FIGHT FEST REVIEW: THE UNIVERSAL MONSTERS

This is a review I have been wanting to do for several years now. The Universal monsters mean a lot to me and to film in general. They helped to shape the horror genre and to make Universal the classic studio it is today. As you will see, these films all have things in common: strong performances, timeless characters, rich atmospheres, and memorable scripts. Tonight, I won't just review these films, I will rank them. So, let's get this rotting corpse a rollin.


Creature From The Black Lagoon: The weakest of the Universal Monster films, but it's still an entertaining outing. It's very campy, silly, and filled with "science" (yeah, it's not science). I thought the best part of this film was the Gill-Man, who's got an interesting costume and personality. The human actors aren't too memorable, but Julie Adams is mighty pretty. In all, it's memorable because it's a fun time. That said, Maybe not the best choice to watch around October, some of the film is shot at Silver Springs (which I've actually visited WOOT!) and while it is a beautiful location I just didn't get the Halloween vibe from it.

Rating: 3.5 STARS

Rank: #6


Bride of Frankenstein: Not the best Universal Monster film. Karloff returns and still impresses as The Monster. In this sequel, he is softened a bit. The Monster is more likable, and he talks here uttering a few classic lines like "We belong dead". Colin Clive also returns as Henry Frankenstein, and gets a significantly reduced amount of screen time. This sequel makes obvious some of the themes in Frankenstein, and I'd count that as a bit of a weak point. Other weak points include a distinct attempt at comedy, but these parts come on way too strong, are over the top, and when are present almost drown out every other aspect of the film (the worst sinner when it comes to this is Una O'Connor who is just over-the-top and grating). One of the more curious aspects of this film is that, for some strange reason, Lovecraft's Dr. Pretorius is the main villain here. It doesn't make much sense why (or how) he is even here, but I do appreciate it as sort of a loving nod to another classic literary author and character. While there are a few classic scenes and lines, overall Bride of Frankenstein is still a fairly uneven but enjoyable outing. I wouldn't say it's iconic, or even great but it is good and fun.

Rating: 3.5 STARS

Rank: #5


The Mummy: The film is notable for it's fantastic atmosphere and sets (I LOVE that the majority of the film takes place inside an Egyptian museum complete with coffins and such, so cool). Karloff makes Imhotep an imposing but majestic figure, and Zita Johann as Helen is a beauty with her large eyes. David Manners is kind of bland as the "hero" of the film, and Edward Van Sloan is a likeable Van Helsing-esque expert (and indeed, Sloan portrayed Van Helsing in Dracula) who has made it his mission to stop Imhotep at all costs. The story of Ancient Egyptian Gods, eternal love, resurrection, betrayal, and madness is also pretty fascinating at points. The film starts out really great, but gets sillier as it progresses onwards. It's worth a view for Karloff, Johann and the fantastic sets and atmosphere...it really does feel like you are in Ancient Egypt in some points. The Mummy is still one of the best Universal Horror films out there. I would highly recommend it.

Rating: 4 STARS

Rank: #4


The Wolf Man: The definitive werewolf film. There are several really strong performances here. Evelyn Ankers makes for a fine romantic interest as Gwen. She is mighty pretty, and her character is a strong and interesting one. Claude Rains is great as Sir John Talbot. He is a firm skeptic, and while he may seem a bit cold he still cares very much about his son Lawrence. I really liked his character. Naturally, we can't talk about The Wolf Man without talking about Lon Chaney Jr, son of "The Man Of A Million Faces" Lon Chaney. Here, he plays Lawrence Talbot who is the unfortunate protagonist of our tale. He puts on a multi-layered performance as a very good man who, try as he might, cannot prevent himself from doing very bad things when the wolfsbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright (that's right, originally wolfsbane, a plant, played a large role in the myth of the werewolf). Lon Chaney Jr's Lawrence Talbot is very likable and sympathetic, and when he turns it's almost like a different actor is playing him. He disappears into the role of both Lawrence and The Wolf Man, it's kind of incredible. The atmosphere here is also rich and moody. Fog often overwhelms the camera (in a good way), and the woods is a haunting, memorable location. The Wolf Man is one of the great screen tragedies, and the material here is actually fairly powerful stuff. I couldn't help but be a bit moved by the iconic finale. The Wolf Man would go on to define the werewolf genre, influencing many other films that would come after (like An American Werewolf In London, that pays homage to this classic and even name checks it a few times). There's no doubt about it, The Wolf Man earns its status as an iconic horror film.

Rating: 5 STARS

Rank: #3



Dracula: This is it guys, the one that started it all: The first ever Universal Monster film. Universal took the source material and managed to craft a film that is completely their own. Bella Lugosi is the stuff of legends as the titular Dracula. He puts on a natural, powerful, and fascinating performance as the titular count. It's no wonder his portrayal has become as iconic and widely revered as it is. Edward Von Sloan is the perfect foil to the evil count as the pure force of good Van Helsing, whose sole mission is to put a stop to Dracula and his madness once and for all. Sloan puts on yet another iconic performance in the film. Dwight Frye is unforgettable and chilling as Renfield, the insane, (somewhat) loyal servant to Dracula. His portrayal is easily iconic (there's that word again), and he created what is essentially the "Igor" character. Helen Chandler is also pretty memorable as Mina, who is very pretty and has some nice eyes on her (that she knows how to use). The sets and atmosphere are rich, elaborate and superb. We get a foggy London, and a creepy Carfax Abbey, but by far the standout here is that of Castle Dracula, which is gorgeous, haunting, and foreboding. The script is also pretty strong, and filled with many memorable, classic lines. I was surprised by just how strong of a film Dracula remains today, even when it gets a little bit silly at times, you still completely buy into this world and it's hard not to get immersed into it. Dracula is a fun, very creepy, and all around great gothic horror/romance. I'd say it kind of crawls under your skin. It goes without saying that Dracula is an important film in horror history, and it still remains one of the all time best Universal monster films.

Rating: 5 STARS

Rank: #2



Frankenstein: THE Iconic Universal Monster film. Colin Clive is chilling as Dr. Henry Frankenstein, an unhinged scientist who is obsessed with finding the secret to life. He succeeds, but the results of his mad experiment leave him guilt ridden and restless. Clive is perfect in the role, and his portrayal is one of the iconic mad scientists of film. He makes the character fascinating, creepy, but sympathetic, sad and tragic. Dwight Frye is also perfect as Fritz, the original "Igor" role. He literally originated the Igor role as he portrayed both Renfield and Fritz, characters that embody many of the tropes that we have come to associate with the Igor character. Easily the best part about this film is Boris Karloff as The Monster. Here, he is the stuff legends are made of and he puts on a performance that will continue to be talked about forever. Karloff pours every inch of his soul into the tortured monster, who does not understand what he is, and is unable to control himself. Karloff can go from a state of childlike wonder and innocence and in the very next second fly into a fit of homicidal rage, his range here is truly impressive. He is the ultimate misunderstood monster of the silver screen, and his portrayal will live on for ages. He is what makes Frankenstein the memorable horror-tragedy it is today, and his Monster is endlessly watchable. The sets are fairly elaborate (especially Frankenstein's lab), and the workings of the plot may seem simple, but are actually pretty complex. There is a lot going on here, and the film is filled with many different themes that are fun to chew on and think about. Filled with rich, complex characters, elaborate sets, a strong and memorable script, and superb acting, Frankenstein earns its iconic, timeless status and it remains a film that can be watched countless times thanks to its performances, characters, and themes. I'd say it's the best (and my personal favorite) Universal monster film.

Rating: 5 STARS

Rank: #1


And just like that, the book closes on yet another Fright Fest. Parting is such sweet sorrow, but take comfort in the knowledge that the children of the night are always there, just out of sight, waiting in the darkness. I hope you all enjoyed my Fright Fest, and till next time: HAPPY HAUNTING!