When Joel Schumacher's ‘The Lost Boys' arrived on screens way back in the 80's it surprised not only with its originality, style, and immeasurable elements of quality filmmaking, but also because it was one of the seldom horror hits although pretty well wrapped up at the end that this reviewer was eager to see a sequel spring from.
As the years wore on, and the rumors sprung up and died off like so many weeds, from all accounts it looked like ‘The Lost Boys' would remain one of the few unexploited horror classics in cinema history. The actors all grew too old to reprise their roles believably (for the most part) and Schumacher was off destroying the Batman franchise, so all eagerness for a sequel waned.
Then came the news that had either the potential to get a Lost Boys fan excited, or fill them with dread: a sequel was coming, (holding collective breath) it would be Direct-to-DVD (dread rising) star an all new cast (dread rising more) and would not star any of the original cast at all (forget it). Then it changed to Corey Feldman would be in it... then, after principle photography had all but wrapped, news sprung that Jamie Newlander and Corey Haim would make appearances. So before this reviewer had seen but a frame from this flick, it seemed painfully evident Warner Bros. was hell-bent on disrespecting its classic original and whoring out to the lowest common denominator for a simple, name-brand cash in. I yearn to be surprised by a movie, whether a surprise hit (Juno) or a film transcending hype (The Dark Knight) or proving negative expectations wrong, (Casino Royale) but sadly in this case, I was dead on... 
‘:The Tribe,' as this flick is so imaginatively subtitled, is pretty much a thinly-veiled piss-poor photocopy of the original's plot. Two siblings come to a new town, where disappearances are the norm, the police are disinterested, and vampires bite on the locals with impunity. Of course, the sister (see, different! This time it's a GIRL) falls for the leader of the pack and her brother gets involved with a familiar face to save her before she is turned into a ‘suck monkey' forever.
This story is completely remiss of any original thought, pilfers from the original so copiously it should be deemed plagiarism (Corey Feldman says half of his lines from the original throughout this flick) and miraculously manages to excise any engaging character interaction, atmosphere, plausibility (even for a vampire tale) or plain fun, despite following its progenitor like a follow-the-dots puzzle.
The whole film plays like a careless after thought, with no discernable style, tone, or approach consistent for more than a few minutes. This film didn't need a huge budget, all it needed was a decent script. There is a scene that unfurls in the credits, which I won't spoil for you, that proves how utterly thoughtless this entire endeavour has been. Their chance for a compelling, character-driven plot that would have engaged Lost Boys fans for certain is right there in premise. I say premise, because the execution is as hackneyed as the preceding hour and a half.
The special effects are too ambitious for the budget and come off looking silly more often than scary.
The music is soulless, down to the ‘Cry Little Sister' while two characters shag moment.
The performances from all involved are lacklustre at best, but cringe-worthy for the most part. Feldman, who has been praised to some amazement, has nothing to work with in this garbage but could, if given something beyond a Saturday morning cartoon expansion of his character's journey.
The vampire make-up work so masterfully created by Greg Canon in the original is like any good element established in Schumacher's -ignored, and desecrated with the subtleness of a finger-painting toddler let loose on the Mona Lisa.
This whole endeavour is a lazy, careless insult to the originators of this now franchise. With word already arising of another one, I can only hope Warners might heed the piling mountain of negative reaction to their first attempt to continue this universe, and find contributors who will strive for an original storyline that retains the class and restraint that Joel Schumacher and his cast and crew established 20 odd years ago. Smarten up, or leave it alone we deserved better.
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DVD Details:
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English; French; Spanish
Language and Sound: English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Other Features: Color; interactive menus; scene access; making-of featurettes; alternate ending; music videos.
* Featurettes
o
o Lost Boys: The Tribe: Action Junkies —A piece showcasing the various extreme sports stunt choreography throughout the film.
o Edgar Frog's Guide to Coming Back Alive - A â"How To Kill" doc showcasing various weapons and methods for disposing of vampires. Hosted by Corey Feldman in character as Edgar Frog.
o Blu-ray disc includes a bonus Digital Copy of the film.
* Alternate Endings -- Two alternate endings featuring a familiar face from the 1987 Original.
* Music video:
o Featuring all-new remix music video of "CRY LITTLE SISTER" by original THE LOST BOYS artist G Tom Mac.
o Three music videos by Yeah Whatever:
+ Downfall
+ Hell is Full
+ It's Over Now
Number of Discs: 1 with Keepcase Packaging
{pgomakase}
