Last week Universal Pictures laid the smack down on horror fans across the country by releasing a slew of classic monster films on blu-ray in one beautiful box set. I've had this set in my wish list since June when it was officially announced and have been eagerly awaiting its release. Now that the Halloween season is upon us I figured, what better time to sit down and bang these out.
(1931) [Trailer]
Director: Tod Browning [IMDB]
Synopsis: There is this guy Dracula, you may have heard of him, he's kind of a big deal.
This is the movie that started it all... well not really, but it's probably the most famous of the Vampire movies... until Twilight came a long. Like all of these movies you have to take into account the time in which they were released, obviously compared to today's standards of horror this is a bit tame. Bela Lugosi is pretty creepy and sums up what I think of when I imagine Dracula in my mind. I love the set pieces and matte painting used throughout this, especially during the ride into Dracula's castle. The acting is a bit over dramatic, but again, that's a sign of the times. I really enjoyed Dracula a lot, it has this quietness about it that makes it feel uncomfortable and maybe that's why it still works for me as a scary movie.
(1931) [Trailer]
Director: James Whale [IMDB]
Synopsis: A scientist creates a man out of dead people. Everything goes completely fine.
I dug this film a lot and it was interesting to fully sit down and watch it all the way through. The make up of Frankenstein is superb and still looks really good for it's age. As with Dracula, there's a lot of great set designs, I especially loved the windmill scene towards the end. The scene with the man walking his dead daughter to town was extremely powerful and pretty ballsy for the time. It's funny because as much of a monster as Frankenstein was, it's also a story about how man can also become a monster. Dr Frankenstein basically creates this beast then barely does anything to help him along, then his assistant comes in a tries to burn and whip him... no wonder he set off to beat everyone up. Young stupid parents should watch this before they have children.
(1935) [Trailer]
Director: James Whale [IMDB]
Synopsis: Frankenstein is back... and horny.
This is the follow up to Frankenstein and to my surprise contained very little of the bride. It was also surprising in a few other ways. I found this film to be much more heartfelt and endearing towards the monster. You find yourself siding with him and putting yourself in his shoes. He's lonely and misunderstood... and hated by many. I absolutely loved the direction this film took and it's an extreme stand out for me in the world of horror. Tonally it's dark but humorous at times and I wouldn't say there's anything here that's really scary. It's a rare movie experience for me that hit the nail right on the head.
(1932) [Trailer]
Director: Karl Feund [IMDB]
Synopsis: An ancient Egyptian tomb is raided and when a team of British archaeologists open a coffin they find a mummy who's ready to party.
This film didn't work for me as much as the others. I still enjoyed it, but it's slower and is not scary at all... even in 1930's terms. The mummy gets 3 minutes of screen time and then it's just Boris Karloff in old man make up. For what little time he does spend in the mummy suit, it looks pretty sweet, especially given the age of the film. I just found The Mummy to be uneventful and tiresome after awhile.
(1933) [Trailer]
Director: James Whale [IMDB]
Synopsis: A scientist figures out how to turn himself invisible so he can lurk on naked chicks... just kidding, he kills people.
This probably falls into second place for me out of all the films so far. The special effects are insane for a film from 1933 and they still hold up very nicely. I think the Invisible Man is the most ominous of all the villains, Claude Rains' delivery is really superb. Overall The Invisible Man is just an entertaining film and goes to show... just cause it's old, doesn't mean it's boring.
(1943) [Trailer]
Director: Arthur Lubin [IMDB]
Synopsis: When an older violinist gets dropped from the Paris Opera, his obsession with a young singer turns crazy when he becomes horribly disfigured and starts haunting the Opera.
This is a classic... it's referenced in tons of pop culture and other films. While I did enjoy The Phantom of the Opera, I wasn't knocked out by it. I'd say the most impressive thing about the movie was the blu-ray transfer, it's perfect and the movie looks as good as any film could look from the 1940's. The score is tremendous and one of the other winning elements of the movie. There is also a few lighthearted moments I wasn't expecting, especially between the two guys competing for the girl's love. All and all it's a good watch, and worth your time. Claude Rains does a bang up job as the Phantom... bravo Claude Rains.
(1941) [Trailer]
Director: George Waggner [IMDB]
Synopsis: A man gets bit by a wolf... he then... in turn... becomes a wolf. Like I needed to say that.
This is the second time I've seen this film and I liked it just as much this go around. The film is very dark and brooding, it's totally goth... but way before goth... you know what mean?
The film is a bit more violent than the others, with maybe the exception of The Invisible Man. The make up for the Wolf Man and the set pieces are all top notch for the time.
It was good to see Claude Rains back in action... I like Claude Rains.
(1954) [Trailer]
Director: Jack Arnold [IMDB]
Synopsis: Scientists unearth a fossil that leads them on an expedition into the amazon where they find a new species of life... a killer fish man.
Creature from the Black Lagoon promotes evolution, which I don't believe in; therefore... it sucked. Actually it was pretty cool. This movie, sadly, does not have Claude Rains in it but it does star Julia Adams... who's much more attractive than Claude Rains, so it's got that going for it. I really loved the monster suit, but what I didn't realized is a lot of this takes place underwater and the creature is even more effective when filmed below the surface. It tends to drag a little toward the end but all and all it was a good film.
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