I recently came across this article about the sequel to Donnie Darko, I had have also commented on the same thing here. I haven’t seen it yet but I have just seen Lost Boys: The Tribe, the sequel to the classic 80’s teen/comedy/horror.
Warning this review contains plot spoilers, but lets be honest you probably won’t see the film.
Lost Boys: The Tribe starts with a group of surfers jumping a fence to get onto a private beach and surf the break beyond. They are confronted by a vampire. At this point my first reaction was it would be so much cooler if the surfers were the vampires. Then we discover they are also vampires, good start. We then get a group of establishing shots of the town during day reminiscent of the first film, they even contain a few decent surf shots. The film is full of references to the original film (look out for the saxophone player). The brother and sister coming to town and immediately getting involved with the “tribe” of vampires is far less contrived than you would expect. So all in all it is a good film? No its rubbish.
Although there isn’t a great deal wrong with the film there is very little that is good about it and the there is nothing outstanding or original. It also suffers from two of my pet hates. First, the vampires are very different in their look, abilities and the way they act to those in the original film. Secondly in the true tradition Autumn Resser at the age of 28 plays a 17 year old, older than Tad Hilgenbrinck who plays Chis her supposedly older brother. I can see beyond all of this but not the biggest problem, it just lacks the comedy of the original film.
The one good thing is an alternative ending on the DVD special features. Sam (Corey Haim) makes a cameo appearance in this scene that didn’t make it to the final cut that is far better than his cameo in the actual film. This is supposed to be an ending but would have made a better start to the film. Here is is so you don’t have to buy/rent the film and sit through an hour and a half of crap.
In conclusion if you like the look of this film don’t do it, watch the 1987 original instead.
Fandango Groovers Movie Blog 
I don’t know why I watched the whole thing, but this movie really was terrible. Which is sad because I now I have no desire to watch the original.
TaraSG: i havent seen the sequel and doubt i ever will, but i really wouldnt let it put you off the first film, which is a work of brilliance – scary and fun, it still holds up.
man, feldman and haim really cant act for s**t – that alternate ending is cringeworthy.
Tara,
You haven’t seen The Lost Boys and you admit it in public! Don’t let this film put you off the original, it is brilliant. There are two must see vampire films of the 80’s The Lost Boys and Near dark.
Ross,
You think the alternate ending is cringeworthy, you should see the whole film. After sitting through the film that scene was like Olivier and Gielgud!
he he thanks for the link. Didn’t know there was a lost boys sequel, think I was better off not knowing….
Tara’s comment is exactly why S. Darko worries me.
I have seen the original, but it’s been many years and I was pretty young. I just don’t remember any of it. You’re right I should see it again regardless of the terrible sequel. I have not seen Near Dark, maybe I’ll have an 80’s vampire movie night next week 🙂
Other than Near Dark and The Lost Boys the 80’s was a bit a baron period for vampire movies. The Hunger was pretty good. Vamp and Vampire’s Kiss where both terrible, I can’t think of any others.