Black Circle Boys

Black Circle Boys is kind of the poor man's River's Edge. It started out with a guy in a new school trying to recover from the loss of friend. Along the way he comes in contact with Shane Carver. Leader of the Black Circle Boys. A group of satan worshiping dopers that want to start a band. Well it was kind of funny in a goofy way when it turned serious at the drop of a dime, DEAD serious. Bummer. Eric Mabius (Carver) gives a pretty good performance, but it really doesn't make sense. At the beginning it says it was based on a true story, but I think the writer or director made that up. Kind of creepy flick with some memorable and disturbing sequences. Sorry though guys, its no River's Edge. 6/10

I usually do not flip through movies I have never heard of and stop and watch them, but I turned Black Circle Boys on and for some reason i couldn't turn it off. It was a movie that just kept my attention. An excellent cast made this movie even more the better. I am so amazed by this movie that I want to go out and buy it.

Although this film was nothing terribly outstanding it was a bit better than the usual teen slasher flick. Scott Bairstow is having a hard time dealing with the death of a younger brother and he and his parents moved to another town where he can finish up high school anonymously so to speak. This one time jock falls in with a crowd of Goths who are into Satan worship and are led by a charismatic Artful Dodger type played by Eric Mabius. The gang also has a Fagin in former New Kid on the Block and future detective Danny Reagan Donnie Wahlberg. He supplies them recreational pharmaceuticals, they break into houses and steal for him.

It takes a while to get his eyes wide open, but eventually Bairstow figures out that these Black Circle Boys are a truly evil bunch and that Mabius is a Charles Manson in training.

Lots of praise has been given to those already mentioned. But for me I liked Chad Lindberg who was rather touching as wannabe who wants so much to be accepted by Mabius that he goes out on his own and screws up royally. He pays a very heavy price.

Definitely Black Circle Boys is a bit better than most cinema of this type.

I have to admit I really liked this movie, especially since I was so sure it was going to be pretty awful. And it very well could have been, if it wasn't for the great cast of unknowns in this film. Eric Mabius went on to do more high profile work in movies like Cruel Intentions and Resident Evil, but I think his performance as the psycho bad boy Shane Carver in this film outshines them all. Scott Bairstow also does a great job as the good boy turned bad because of the death of a close friend. It'd be nice to see him in something else. I agree wholeheartedly with the other reviews of this film, in that it starts strong and has great direction, but the ending is very cliche, turning into a few deaths here and there, and a convenient turnaround for the main character. Despite this fact, it is still an enjoyable movie. Also, the very good, albeit small part played by Donnie Wahlburg makes me wonder why he doesn't get more roles, as opposed to his no talent brother Marky Mark. Also, Lisa Loeb is listed in the opening credits, but I couldn't place her until the 3rd time I saw this movie. She plays "Angry Woman" and is only in the movie for a few seconds, and is gone faster than you can say "cameo".

Black Circle Boys (1997) is loosely based on real events filled with drugs, satanism & murder. On June 19, 1984, 17 year old Ricky Kasso lured a local boy into the woods in the middle of the night in Northport, New York. There, he beat, tortured & murdered 17 year old Gary Lauwers, while several friends watched on. When several friends asked why he murdered Gary, Ricky met each inquiry with a different excuse. After the murder, Ricky & a friend ran away, destination California. Not getting far, they returned to Northport where they were arrested and charged with Gary's murder. During his interview, Ricky implicated his friend as taking part in the murder. Although Ricky told his friend that he would recant his participation the next day, Ricky Kasso hung himself in his jail cell on July 7, 1984, leaving his friend to hold the bag. 6 months after the murder, the testimonies & alibi's of his activities during the time of the murder, Ricky's friend was acquitted of all charges. (Ricky's friend's name was never officially released, the name used in the local paper was mistakenly used, but was never retracted.)

In 2000, the movie "Ricky 6" follows is a factual account of the murder, taken directly from court transcripts, testimonies & interviews of those who were present & witnessed the horror that stole the innocence of the woods & would haunt the town of Northport forever.

In my opinion, the only reason I like this movie is because of Scott Bairstow, who played Kyle Sullivan & Eric Mabius, who played Shane Carver. Scott reminds me of Shane West, but in a cute sort of way. And Eric is so freaking gorgeous, in a trailer park white trash sort of way.

Although "Black Circle Boys" seemed to have a bigger budget to make, it takes so many liberties in the events that took happened that night in the woods. I would much rather watch "Ricky 6". It stays true to the horrific crime that shocked the entire community of Northport, New York, in 1984.