The action starts in Tibet, where botanist Wilfred Glendon is searching for a rare flower but is attacked by a werewolf. After being bitten and then back in London, he finds himself turning into a werewolf himself and carrying out grisly murders. I’m loving the fact that this phase of Universal horror films are only …
Continue reading Universal Classic Monsters Reviewed- Day 10- Werewolf of London (1935)
From IMDB- ‘Baron Henry Frankenstein and his monster both turn out to be alive, not killed as previously believed. Frankenstein wants to get out of the evil-experiment business, but when mad scientist Dr. Pretorius kidnaps his wife, Frankenstein agrees to help him create a new creature, a woman, to be the companion of the monster.’ …
Continue reading Universal Classic Monsters Reviewed- Day 9- Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
A doctor invents a drug that makes him invisible. It also, unfortunately, makes him murderously insane. The Invisible Man amazed me in a ‘how the hell did they do that’ kinda way. Some of the special effects here are seriously impressive. And this was decades before the dreaded CGI. Claude Rains turns in a great …
Continue reading Universal Classic Monsters Reviewed- Day 8- The Invisible Man (1933)
A mummy comes back to life after he was killed for trying to resurrect his old flame. Another great performance by Karloff, in a film that is beautifully photographed and very atmospheric. This film didn’t gross as much as Dracula or Frankenstein but maybe that’s why, as this, as good as it is, just isn’t …
Continue reading Universal Classic Monsters Reviewed- Day 7- The Mummy (1932)
If you’re going to need a human brain for the human you’re hoping to assemble, get it yourself and don’t dole out the task to your assistant. Just sayin’. In an era before trigger warnings and cuts being made to the Carry On films, I remember this film being played on national TV one morning …
Continue reading Universal Classic Monsters Reviewed- Day 6- Frankenstein (1931)
Have you heard about the version of Dracula also made in 1931 and also by Universal Pictures? This version was made in Spanish and made to capitalise on the demand for foreign- language films. It was directed by George Melford and even utilised the same sets as Tod Browning’s epic. Whilst this version was shot …
Continue reading Universal Classic Monsters Reviewed- Day 5- Dracula (1931)
The mysterious Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi reprising his stage role) emigrates from his castle in Transylvania and arrives in Whitby, England. He turns his attentions to a young woman called Mina. Goth was born here. There’s also a festival for the subculture which is held in Whitby as a tribute. Tod Browning’s Dracula is, indeed, …
Continue reading Universal Classic Monsters Reviewed- Day 4- Dracula (1931)
A mysterious masked man who lives under a Parisian opera house is obsessed with a young opera singer. Maybe watching this film for the first time was karma for wading through so many terrible horror sequels recently. Phantom is a glorious experience and has so many elements (acting, direction, photography, sets, the score, the use …
Continue reading Universal Classic Monsters Reviewed- Day 3- The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
Hunchback Quasimodo falls for gypsy Esmeralda. But the hunchback finds that he isn’t the only one who loves her as other, more powerful (and less moral) men also want her for their own. There’s so much to love here. Of particular mention are the sets and locales which are still very impressive indeed. The make-up …
Continue reading Universal Classic Monsters Reviewed- Day 2- The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)
The very first Universal Classic Monsters film involves Dr Henry Jekyll, whose scientific experiments lead him to seek the darkness within every man. Unfortunately, this means he unearths a murderer dwelling within himself. This well-known Robert Louis Stevenson novella had already been filmed four times before this short film was made. This 26-minute epic resembles …
Continue reading Universal Classic Monsters Reviewed- Day 1- Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1913)
Meathook Cinema 