Demi Moore, who became famous as part of the Brat Pack, recently opened up about her vulnerability on the set of the 1985 film St. Elmo’s Fire. In a chat with her co-star Andrew McCarthy for his new Hulu documentary, Moore discussed her long battle with alcohol and substance abuse.
Moore revealed that the film’s director, Joel Schumacher, had appointed a “sober companion” to be with her at all times to prevent a relapse during filming. “They paid to have a sober companion with me 24/7, during the whole shooting,” she shared with McCarthy in the documentary BRATS. This new project revisits the term ‘Brat Pack’ that was coined in the 1980s, featuring interviews with stars like Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, and Lea Thompson.
At the age of 22, Moore was dealing with serious addiction issues. Despite her struggles, she was cast as Jules, a troubled party girl, in St. Elmo’s Fire. Schumacher’s extra precautions ensured Moore stayed on track. Reflecting on that time, Moore admitted, “I was so fearful of failing, fearful of losing, and so desperate to fit in, belong. My need to please was definitely on high alert.” Surprisingly, McCarthy confessed he hadn’t even noticed the “sober companion” on set.
Moore also shared that she was advised against working on St. Elmo’s Fire by her rehab facility. “I didn’t have any value for myself,” she remarked. Despite these challenges, she expressed gratitude for Schumacher’s faith in her. Moore has been open about her addiction struggles, maintaining sobriety for 20 years before a relapse in her 40s, as detailed in her 2019 memoir Inside Out.
Andrew McCarthy’s documentary BRATS explores the origin and impact of the Brat Pack. The term, coined by journalist David Blum in a 1985 New York Magazine article, grouped emerging ’80s actors into a high-profile clique. Films like The Breakfast Club, Class, Pretty in Pink, and St. Elmo’s Fire are associated with this label, though it was never clear who the definitive Brat Pack members were.
McCarthy’s documentary, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival and will stream on Hulu from June 13, features interviews with original St. Elmo’s Fire cast members, including Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore, and Ally Sheedy. Notably, Judd Nelson declined to participate. The documentary reveals that the actors were initially troubled by the Brat Pack label but have since come to accept it.
In the trailer, Moore questions, “Why did we take it as an offense?” Other stars featured in BRATS include Jon Cryer from Pretty in Pink, Timothy Hutton from Taps, and Lea Thompson. This documentary offers a nostalgic look at the era and the impact of the Brat Pack on the careers of those involved.
