Round 8: Frights
Both The Lost Boys and The Monster Squad are fun ‘80s adventures working within the framework of the horror genre. So while they both have laughs, with The Monster Squad probably having more so thanks to the script co-written by Shane Black, that’s not really of concern here. What is of concern is how horrific each movie is, and it’s fairly close.
The Monster Squad doesn’t skimp on the creepiness—it has some excellent practical effects, like Dracula’s head on a gross large bat body, as well as instances of characters cursing at children. And the villains, especially in the third act, are hugely menacing. But The Lost Boys has all of that and brings things up a notch. Schumacher’s direction, such as those eerie vampire POV shots in which the camera seems to be flying through the air, and his use of shadows in the final battle to delay the reveals, make for some genuine terror and jump scares.
Point: The Lost Boys
