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!

Dracula (1931)

After spending most of my night last night working on my video for the Poe Arts Festival Poetry contest, I decided to jump back into the classics today. My next selection from Shudder was the one that started it all, Dracula from 1931.

Plot/ The ancient vampire Count Dracula arrives in England and begins to prey upon the virtuous young Mina.

For me, this was one of my first horror films that I watched back in my younger days and one that still resonates with me today. While I do love the classic silent unauthorized adaptation Nosferatu, there is something with the adaptation that takes the Bran Stoker story to an all-new level especially when you remember that the movie was made in 1931. Whether it was the amazing performance by Bela Lugosi or the technical vision and work of Tod Browning, this film creates one of the most iconic and memorable films of the history of cinema. Of course, there are other factors that help make this one great. All of the performances are solid and work within the storyline; the setting and cinematography create something dark and atmospheric, and as the first in the run of Universal Monsters the movie allows the rest of the universe grow by laying a tremendous foundation everything that would follow. Yes, the ending is a bit mellow and there are some head-scratching moments, but those do not really hold the movie back in any way. In the end, this movie remains a must see (along with Nosferatu) for fans of the vampire genre and one that stands tall in horror history. If you have not seen it, you are missing out.

The Invisible Man (1933)

With Halloween being right around the corner, it is fun to sit back and enjoy the classics from Universal Studios. Last night it was The Mummy, and tonight, I followed that one with the classic The Invisible Man from 1933.

Plot/ A scientist finds a way of becoming invisible, but in doing so, he becomes murderously insane.

Being in a classics mood, this adaptation of the H.G. Wells sci-fi classic may be one of the best movies of the golden era of the Universal Monsters. Complete with some of the best special effects of all time, this movie boasts tremendous creativity, cinematography, and technical aspects. The performances, especially Claude Rains, are outstanding, the storyline is interesting, and as I mentioned already the effects are tremendous especially considering that this movie was shot decades before the first computer was ever thought of. Yes, it does lack the scenery that made the other Universal Monster movies so memorable and the overall story lacks the layered depths of the other films from the studio, but those elements do not hurt the movie in any way. In the end, like the other classic monster movies of the early 1930s, this movie is a must see. Sure, it often overlooked in comparison to the other timeless entries from Universal Studios, but from a cinematic and technical perspective, it should sit near the top of the chart and it remains one of the most memorable sci-fi films ever made. Go 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 Mummy (2017)

I definitely needed something different today to watch. After spending so much time in Salem, and then following that up last night with Sleepy Hollow, I decided that I wanted something with a modern flair. After some debate, I decided on the 2017 entry The Mummy.

Plot/ An ancient Egyptian princess is awakened from her crypt beneath the desert, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia, and terrors that defy human comprehension.

I had heard so many mixed things about this movie since its release and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Honestly, I am quite sorry I made the trip to rent it at Family Video. Set as the first film the Universal Studios Dark Universe, this was a huge miss and really offers little hope for what type of travesties await us with the other entries. While the casting was impressive, there was no substance behind the performances and everything (even the fight scenes) felt flat. Sure, this film was able to distance itself from the majority of the last Mummy trilogy (I did like the first one), it did not do enough and ended up taking the overall storyline in a direction that was not as entertaining and/or as memorable as it could have been. Yes, the visuals work, and the cast is what it is (although Tom Cruise again proves he is nothing more than a name at this stage), but those are the only real positives that I can pull from the time I spent watching it. The effects were average, the characters are all unlikable and do not leave any type of lasting impression, the action sequences are a mess, and again, the best scenes are in the trailer. In the end, this is a bad movie and one that should not even share a name with the classic Universal Studios take on The Mummy. If you haven’t wasted your money yet, don’t it is not worth it at all.

Islands of Adventure - August 2016 - 1

Last week was incredible. Not only did I get to enjoy a great family vacation at Universal Studios, but I finally graduated with my Bachelor Degree of Fine Arts in Creative Writing for Entertainment from Full Sail University. This was a major accomplishment for me, and to discover that I was the program Valedictorian made it even more special. Of course, I could not do this alone and my wife Brenda and my daughters gave me enough support to keep me going when I ran into some rough patches. With my degree completed, it is time to buckle down and figure out a project to focus on. Until then, here are some more great pictures from my days at Islands of Adventure. 

Universal Studios - August 2016 - 1

This has been a tremendous week on vacation as I prepared for graduation. Universal Studios Orlando has changed so much since the last time I went (back in 1991), and must say it has changed for the better. As a horror fan, there were enough attractions to keep me interested. And while I did not make it to the new Kong attraction (the wait time was insane), it was still an awesome time. Here are a few pictures from the week, I am sure there will be more to follow as I get through them. 

The Veil (2016)

Since the cold and snow outside led to the cancellation of bating practice for the Nightmares tonight, I was able to kick back and enjoy some early evening horror. After searching the Netflix, I decided to watch the 2016 cult driven entry The Veil.

Plot/ Twenty-five years after members of a religious cult committed mass suicide, the lone survivor returns to the scene of the tragedy with a documentary crew in tow.

When I sat down to watch this one, I expected it to be full of many of the clichéd moments that usually rise in cult based movies. While there were some clichéd aspects and the flick was somewhat predictable, there were also a few positives that I did not expect. This is an extremely atmospheric movie that has heavy and dark moments, with an interesting storyline, and a solid cast. Yes, there were some uneven performances, it was predictable, and some of the scientific aspects mentioned in the script felt out of place, but that did not truly bring the movie down. In the end, this was entertaining, and should definitely appeal to anyone fascinated by the cult culture. Not for everyone, but if you enjoy dark, cult driven movies, give it a shot.

Dracula Untold (2014)

After spending a lot of time behind my computer working on my physics homework and blogging, I decided that I needed to take a break last night and just chill. Hell, I did not even watch a movie; instead, I was caught up on the politically charged series State of Affairs. Now that I am refreshed, I still have a couple movies to catch up on for the past week. The next one up for review is again from 2014: Dracula Untold.

Plot/ As his kingdom is being threatened by the Turks, young prince Vlad Tepes must become a monster feared by his own people in order to obtain the power needed to protect his own family, and the families of his kingdom.

It has been a while since I had been excited about seeing a vampire flick because how those sparkling imposters ruined the genre. That was until I saw this one. Yes, it may be full of historical and geographic inaccuracies, something that will definitely turn off some Dracula purists, but as just a fictional tale, it was quite entertaining. Between outstanding performances (especially Luke Evans who was perfect for the role), some interesting twists in the storyline, and some amazing special effects (yes, even the CGI), the movie was much better than I could have imagined (especially at a PG-13 rating). As a fan of the historical aspects of the classic Dracula story and the legendary figure the character is based on, I was a little disappointed at some of the historical inaccuracies. However, as a writer of fiction myself, I understand why decisions such as that are made when creating a new mythos. When you couple the inaccuracies with the short run time, some small plot holes, and a lack of overall character development, and it is easy to see why this movie is so polarizing. In the end, this one will definitely split its audience with some loving it and others hating it, and I can totally understand that. Personally, I found it an entertaining and fun movie that was a perfect bridge to what could be an entertaining series of flicks.

Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932)

As I was taking a walk into the early stages of Sci-Fi and Horror, I felt that my night would not be complete unless I ventured into the mind of my favorite master of terror, Edgar Allan Poe.  What a better way to close my evening but with a classic tale starring one of the greatest horror icons of all time Bela Lugosi, in the often overlooked 1932 adaptation of Murders in the Rue Morgue.

Plot/ In 19th Century Paris, the maniacal Dr. Mirakle abducts young women and injects them with ape blood in an attempt to prove ape-human kinship. He constantly meets failure as the abducted women die. Medical student Pierre Dupin discovers what Mirakle is doing too late to prevent the abduction of his girlfriend Camille. Now he desperately tries to enlist the help of the police to get her back.

I love movies based on the works of Poe (albeit loose adaptations), in fact, I can never get enough of them when I find them. Sure, some are better than others, but in same ways they always carry at least some of the flair that was woven into them decades before their transition to the silver screen. This adaptation, while running only about 80 minutes, is definitely worth watching. Filmed by Universal Studios, after their initial foray into horror, this flick features great set design and perfect atmosphere. The acting is solid, but it is Bela Lugosi that is amazing, captivating the screen during every second of his screen time. Yes, there are some flaws. Some of the cinematography is so-so and editing was uneven.  In the end, this is a classic early example of Universal Studios mastery and a film that is definitely worth watching.

Tarantula! (1955)

As a football fan, I should be excited about today, unfortunately, my Steelers were eliminated already and I cannot stand any of the four teams remaining. Honestly, the lesser of all evils is the Giants, and I cannot see myself pulling for them in any way (although seeing Eli with more rings than Peyton would be funny). With my football entertainment limited, I decided to venture back in time for some viewing pleasure with the Sci-Fi classic Tarantula.

Plot/ A spider escapes from an isolated desert laboratory experimenting in gigantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants.

The 1950s was such a great decade for the Sci-Fi / Horror genre, many films created during that period set the standard for the films of today. Amazingly, some of the best still stand the test of time with their combinations of solid effects and storyline. This flick is one of the finest from that era.  Watching this today, the tremendous story stands tall and the effects are amazing when you consider when it was done. The tarantula (which was real) is believable and the acting and cinematography were solid as well. Sure, some of the dialogue seems dated and the sound-effects are laughable at times, but those a very small flaws and are not detriments in any way.  In the end, this is a great Sci-Fi movie and awesome entertainment. If you have not watched this one, you are missing out.