Lost Boys 2 The Tribe

Uncut Version

Warner Bros

R4 DVD

The 1987 cult classic “The Lost Boys” had it all, a quirky Eighties feel, strange haircuts, teen aghast, homoerotic subtexts, awesome cinematography and a classy vampire plot, never mind that it launched the two Corey’s to fame. It has taken some twenty years for a sequel to hit the big screen and the results have the fans divided. While it features what seems to be a rather surgically remodelled Corey Feldman, beyond that the film has little in common with the original save in name.

The story follows the adventures of brother and sister (Tad Hilgenbrink and Autumn Reeser), good looking yes, dumb as batshit, definitely. Their parents have died and they have returned to their hometown to rebuild their lives. It seems Chris had a breakdown when his parents died and ruined his surfing career by going feral and hence in an attempt to let off stream they decide to get down and party.

In their search for a goodtime they meet a group of trendy party animals who end up being vampires. The lead vampire Shane seduces Nicole and since not even brotherly over protection can save her, Chris, using the logic of fight fire with fire, decides to become a vampire to fight the vampires. Under the tutelage of Edgar Frog, surf board shaper and vampire hunter, he faces off against The Tribe to save his sister.

In many ways it is unfair to compare this to the original film, Lost Boys. Cult classics occur by accident and not by design and Joel Schumacher's uniquely strange original is a hard act to follow. It brought together a unique range of themes which came together in Eighties cinema and it is unlikely a filmmaker could do so again in 2008.

On the plus side The Tribe has a great sense of humour, an excellent music track and the action has certainly been brought up to date. The uncut version packs a punch with some great killings and solid horror.

At the same time, it lacks the subtlety of the original, you know from the outset who the vampire leader is and this reduces much of the suspense. The original film played off the unknown identity of the master vampire and this added a significant texture to the original not found in the sequel.

Lost Boys 2 The Tribe is a fun romp though teen vampire territory, while it certainly isn’t a shade on the original, it still keeps the attention with lots of action, good special effects and a rocking sound track. It updates the Eighties look to a sort of post modern Goth feel with some nihilistic twists – I think it is especially fun that the pack like to disembowel and stab each other for kicks. Since they can’t die, what the hell ? Why not move practical jokes to a new level ?

This review will appear in Volume 2:1 (2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

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