Lost Boys - The Tribe

To help mark the 21^st anniversary of a horror classic, Lost Boys – The Tribe is a chance to revisit the feelings and emotions the original Lost Boys gave back in 1987. It’s strange to write a review of a sequel to a movie that a large percentage of those reading this will either have not seen or not heard of The Lost Boys. For those who do remember the movie, you rather like me are probably a little bit surprised that it has taken 21 years for a follow on movie to appear.

 

After the death of their parents Chris (Tad Hilgenbrink) and Nicole (Autumn Reeser) settle down in a small part of district of Malibu under the watchful eye of their crazy aunt. Chris is a small time hero, a surfer with a well established following, so it’s not surprising that Shane (Angus Sutherland) a mainstream surfing legend soon takes Chris under his wing. As Chris and Nicole attend a party at Shane’s house, a sinister undercurrent sweeps the event. While Lisa makes moves on Chris, Shane makes his moves on Nicole, tonight one of these siblings will become a vampire, and only one man can save them, Edgar Frog (Corey Feldman).

 

If you saw and enjoyed the original Lost Boys I guess it will not be the biggest surprise that this straight to DVD movie offering is the palest of comparisons to the original, though let it not be said it could have been an awful lot worse. Except the movie as a standalone piece and you may very well enjoy this, expect a follow on from the original with equal charm and charisma then you’ll get a rude awakening. Essentially Lost Boys – The Tribe is nothing more than a remake for a new generation, the story follows a very similar path, but because horror movie audiences have a stronger thirst for blood and a need for better effects things have dramatically moved on.

 

Thirty minutes in and your sat watching this poor man’s horror film and pretty much giving up the will to live, but then in marches Corey Feldman looking exactly the same as he did 21 years earlier, there is some differences of course, he now talks like he has been gargling with razorblades, and he has been given some genuinely funny lines, rather than just being a general joke. In a fiery showdown towards the end of the movie where Chris is fighting three vampires Feldman’s Edgar Frog marches in “Who ordered the stake?” he asks referring to the tool of death for a vampire rather than a lump of meat. With each new arrival on scene Feldman is given a typically similar cheesy quip that really endears the character to you. It’s strange but at these moments, it is just like you’re watching the original movie it does not matter if your original favourite Lost Boy was Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, or Alex Winter; the essence of the original Lost Boys is carried over on the shoulders of Feldman for every scene he inhabits. What could realistically have been a terrible car crash style mistake, actually for old fans of the original movie makes this the films only salvation.

 

For new viewers if you enjoy TV shows like Angel, The O.C. and Gossip Girl then this movie will be right up your street, a veritable mix of teen angst and vampire health issues. A heady cocktail of the three shows is shook up for you to deliver a new hybrid. It’s not essential to new viewers to see the original movie and to be honest with you it does not even help; however watch this, and if you enjoy it invest in a copy of the original and see how it should work properly, and at the same time enjoy what made horror the must have movie accessory of 1987, just three years after the genre was considered dead. All these alternative from the traditional vampire type movies (like Dracula), owe a great debt to The Lost Boys.

 

There was something else about the original Lost Boys that made it such a smash, it was a bestselling soundtrack. While Lost Boys – The Tribe does not even attempt to match up to the power of the originals score, there is a wonderful rescoring of the hit song “Cry Little Sister”; if you had any doubt in the back of your mind that you were watching a Lost Boys sequel then this will remind you.

 

To keep up the family side newcomer from the Sutherland family Angus follows in the path of his father Donald, and brother Kiefer. In fairness there is not much to separate the performance of Kiefer and Angus, they both have that special Sutherland chemistry. The other little familiar addition sadly saw censorship, as fans of the reality TV show The Two Corey’s will no doubt be aware fellow Lost Boy’s original and semi-hero of the original movie Corey Haim was due to make an appearance. Sadly Haim over the years has abused himself through drugs, alcohol, and sexual disregard Corey Haim initially the more popular of the two Corey’s had real problems with his lines (probably a dual meaning there). After cut after cut of Haim bungling his lines or being completely incoherent Haim was shown the door, with only one completed scene left in place. Fan’s of these namesakes will be pleased to find that Haim’s one completed scene is included in the movie, but as a special interlude during the final credits, turn off too quickly and you will miss this special scene, and the real tragedy is that Haim looks incredibly together, sadly had he been a little more on the money Lost Boys – The Tribe might well have been a very different movie.

 

The preview DVD I received had no special features, so I cannot tell you if there will be at the time of release in the UK on the 8^th of September. The DVD will be available as a separate feature, or as a double bill with the original.