Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Over the past few days as I continue my countdown toward Halloween, I have enjoyed my trip back into the world of classic Universal Studios monsters. Today, I decided that it was time to venture into that world once again with the 1935 entry Bride of Frankenstein. 

Plot/ Mary Shelley reveals the main characters of her novel survived: Dr. Frankenstein, goaded by an even madder scientist, builds his monster a mate.

Sequels to movies can be a mixed bag with only a handful living up to the baseline set by the original. In this case, that could not be further from the truth, as it not only meets but also surpasses the original in almost every way. There is so much to like with this one, as it builds upon an idea mentioned in the Mary Shelly classic novel. The cast is wonderful with solid performances littered throughout including the returning stalwarts Colin Clive and Boris Karloff repeating their roles from the original, the setting and atmosphere work really well, the storyline is layered and complex, and the visual effects, cinematography, and production elements surpass those of the original. Truly, everything is tremendously done and honestly, it should be held in a higher regard than the original Frankenstein. Yes, it does have a short run time and it leaves the viewer wanting more, but that is something that to me does not hurt the film in any way. In the end, it is always a great debate on which early Frankenstein film is the best. For me, it is the Bride of Frankenstein hands down because it shows that if a sequel is done right, it can be a powerful entry into a franchise. If you have never watched this one, you are missing out. Head to Shudder and check it out!

The Mummy (1932)

After watching an entire series last night in Lore, I decided that I wanted to go back to the roots of horror for my next movie and review. My viewing choice for the evening is the 1932 Universal Studios classic The Mummy.

Plot/ In 1921 a field expedition in Egypt discovers the mummy of ancient Egyptian prince Im-Ho-Tep, who was condemned and buried alive for sacrilege. Also found in the tomb is the Scroll of Thoth, which can bring the dead back to life. One night a young member of the expedition reads the Scroll aloud, and then goes insane, realizing that he has brought Im-Ho-Tep back to life. Ten years later, disguised as a modern Egyptian, the mummy attempts to reunite with his lost love, an ancient princess who has been reincarnated into a beautiful young woman.

People who suffered through the latest reboot of The Mummy should definitely head over to Shudder and revisit the 1932 Universal Studios classic to burn the modern monstrosity out of their minds. While this is not a straight horror film with it actually feeling more like a gothic romance/drama only in a different location, it does have all the elements needed to make it an entertaining and memorable trip into darkness. This movie screams atmosphere and creates a dreamlike state that takes the viewer to a different place. The performances are outstanding, especially horror icon Boris Karloff in one of his most memorable characters, what little make-up effects that are used are tremendous, and the cinematography, setting, and the set pieces are remarkable. Of course, many viewers that watch this will not like the slower pace and lack of action, but those elements just help bring the story to life in a way that ties the entire movie together. In the end, this may be one of the most subdued horror films from that early 1930s Universal catalog, but it is still an amazing watch. If you have not seen it, there is no way you can call yourself a true horror fan. Head over to Shudder and watch it. It is a must see.

The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958)

Yesterday was one of the final long softball days of the season and will admit it took its toll on me. I was beaten down and just wanted to sleep. When I finally cleared my head, I decided to watch something older. After some searching, I decided on the 1958 classic film, The Revenge of Frankenstein.

Plot/ Baron Frankenstein escapes from the guillotine and goes to Germany. There, he names himself Dr. Stein and plans to restart his experiments by using parts of dead bodies.

I was in the mood for some type of classic last night and decided to turn to Hammer Studios and that decision was rewarded. This is one of the more underpublicized films from the catalog, but it offers everything you could ask for from one of the early Frankenstein films. More atmospheric and creepy, this movie looks amazing. The sets, the lighting, pacing, and the cinematography are perfect, the performances were outstanding, and the storyline was full of twists and turns and added some depth that many entries in the historic life of Frankenstein do not have. Yes, it may be more of a drama or thriller than a horror film and as usual, the story is more about the doctor than the creature, but any fan of Hammer Horror should already expect those elements. In the end, this is an entertaining movie to watch and a perfect movie for a quiet night with Doctor Frankenstein. If you have not seen it, check it out.

Pet Sematary (1989)

Yesterday I was searching for something to watch with the girls downstairs and decided to search my streaming services to find something. After some internal debate, I decided on the 1989 Stephen King adaptation Pet Sematary.

Plot/ Behind a young family's home in Maine is a terrible secret that holds the power of life after death. When tragedy strikes, the threat of that power soon becomes undeniable.

This is one of the Stephen King adaptations that have a place right in the middle of the catalog. While it is nowhere near as good as The Shining or Misery, it is not nearly as bad as Maximum Overdrive or Christine. For fans of King, this movie does have a better than average feel, mostly because King himself penned the script. The cast is an interesting mix, the scenery is amazing, the storyline interesting, the effects solid, and the performances are decent, yet even those positives cannot make this reach the potential that it held inside. Unfortunately, the characters feel underdeveloped, the atmosphere is flat, there really aren’t any scares, and a lot of the movie felt restrained to a point where things become overly predictable. In the end, this is another case where the book is much better than the movie adaptation. Is this a terrible movie? No, but it also isn’t anywhere close to being an effective horror movie.

Frankenstein vs. The Mummy (2015)

This has been a long day. While the Nightmares first tournament at Thiel was a mixed bag and at times frustrating, the girls definitely got better as the day progressed and put up an outstanding battle with in the knockout round. With five hours of driving, and five hours of softball behind me, I needed a mindless break. After some searching, I settled on the 2015 monster flick, Frankenstein vs. The Mummy.

Plot/ The mummy of a cursed pharaoh and a reanimated corpse terrorize a medical university. Only an Egyptologist and a college professor, the deranged Dr. Frankenstein, may be able to stop the creatures before it is too late.

I honestly did not expect much from this one, and that is exactly what I got. Unfortunately, my selection for mindless horror was not a tight 90 minutes, and it was definitely longer than it should have been. Yes, there were some decent effects that were better than CGI and the quick mention of ancient alien theory was nice, but that was about it. The scripting and characters were flat, the horror sequences were not memorable, and the performances were average. In the end, this film is one that did help pass my evening, but it is also one that I will likely forget by the morning. Unless you have no other choices, you may want to pass on this one.

Frankenhooker (1990)

Now that I finally feel like me again with the sickness apparently gone and my weekly homework complete, it is time to settle down and focus on catching up on some of the films I have watched this week. One of the more entertaining and fun was one I had not seen in over a decade, the 1990 schlockfest Frankenhooker.

Plot/ A medical student sets out to recreate his decapitated fiancée by building her a new body made of Manhattan Street hookers.

If you are a fan of cheesy 1980s horror, you have definitely seen something from the mind of Frank Henenlotter (Basket Case). While none of these films will ever win an Academy Award, they will definitely live on in many circles as cult classics. This is definitely the case with Frankenhooker! Honestly, one look at the title should be enough to make anyone realize exactly what they are in for: classic low budget schlock at its finest. Yes, the effects range from laughable to bad, the acting is all over, and you must suspend the reality for a while, but that should have been expected. What you do have is an interesting and imaginative storyline mixed with a great balance of comedy and gore, something that many more refined (or popular) horror comedies lack. In the end, this movie is an entertaining romp through B-movie horror. If you love this type of film and have not seen it, check it out! For fans of schlock cinema, give it a shot!

Horns (2013)

After the trip into action and adventure, I had planned to take a trip into the world of H.P. Lovecraft. Instead, I decided to venture into something different than my usual. After some debate (and a chocolate milkshake), I decided upon the 2013 fantasy drama Horns.

Plot/ In the aftermath of his girlfriend's mysterious death, a young man awakens to find strange horns sprouting from his temples.

Having never read the book or even seen a trailer, I was not sure what to expect with this one. Now, having watched the movie, I may search out the book, as this was an interesting storyline, and a movie that I enjoyed a lot. Yes, there were some disjointed parts that seemed to cloud some of the meaning. The acting is solid, including an amazing performance from Daniel Radcliff, the dark comedy works within the layered story, and there were some interesting effects. However, there seemed to be some genre balance issues as the storyline developed and the story was a touch predictable; items the prevented it from reaching its full potential. In the end, this was an entertaining flick with many things to like. While it is not for everyone, it is fun mix of comedy, drama, and loss.

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

As the days creep toward the holidays, it is fun to occasionally venture into a few blockbusters. Usually, I stay away from them, as they are often watered down and miserable. Fortunately, there are times where I roll the dice and come out surprised. In this one, the mention of Planet X or Nibiru was that moment. Next up, 2013s Star Trek Into Darkness.

Plot/ After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction.

As someone who is not a huge Star Trek fan, and one that hates reboots, I actually have intentionally stayed away from this series for some time. Now, after watching this one, I may have made a mistake. While it does stray from the intricacies of the original Gene Roddenberry platform, it does take the series into a direction that is at least interesting and action packed. Having not watched many of the original series of movies, my memories are stuck with the original series I watched in my youth, I was able to appreciate some of the modern ideals that were added. The action was solid, the plot made sense, and there was some layered character development throughout. Sure, some of it was predictable, and there were some plot holes mixed in with the clichéd moments, but this did little to offset the underlying themes put on display. In the end, I may not be a Star Trek purist and that may have allowed me a different insight, but I definitely found this one of the more Sci-Fi films in some time, and it made me want to explore this universe some more. If you have not seen it, give it a shot.

Life After Beth (2014)

After watching The Purge: Anarchy last night, I decided I wanted to spend the afternoon today with something a little more lighthearted. Luckily, I had something here already that would fit the bill. Next up is that flick, the 2014 horror/comedy Life After Beth.

Plot/ A young man's recently deceased girlfriend mysteriously returns from the dead, but he slowly realizes she is not the way he remembered her.

There are sometimes when I enjoy a little dark humor, and this indie flick fit the bill. While not sidesplitting funny, there were enough subtle comedic moments to keep me watching. The performances are solid, the idea interesting, and the cast works. Sure, the script may be a little thin, there are some minor plot holes and it is more of a teen angst/dark comedy than a horror comedy, but it did work. In the end, this did have some entertaining moments and a little blood, guts, and gore, but it is not for everyone. If you enjoy some dark humor mixed with blood, give it a look.

Transcendence (2014)

Sci-Fi flicks are always hard to figure out. Sometimes they present storylines that are so far out, there is no way they could be true. Other times, they tackle subject matter that could become reality (or already exists), a fact that can make for an eerie trip into its world. Next up is another Sci-Fi movie, the 2014 A.I. entry Transcendence.

Plot/ A scientist's drive for artificial intelligence, takes on dangerous implications when his consciousness is uploaded into one such program.

I remember seeing the trailer for Transcendence and hoping that it would be awesome. While I missed it in theaters, I was able to finally grab it at Family Video. Unfortunately, it did not live up to what I was hoping for. Sure, the movie was not terrible, as it did have some solid performances, decent cinematography and direction, and an interesting (yet disjointed) storyline. However, the uneven script featuring unrefined story layers draws it down and leads to uneven event pacing throughout, which suffocates the atmosphere. In the end, while this movie is far from great, it also does not rise to the potential that it contained. Yes, it had some entertaining moments, but it is in no way anything memorable.

Salem's Lot (1979)

While I have been splitting time between Fringe and Ancient Aliens, I did find my way to Pittsburgh to hand out with my cousin Jennifer (visiting from Seattle) and her brothers, Jonathan and Jason, as they performed with their band, The Dumplings last night in the city. It was so awesome watched Jennifer hit the stage for an Alice Cooper cover to close the show. Today, I decided to venture back to my youth while doing some homework with the 1979 classic Salem’s Lot.

Plot/ Young novelist returning home to Salem's Lot after many years is disturbed by the strange behavior of its people. He begins to believe that the source of the trouble may be the eerie old Marsten House that overlooks the town.

Its funny, I had remembered much of Salem’s Lot, but almost forgot just how good this miniseries was. It is amazing to see exactly how much the quality put on our televisions has dropped over the past few decades. This was a solid entry that featured outstanding performances, solid scripting, dark and heavy atmosphere, and a soundtrack that backed it up perfectly. Sure, as a made for television entry, it lacks gore and nudity, but that does not bring this one down at all. In fact, it makes for a perfect vampire primer for the younger generation as it depicts the genre in the way they should be portrayed (sparkling vampires suck). In the end, Salem’s Lot may be one of the better King adaptations from the 1970s or 1980s, and it is a movie that must be seen. If you have not watched it, find it and check it out!

Hellraiser: Deader (2005)

The weekend has come and gone a it was back t the institute.  For some reason, we do not get President's Day off, and what I had often viewed as a three-day weekend near my birthday, is but a faded memory. Oh well, now I an preparing for the ice storm that should greet my birthday morning. Catching up from the weekend, the next selection if Hellraiser: Deader from 2005. 

Plot/ A journalist uncovers an underground group who can bring back the dead and slowly becomes drawn into their world. 

This was one of the more original Hellraiser sequels, although it is clearly evident that this project did not start or evolve from the mythos. The story is interesting, and felt as though it may have been better served without Hellraiser elements. Sure, there are some decent moments with Pinhead and his minions, although it would have made it closer to the mythos if they had been around more.The acting is solid, the atmosphere is decent and there was a lot to like. Even with the lack of Cenobites and Pinhead, this. one captured some of the darkness that made the first entries memorable, although it is somewhat difficult to call it a Hellraiser sequel. In the end, this is a solid movie when viewed as standalone horror flick vice being part of the Hellraiser franchise. Give it a shot it is interesting to watch. 

Stitches (2012)

Sometimes I enjoy some humor mixed in with the horror I watch. Unfortunately, finding some original/horror comedy that is worth watching can be a challenge. My next selection was not a challenge, 2012s evil clown flick Stitches. 

Plot/ A clown comes back from the dead to haunt those who took his life during a fatal party mishap. 

while I had my week silence, i had to found at least one evil clown movie to watch and I am glad i found Stitches. Yes, this issue a genre that has been done before, but this one actually adds something to the horror/comedy genre that is actually refreshing. For a low budget entry it does a great job mixing comedy and some over-the-top gore into some creative deaths. The acting is solid and there is just enough storyline and laughable to keep you entertained. Sure, the begun beginning is not the greatest and it actually brings the flick down a notch and there is an overall lack of characterization, but that is not the end of the world. In the end, this is an interesting joy horror comedy that actually embraces it's place within the slasher genre. Not a perfect movie, but it is worth watching.Give it a go, you may be surprised.