‘Lost Boys: The Tribe’ Gets Nostalgic
Corey Feldman makes otherwise-bad rehash fun
written by Hans Rodionoff
directed by P.J. Pesce
1987’s The Lost Boys is a cult classic, a then-hip, now-outdated, teen vampire flick with lots of comedy and a bit of horror. When a sequel was officially announced two decades later, fans dreaded the idea. That is, until it was announced that a few lovable child stars would make their return.
After a great opening scene featuring special effects guru Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead, Friday the 13th) sets the tone, we are introduced to Chris (Tad Hilgenbrink) and Nicole (Autumn Reeser). Chris is a former surfer who was kicked out of the circuit following a physical confrontation, and Nicole is a cute seventeen year-old beginning to rebel against her brother’s overprotective nature. The pair of siblings, whose parents were killed in a car accident, move to Luna Bay, California. The coastal city is a haven for surfers by day; come nightfall, however, the vampires come out to play.
Looking to get out of watching The Goonies with their aunt, Chris and Nicole go to a party hosted by Shane (Angus Sutherland), another former surfer whom Chris idolized in his youth. Nicole takes a liking to him and, it just so happens, that he’s a vampire. Chris must battle him and his gang of undead friends to save his sister, but he’s not alone; he has help from none other than Edgar Frog (Corey Feldman), the Rambo of Noferatus.
Feldman (Friday the 13th Part IV) is certainly the saving grace of the the film. Without his creepy voice spouting funny one-liners, this follow-up would be a boring mess. His supporting role is similar to that in the original, although smaller; he just pops up when his aid is needed. His partner in crime, Corey Haim, isn’t in the film itself, but he does appear in a brief cameo as Sam Emerson, the lead from the first film, that plays during the end credits and leaves the door open for another sequel. (As seen on their reality show, The Two Coreys, the scene was very difficult for Haim, so perhaps it was it was best that he was kept to a minimum.) Despite receiving a credit and references to the Frog Brothers being made, Jamison Newlander doesn’t make an appearance as Alan Frog. His scene, apparently an alternate to the one that plays during the credits, was left on the cutting room floor but does appear on the DVD.
It’s a bit odd seeing Hilgenbrink, who previously played the raunchy Matt Stifler in American Pie: Band Camp, in a more serious role, but he does a decent job. Reeser’s character isn’t a far cry from the innocent-turned-provocative teen she played on The O.C., which she does well. The casting of Sutherland (brother of Keifer, who played the main antagonist in the predecessor) is a nice touch, and, although his portrayal of the lead vampire lacks the charisma of his brother’s, he’s not too shabby. His gang of fellow immortals are forgettable.
Although a few scenes were filmed on location in California, most were shot in British Columbia, Canada due to budgetary reasons, and its overcast skies prove that it’s not the best cinematographic substitute. The modest budget also means less action, but there’s still a good amount of bloodshed in the unrated cut, mostly when vampires are exterminated. After all, as Edgar says, “No two bloodsuckers go the same way.” The direction by P.J. Pesce (From Dusk Till Dawn 3) is adequate, although there are a few moments of annoying editing. Hans Rodionoff’s script attempts to once again capture the formula that spawned a cult hit twenty-one years earlier but is merely a rehash filled with send-ups to the original. Rather than further the story, it’s virtually a remake with one character that appears in both. Still, fans who loved the first movie should find Lost Boys: The Tribe enjoyable, if and only if they don’t expect it to be as good as the original. Consider it fun for nostalgic purposes.
Horror 101 gives Lost Boys: The Tribe a 59 out of 101
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[...] to the 1987 horror comedy, is out as well. You can read our review of this nostalgic vampire flick here. Also hitting shelves is the Masters of Horror: Season 2 box set, all thirteen episodes of the [...]
I LIKED IT BUT NOT AS GOOD AS THE ORIGINAL. THEY LEFT IT OPEN FOR A 3RD LOST BOYS FLICK. PERSONALLY I LIKE THE ALTERNATE ENDING BETTER. I WISHED THEY MENTION WHAT HAPPEN TO THE ORIGINAL CAST AND HOW SAM GOT BITTEN. I GIVE IT 8 AND NOW I NEED TO GET THE ORIGINAL LOST BOYS DVD TOO ^_^. THE ONLY OTHER THING IT NEEDED WAS MORE ACTION TOO.
I wasn’t that big of a fan of the original so I can’t comment much. I suppose that for those looking for a shot of nostalgia, this sequel doesn’t sound half bad.
[...] group of isolated scientists. Like the other Warner Premiere sequels, such as Lost Boys: The Tribe (review) and Return to House on Haunted Hill (review), the film will have a modest budget and go [...]