The character and Sutherland's performance were well received upon the film's release, and David has gone on to become regarded as an iconic villain in popular culture, having inspired the depiction of vampires both in style as well as characterization since.

Analysis of his personality and psychology range from focus on his status as an eternal youth, gang leader, and murderer, and his implied homoerotic tendencies.

[1] Max, the head vampire of Santa Carla, tries to find a "mother" for David and the rest of the gang in order to curb their wayward behavior.

Michael however returns home to his brother, Sam, who has become friends with a pair of vampire hunters, Edgar and Alan Frog.

https://screenrant.com/lost-boys-movie-kiefer-sutherland-david-sequel/ Consequently, “The Lost Boys: The Beginning” remained unproduced, leaving fans to speculate about the untold backstory of the iconic characters.

https://screenrant.com/joel-schumacher-lost-boys-movie-sequel-explained-canceled-why/ David, portrayed by Kiefer Sutherland, was intended to return in the proposed sequel “The Lost Girls.” In the original 1987 film “The Lost Boys,” David’s death was left ambiguous; unlike other vampires, his body remained intact after being impaled, suggesting a potential return.

[7] Tori Danielle wrote in iHorror that David is both edgy and sympathetic, since the essential evils he commits are forced on him by his nature.

"[11] Harry Benshoff in his book Monsters in the Closet: Homosexuality and the Horror Film states that with his bleach-blond hair, stubble, earrings and leather attire David appears as a gay pin-up model.

[13][14][15][16][17] The image of David showing his fangs for the first time was used for the cover of John Kenneth Muir's Horror Films of the 1980s[18] and The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead by J Gordon Melton.

[19] Joss Whedon has expressed that the character Spike on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer was inspired by David.