Have you gone out of your way to find a dead body? I haven’t, but these four kids have. This coming-of-age story about 4 kids going on an adventure to find a dead body was depicted in the movie, “Stand by Me.” The film is based on the book The Body by Stephen King and was directed by Rob Reiner, a well-known filmmaker. The film may have come out a long time ago, but no matter how much time passes, “Stand by Me” is a timeless masterpiece.

The characters in “Stand by Me” have a lot of background, which is what makes this film age well; it is a coming-of-age story, after all. It focuses on four kids, but there is one, Gordie, that we get to learn the most about. Of course, he still acts like the others, all of them throw out foul language at each other like any kid without a filter would do. But what makes Gordie stand out is that he wants to pursue writing and make it out someday, while the rest of the kids are just goofballs.

Even then, they all have backstories of their own, like Vern and how he hasn’t been able to find his penny collection. All the characters are interesting in their way, and they change at the end of the story as well.

“Stand by Me’s” narrative structure is an interesting point of view and is executed well. It starts with an older version of Gordie, and as he sees other kids riding on bikes, it reminds him of when he was a kid. That’s when the story of the four finding a dead body starts. This is a great way of telling a story; it feels like a person is telling their experience to you, and if a person is sharing their own story, it makes it all feel more realistic. The narrator being the older version of the main character creates a more natural speech through the story; you don’t wonder how the narrator knows the information it’s showing because it’s Gordie in the present, and the story is told from the past.

After the story is finished, a beautiful song is played at the end, “Stand by Me,” by Ben E. King in 1982. It is an older song, but it also stands the test of time. The movie is named after this song, and it sends a message to stand by those whom you trust the most and let those stand by you as well. It’s a great way to end the tale, and the movie being called “Stand by Me” fits more than “The Body” because, even if the story is about four kids looking for a body, it’s more about them standing together throughout their adventure.

Going through change is an experience that everyone goes through, and “Stand by Me” shows how different things can be. It is timeless because no matter who you are, you can resonate with the characters while they grow up, and everybody grows up at some point. Give “Stand by Me” a watch, and maybe reflect on the changes you’ve gone through.