The Lost Boys (1987)

It was vital to re-watch “The Lost Boys” in the wake of Corey Haim’s demise. Twenty-three years on, this teen comedy/vampire horror flick still holds up as a loose cult/camp favorite. And it’s directed by crap master Joel Schumacher, no less. The easy plot: Teens Sam (Haim) and Michael (Jason Patric) move with their single mom (Dianne Wiest) to a California coastal town haunted by vampires (led by a sneering Keifer Sutherland). It’s far from perfect, especially a red-tinted climax that seemed washed out on my first viewing and still does. But with lines such as, “My own brother (is) a … shit-sucking vampire. You wait 'till mom finds out, buddy!,” you’d have to be (un)dead not to chuckle huge and just enjoy. The violence is campy fun – all gushing blood and exploding body parts. Haim is a huge star here – even his geekiest kid moments shine with joy, discovery and charisma. (Feldman, too.) A brooding Patric channels James Dean, with a new taste for blood, not cars. And the music – still rocks huge. It’s one of the best soundtracks of the 1980s. But avoid the sequel – it’s a stake to the brain and heart. A-

The Lost Boys: The Tribe (2008) -- DVD

"The Lost Boys: The Tribe" is a beyond-awful sequel to the 1987 cult smash -- and a favorite of my teen years -- "The Lost Boys." Unlike the first film, nearly every scene in this California coastal vampire flick reeks of incompetence. And I really can't get into the plot. Seriously. It has bro-sis sex vibes that ... y'know, let's move on. OK? Worse yet, the audio on this straight-to-DVD bust sounds as if it was re-recorded in a tin shack, making some scenes unbearable to listen to much less watch. Sad sack actor Corey Feldman appears here from the first film in a listless performance. Sadder still Corey Haim shows up post-credits, but by then it's far too late for any punch value. The rest of the cast, including Angus Sutherland, brother of Keifer, are too dull for words. It's a mess too awful for theaters. We waited 21 years for this? F