the security of a life-long career has felt like less of a certainty. This made the idea of getting married and starting a family straight out of college less achievable, and characters like Alec felt like relics from a bygone era when life’s journey could be planned to a tee. This strange obsession with marriage was also seen through the social worker Wendy, whose wealthy father asserted her need to give up her career once she was married to a rich husband.

2 Kirby Was A Total Creep

St. Elmo’s Fire had an obsession issue

Despite most characters in St. Elmo’s Fire having their fair share of issues, the most bafflingly creepy protagonist was Kirby Keager (Emilio Estevez), whose obsessive behavior bordered on criminal. Kirby was a law student and waiter who showcased an overbearing, unrequited infatuation with Dale Biberman (Andie MacDowell), a medical intern and former fellow student of Kirby’s. Not only does Kirby profess his love for Dale, but he actively stalked her, manipulated her, and lied to her to try and make her fall for him.

Seemingly, Kirby’s behavior was perceived as humorous and innocent infatuation when St. Elmo’s Fire was released, but looking back on his actions today, one can see he deserved a restraining order and therapy. Throughout St. Elmo’s Fire, Kirby followed Dale in the rain to a party, creepily, and without consent, smelt her pillow in her home, and, when her roommate would not tell him Dale’s location, Kirdy said he wasn’t responsible for what would happen to her. When all was said and done, the harsh reality was that Kirby gave off deeply troubling vibes.

1 It Doesn’t Live Up To The Breakfast Club

St. Elmo’s Fire was not the greatest Brat Pack movie

There’s a reason that whenever people thought of the Brat Pack, the first movie that came to their mind was The Breakfast Club. Although St. Elmo’s Fire featured just as many notable Brat Pack members, the harsh truth was that it paled compared to the John Hughes-directed coming-of-age tale from the same year. The music was better, the characters were likable, and the enduring appeal through generations was far more impactful in The Breakfast Club than in St. Elmo’s Fire.

Unfortunately, St. Elmo’s Fire felt bogged down by so many issues that it dated the movie and made it feel like a product of its time. Compared to the optimism of The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo’s Fire was littered with cynicism and friendships that felt like they were reaching their breaking point rather than just being discovered. So many viewers rank The Breakfast Club as the greatest Brat Pack movie because it made them feel good, and the harsh reality was that St. Elmo’s Fire was often a downer.

St. Elmo’s Fire
Drama

A group of friends, just out of college, struggle with adulthood.

Director Joel Schumacher Release Date June 28, 1985 Writers Joel Schumacher , Carl Kurlander Cast Rob Lowe , Demi Moore , Emilio Estevez , Ally Sheedy , Judd Nelson , Mare Winningham , Andrew McCarthy , Martin Balsam , Andie MacDowell Runtime 108 Minutes Budget $10 Million

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Category: Entertainment