Logan Sork Film Reviews
Universal Classic Monsters
Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, The Wolf Man, even if you’ve never seen their perspective films, the chances are you will recognize these iconic figures in horror. These classic monsters along with others, including the Mummy, Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, and Creature from the Black Lagoon are not just horror icons, but also historic characters in cinematic history. The films starring these iconic characters led to multiple sequels, spin-offs, crossovers, and even reboots that ran from the early 1920s to the 1950s. These monsters were part of Hollywood’s first mega-film franchise long before the likes of Star Wars, Marvel, and many others. Even today, their influence can be felt as they established a lot of horror tropes that filmmakers would carry on for generations.
In celebration of these classic characters, I will be taking a look at each main film that introduced the perspective monster to audiences around the world. I’ll be giving my thoughts on what works, what doesn’t, and how these films are still relevant even today.
In celebration of these classic characters, I will be taking a look at each main film that introduced the perspective monster to audiences around the world. I’ll be giving my thoughts on what works, what doesn’t, and how these films are still relevant even today.
The Phantom of the Opera
"If I am the Phantom, it is because man's hatred has made me so."
Though most people credit Dracula with kicking things off, it’s arguably the 1925 adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera that got things going.
Though viewed as a distant cousin rather than a main entry, the film established a lot of elements that would carry over into the other films of this series. Because the film was made in the silent era, strong, gothic visuals had to be employed to carry the atmosphere of the story. These visuals are just as strong today as when they were first seen. From the dark and mysterious caverns of the Paris waterways to the technicolored masquerade sequences, the film makes great use of lighting and set design that would be a staple of the franchise moving forward.
The real star however was Lon Chaney as the titular Phantom. Known as the man of a thousand faces, Cheney developed the makeup for the character and created something audiences had never seen before. A monstrous and deformed creature, the famous unmasking scene, which some consider the first jump-scare in cinematic history, was so shocking when it played in theaters that people fainted after seeing it.
Though viewed as a distant cousin rather than a main entry, the film established a lot of elements that would carry over into the other films of this series. Because the film was made in the silent era, strong, gothic visuals had to be employed to carry the atmosphere of the story. These visuals are just as strong today as when they were first seen. From the dark and mysterious caverns of the Paris waterways to the technicolored masquerade sequences, the film makes great use of lighting and set design that would be a staple of the franchise moving forward.
The real star however was Lon Chaney as the titular Phantom. Known as the man of a thousand faces, Cheney developed the makeup for the character and created something audiences had never seen before. A monstrous and deformed creature, the famous unmasking scene, which some consider the first jump-scare in cinematic history, was so shocking when it played in theaters that people fainted after seeing it.
The rest of the film is alright. It is mainly limited by the technology of its time as well as some stale main characters. Those problems however pale in comparison when you take into account the gorgeous set-design, dark lighting, and Cheney’s brilliant make-up and performance.
While people consider the 1943 adaptation as a mainline entry in the Monsters franchise, I consider this one the true adaptation. It not only feels more in line with the other films but arguably got them made because of its success. Without The Phantom of the Opera, it is likely we wouldn’t know the name Dracula or Frankenstein.
7/10
While people consider the 1943 adaptation as a mainline entry in the Monsters franchise, I consider this one the true adaptation. It not only feels more in line with the other films but arguably got them made because of its success. Without The Phantom of the Opera, it is likely we wouldn’t know the name Dracula or Frankenstein.
7/10
Dracula
"The superstition of yesterday can become the reality of today."
Some consider the vampire film to be as old as cinema itself with audiences being introduced to the ghoulish creatures in the film Nosferatu. While people did hear of these creatures, it was the 1931 film Dracula that caught the attention of movie-goers and the true start to the Monsters franchise.
With its gothic set-design and beautiful cinematography, the film took audiences on a journey from the dark castles of Transylvania to the foggy alleyways of London as we followed the titular Count Dracula as he hunted victims to feed his desire for blood.
While visually stunning, the main draw of the film is the performance of Bela Lugosi as the titular character. While his portrayal is often seen as a cliché nowadays, he brought the idea of the gentleman monster to the screen. With his hypnotic stare and graceful movements, Lugosi truly brought the character to life in a way that no other actor occupying the role has. When asked to think of a vampire, Lugosi’s Dracula is likely the first image that will come to people’s minds.
With its gothic set-design and beautiful cinematography, the film took audiences on a journey from the dark castles of Transylvania to the foggy alleyways of London as we followed the titular Count Dracula as he hunted victims to feed his desire for blood.
While visually stunning, the main draw of the film is the performance of Bela Lugosi as the titular character. While his portrayal is often seen as a cliché nowadays, he brought the idea of the gentleman monster to the screen. With his hypnotic stare and graceful movements, Lugosi truly brought the character to life in a way that no other actor occupying the role has. When asked to think of a vampire, Lugosi’s Dracula is likely the first image that will come to people’s minds.
The film around him, however, hasn’t aged as well. When the film was released, the notion of sound was still relatively new to filmmakers and it was clear the team behind the film wasn’t quite sure how to handle it. There are many scenes of drawn-out conversations that feel stilted and feel more like a play than a movie. While it may have been amazing to hear voices in the ’30s, most of the dialogue scenes feel a bit boring by today’s standards.
The supporting characters also aren’t as interesting. You have typical male and female leading roles but beyond that, they aren’t anything special. The actors playing them also bring nothing to the table, which doesn’t help them. The exception to this is Edward Van Sloan’s Van Helsing, who goes toe-to-toe with Dracula in the film’s best scenes.
There’s also the problem that this story has just been done better. This adaptation cuts a lot of material and brushes through certain scenes. The result feels like a rushed film that could’ve been expanded upon had the filmmakers allowed more time to do so.
Despite these problems, the amazing sets, beautiful scenery, gothic atmosphere, and Lugosi’s performance are enough to make one appreciate the film all these years later, flaws and all.
7.5/10
The supporting characters also aren’t as interesting. You have typical male and female leading roles but beyond that, they aren’t anything special. The actors playing them also bring nothing to the table, which doesn’t help them. The exception to this is Edward Van Sloan’s Van Helsing, who goes toe-to-toe with Dracula in the film’s best scenes.
There’s also the problem that this story has just been done better. This adaptation cuts a lot of material and brushes through certain scenes. The result feels like a rushed film that could’ve been expanded upon had the filmmakers allowed more time to do so.
Despite these problems, the amazing sets, beautiful scenery, gothic atmosphere, and Lugosi’s performance are enough to make one appreciate the film all these years later, flaws and all.
7.5/10
Frankenstein
"Oh in the name of God, now I know what it feels like to be a God!"
Directed masterfully by James Whale, Frankenstein retains the beautiful imagery of the previous film and improves upon pretty much every problem that Dracula had.
Based on the novel by Mary Shelley Frankenstein follows the titular Dr. Frankenstein who seeks to create life using the spare pieces of corpses and the power of natural elements. He succeeds in creating such a monster, one who feels out of place in this world. The monster eventually breaks loose and goes on a rampage, forcing Frankenstein to face the ramifications of playing God.
Boris Karloff as the Monster is truly breathtaking in this film. While Count Dracula was a force of evil, the Monster can be viewed as a force of innocence, reacting to the way that people treat him. This can be seen in Karloff’s amazing range in the role, who can go from sweet and sympathetic to monstrous and savage with one wrong misstep. One moment, the monster is trying to get to understand you. The next, he might be trying to kill you. It is this unpredictability that Karloff brings to the role that makes the character have an impact today as it did all those years ago.
Based on the novel by Mary Shelley Frankenstein follows the titular Dr. Frankenstein who seeks to create life using the spare pieces of corpses and the power of natural elements. He succeeds in creating such a monster, one who feels out of place in this world. The monster eventually breaks loose and goes on a rampage, forcing Frankenstein to face the ramifications of playing God.
Boris Karloff as the Monster is truly breathtaking in this film. While Count Dracula was a force of evil, the Monster can be viewed as a force of innocence, reacting to the way that people treat him. This can be seen in Karloff’s amazing range in the role, who can go from sweet and sympathetic to monstrous and savage with one wrong misstep. One moment, the monster is trying to get to understand you. The next, he might be trying to kill you. It is this unpredictability that Karloff brings to the role that makes the character have an impact today as it did all those years ago.
The supporting cast surrounding the monster is also quite good. Colin Clive is suitably over the top as Dr. Frankenstein, creating the iconic mad scientist archetype that we all know today. The discussions he has with other characters of life, death, recreation, playing God, and other such topics are genuinely engaging even when the monster is not on-screen. The pacing is also excellent and manages to squeeze in everything from small intimate moments between characters to larger than life set-pieces and action scenes.
The visuals of the film are also fantastic. These can be attributed to the amazing set-design, perfectly capturing the gothic and dark atmosphere of the original story. From the dark and seedy graveyards that Frankenstein robs for parts to the tower in which he assembles his monstrous creation, the film is a visual marvel.
This film is a prime example of why so many people love these characters. It has it all. Horror, thrills, suspense, action, compelling ideas, and so much more. All tied together by fantastic direction and an amazing performance by Karloff makes it one of the best horror films ever made.
9.5/10
The visuals of the film are also fantastic. These can be attributed to the amazing set-design, perfectly capturing the gothic and dark atmosphere of the original story. From the dark and seedy graveyards that Frankenstein robs for parts to the tower in which he assembles his monstrous creation, the film is a visual marvel.
This film is a prime example of why so many people love these characters. It has it all. Horror, thrills, suspense, action, compelling ideas, and so much more. All tied together by fantastic direction and an amazing performance by Karloff makes it one of the best horror films ever made.
9.5/10
The Mummy
"I shall awaken memories of love...and crime...and death."
While The Mummy is known more for its famous 1999 remake and infamous 2017 remake, which both rely heavily on action and adventure, the original 1932 film is much more somber and atmospheric by comparison.
An original story inspired by the discovery of King Tut’s tomb a decade before, The Mummy takes us out of gothic Europe and into the deserts of Egypt. After discovering an ancient mummy and a scroll, the lead archeologists are shocked to find that the Mummy has vanished along with the scroll. Years later, a new expedition funded by the mysterious Ardeth Bay unearths the tomb of a lost princess. It is discovered that Bay is the Mummy Imhotep, who seeks to capture a young woman who is believed to be the reincarnation of his long-lost love.
With its beautiful low-key lighting techniques, The Mummy is one of the best-looking films to come out of this series. The production design of the film also helps to differentiate it from its counterparts while still maintaining the great atmosphere associated with the franchise. It’s also shockingly violent for a film of its time. This mix of elements makes this film one of the more unique in the series and makes it more memorable in the long run.
An original story inspired by the discovery of King Tut’s tomb a decade before, The Mummy takes us out of gothic Europe and into the deserts of Egypt. After discovering an ancient mummy and a scroll, the lead archeologists are shocked to find that the Mummy has vanished along with the scroll. Years later, a new expedition funded by the mysterious Ardeth Bay unearths the tomb of a lost princess. It is discovered that Bay is the Mummy Imhotep, who seeks to capture a young woman who is believed to be the reincarnation of his long-lost love.
With its beautiful low-key lighting techniques, The Mummy is one of the best-looking films to come out of this series. The production design of the film also helps to differentiate it from its counterparts while still maintaining the great atmosphere associated with the franchise. It’s also shockingly violent for a film of its time. This mix of elements makes this film one of the more unique in the series and makes it more memorable in the long run.
Boris Karloff plays a much different monster than in Frankenstein as he brings a malevolent presence to the priest Imhotep. His subtle performance mixed with his hypnotic stare leads to some of the best visual moments in the entire series. There is also a tragic backstory that gives the character a little more depth than previous monsters, allowing the audience to more easily understand his motives.
The supporting cast of characters is serviceable, but the standout is Imhotep’s love interest Helen, played by Zita Johann. Her performance helps bring the fantastical horror elements of the film to life. There’s also a compelling romance between her and Imhotep that makes the film even more engaging. Without her, the film would feel a bit stale.
Though it is known mostly by remakes, the original Mummy is just as good, if not better than such films. With its beautiful scenery and another great Karloff performance, this Egyptian tale is both fantastical and scary.
8.5/10
The supporting cast of characters is serviceable, but the standout is Imhotep’s love interest Helen, played by Zita Johann. Her performance helps bring the fantastical horror elements of the film to life. There’s also a compelling romance between her and Imhotep that makes the film even more engaging. Without her, the film would feel a bit stale.
Though it is known mostly by remakes, the original Mummy is just as good, if not better than such films. With its beautiful scenery and another great Karloff performance, this Egyptian tale is both fantastical and scary.
8.5/10
The Invisible Man
"An invisible man can rule the world!"
After the success of Frankenstein, director James Whale would bring about another monster created through the ways of science: The Invisible Man.
On a snowy night, a mysterious figure appears and requests a room and not to be disturbed. The locals soon discover that the man is a scientist, Jack Griffin, who has turned himself invisible. Though they try to subdue him, Griffin escapes and seeks the help of his fiancée and lab partner to try and cure him of the problem as his mind slowly begins to morph into something psychotic.
This monster stands out from the rest of the crowd to the fact that, while invisible, he acts mostly like a normal guy. This is something that makes the film truly compelling. The longer Jack is invisible, the more destructive and violent he becomes. This plays into the idea that once we have identifying features removed, humans can commit whatever heinous actions they want. This is a truly scary concept that the film explores along with ideas of science, identity, and the nature of power.
On a snowy night, a mysterious figure appears and requests a room and not to be disturbed. The locals soon discover that the man is a scientist, Jack Griffin, who has turned himself invisible. Though they try to subdue him, Griffin escapes and seeks the help of his fiancée and lab partner to try and cure him of the problem as his mind slowly begins to morph into something psychotic.
This monster stands out from the rest of the crowd to the fact that, while invisible, he acts mostly like a normal guy. This is something that makes the film truly compelling. The longer Jack is invisible, the more destructive and violent he becomes. This plays into the idea that once we have identifying features removed, humans can commit whatever heinous actions they want. This is a truly scary concept that the film explores along with ideas of science, identity, and the nature of power.
The film also features some truly groundbreaking effects for its time. The idea of making things disappear is a relatively simple trick in today’s world of film. But for the time, the idea of erasing certain parts from an actor and making it look realistic was extremely challenging. Despite this, the film does a great job of pulling this off, making you believe that an invisible person is attacking people. This effect leads to some scary and sometimes humorous scenes that are just as memorable today as when it was released.
Then there’s the fantastic performance from Claude Rains as the titular character. Though his face is only seen towards the end, Rains manages to overcome his masked nature and deliver a truly powerful performance. He truly dominates the screen, delivering incredible monologues in an over-the-top manner while also bringing some great nuances to flesh out the character in the more intimate moments. The supporting cast is also great, with Gloria Stuart and William Harrigan turning in wonderful performances as Griffin’s fiancée and lab partner respectively.
While a lot of people tend to overlook this monster, The Invisible Man is one of the best in the franchise. With amazing special effects, interesting ideas, and great performances, this film is one that deserves to be seen (no pun intended) just as much as the rest of them.
9/10
Then there’s the fantastic performance from Claude Rains as the titular character. Though his face is only seen towards the end, Rains manages to overcome his masked nature and deliver a truly powerful performance. He truly dominates the screen, delivering incredible monologues in an over-the-top manner while also bringing some great nuances to flesh out the character in the more intimate moments. The supporting cast is also great, with Gloria Stuart and William Harrigan turning in wonderful performances as Griffin’s fiancée and lab partner respectively.
While a lot of people tend to overlook this monster, The Invisible Man is one of the best in the franchise. With amazing special effects, interesting ideas, and great performances, this film is one that deserves to be seen (no pun intended) just as much as the rest of them.
9/10
The Bride of Frankenstein
"To a new world of gods and monsters!"
While Frankenstein ended in a somewhat close-ended fashion, there were still parts of Mary Shelley’s novel that never made it to the screen. As a result, a direct sequel was eventually made under the direction of director James Whale.
Picking up directly after the end of the first movie, we follow Dr. Frankenstein swearing off the idea of playing God and deciding to settle down with his wife. He is drawn back to it, however, upon the arrival of his mentor Dr. Pretorius. Pretorius also seeks to create life and tempts Frankenstein into making a perfect human using their combined genius. Meanwhile, the presumed dead Monster continues to explore the countryside, making friends and enemies along the way.
This sequel the 1931 film leans more on the campy side of its predecessor. There are a lot of elements in the film that feel as if they were added for comedic effect. While these are arguably the weakest points, they do still help give a unique feel to the film and help to differentiate from its predecessor. To balance itself out, the film increases the shock value, leading to some of the grisliest scenes in the entire franchise.
Picking up directly after the end of the first movie, we follow Dr. Frankenstein swearing off the idea of playing God and deciding to settle down with his wife. He is drawn back to it, however, upon the arrival of his mentor Dr. Pretorius. Pretorius also seeks to create life and tempts Frankenstein into making a perfect human using their combined genius. Meanwhile, the presumed dead Monster continues to explore the countryside, making friends and enemies along the way.
This sequel the 1931 film leans more on the campy side of its predecessor. There are a lot of elements in the film that feel as if they were added for comedic effect. While these are arguably the weakest points, they do still help give a unique feel to the film and help to differentiate from its predecessor. To balance itself out, the film increases the shock value, leading to some of the grisliest scenes in the entire franchise.
The returning cast members are all as great as ever. Boris Karloff shows much more of the Monster’s humanity in this film as he searches for someone who will not ridicule him for his appearance. He also learns more about human nature on his journey, providing a few poignant scenes of goodness among the horror show. Colin Clive also feels more realistic as a changed Dr. Frankenstein, who has since seen the wrongdoings of his experiments. This makes it somewhat tragic for him to be drawn back into old ways by forces who seek to exploit him for his work.
This force comes in the form of Dr. Pretorius, Frankenstein’s mentor, and a man who is more mad than Frankenstein himself. Brought to life brilliantly by Ernest Thesiger, the scenes he occupies are some of the most entertaining in the whole film. And while her appearance is brief, Elsa Lancaster is truly mesmerizing as the titular Bride. With just five minutes of screen time, Lancaster manages to create a horror icon that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of the Monster.
While not as good as the original, The Bride of Frankenstein is still an amazing film in its own right. Maintaining the same gorgeous scenery and ideas as the original while adding new elements, this film is an example of what a good sequel can and should do.
9/10
This force comes in the form of Dr. Pretorius, Frankenstein’s mentor, and a man who is more mad than Frankenstein himself. Brought to life brilliantly by Ernest Thesiger, the scenes he occupies are some of the most entertaining in the whole film. And while her appearance is brief, Elsa Lancaster is truly mesmerizing as the titular Bride. With just five minutes of screen time, Lancaster manages to create a horror icon that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of the Monster.
While not as good as the original, The Bride of Frankenstein is still an amazing film in its own right. Maintaining the same gorgeous scenery and ideas as the original while adding new elements, this film is an example of what a good sequel can and should do.
9/10
The Wolf Man
"The way you walked was thorny though no fault of your own."
Much like vampires, werewolves have been seen in film since its inception. Despite this, they never really caught on like vampires did. This changed with the release of The Wolf Man, a film that made the iconic creature just as popular as the likes of the vampire.
Following the death of his brother, Larry Talbot returns to his ancestral home to reconnect with his estranged father. Upon arrival, he meets a young woman and falls in love. While on a stroll, Larry is attacked by a wolf who, upon being killed, turns into a gypsy man from the local village. Larry learns that he has been cursed and will take the shape of a wolf at each full moon and take the blood of a victim close to him.
Playing the titular monster is Lon Chaney Jr., whose father had previously portrayed the Phantom of the Opera many years ago. Keeping in his father’s tradition of being under heavy makeup, Chaney’s wolf make up is quite impressive for the time the film was released. Though constricted by the technology of the time, the filmmakers do find a clever way to make the transformation from man to beast. It may not be the best transformation ever put to film, but it was the one that made it possible.
Following the death of his brother, Larry Talbot returns to his ancestral home to reconnect with his estranged father. Upon arrival, he meets a young woman and falls in love. While on a stroll, Larry is attacked by a wolf who, upon being killed, turns into a gypsy man from the local village. Larry learns that he has been cursed and will take the shape of a wolf at each full moon and take the blood of a victim close to him.
Playing the titular monster is Lon Chaney Jr., whose father had previously portrayed the Phantom of the Opera many years ago. Keeping in his father’s tradition of being under heavy makeup, Chaney’s wolf make up is quite impressive for the time the film was released. Though constricted by the technology of the time, the filmmakers do find a clever way to make the transformation from man to beast. It may not be the best transformation ever put to film, but it was the one that made it possible.
As for when he’s not under the makeup, Chaney’s performance is really good. As one of the few monsters whose abilities were forced on him against his will, Larry Talbot’s tragic downfall is one of the most emotional out of all the film. This is seen in Chaney’s great performance, whose good-hearted portrayal makes the transformation all the more sad. The scenes where he reconciles with his father, played by Claude Rains, are fantastic and bring an emotional weight to the film.
The scenes where Talbot transforms and prowls the nearby woods for prey are by far the best in the film. They are beautifully shot and make great use of set-design and fog. Sadly, there’s a lot of slow scenes between these, making for some pacing issues. There are also a few subplots that feel unnecessary and could easily be cut to streamline the film.
While not as strong as the other films The Wolf Man more than makes up for its shortcomings. With great effects, a gripping lead turn from Chaney, and some of the most iconic werewolf scenes put to film, The Wolfman has remained a staple for generations and will continue to do so.
7.5/10
The scenes where Talbot transforms and prowls the nearby woods for prey are by far the best in the film. They are beautifully shot and make great use of set-design and fog. Sadly, there’s a lot of slow scenes between these, making for some pacing issues. There are also a few subplots that feel unnecessary and could easily be cut to streamline the film.
While not as strong as the other films The Wolf Man more than makes up for its shortcomings. With great effects, a gripping lead turn from Chaney, and some of the most iconic werewolf scenes put to film, The Wolfman has remained a staple for generations and will continue to do so.
7.5/10
The Creature from the Black Lagoon
"'The Black Lagoon'- a paradise. Only no one has ever come back to prove it."
Released while the Monsters series was at a decline, The Creature of the Black Lagoon feels more like a science-fiction b-movie than a gothic monster film. Despite this, there are a lot of reasons this film has stood the test of time.
Inspired by the discovery of a fish that could be the missing link between man and animal, the story follows a group of geologists who discover a mysterious creature in the caves of the Amazon. While researching, another member of the species begins attacking the team and killing them off one by one.
While the idea filming underwater was not new, the scenes in which the creature stalks swimmers are truly great. Playing into the fear of the unknown, the scenes in which the creature simply brushes by a person are quite scary, especially to anyone who knows what it’s like to have something unknown touch you.
The creature’s design is also quite impressive, especially in the underwater sequences in which his graceful movements give him an otherworldly feeling. And while he may not be the most mobile on land, his great design and distinct roar give him a unique visual look. As the only monster to not closely resemble a human, this creature truly feels like it came from a different time and place.
Inspired by the discovery of a fish that could be the missing link between man and animal, the story follows a group of geologists who discover a mysterious creature in the caves of the Amazon. While researching, another member of the species begins attacking the team and killing them off one by one.
While the idea filming underwater was not new, the scenes in which the creature stalks swimmers are truly great. Playing into the fear of the unknown, the scenes in which the creature simply brushes by a person are quite scary, especially to anyone who knows what it’s like to have something unknown touch you.
The creature’s design is also quite impressive, especially in the underwater sequences in which his graceful movements give him an otherworldly feeling. And while he may not be the most mobile on land, his great design and distinct roar give him a unique visual look. As the only monster to not closely resemble a human, this creature truly feels like it came from a different time and place.
The set design in this film isn’t as great as the others, feeling more like it was shot in a local town rather than some faraway place. Though some would argue that the close feeling makes it scarier, it lacks the beautiful scenery and imagery from the other monster films, making it feel even more disconnected. There is, however, an impressive lair in which the final sequence takes place that feels reminiscent of the other films. Aside from that though, the sets are rather uninspired and feel somewhat bland.
The characters are also non-existent. While there are some interesting concepts about man and nature being explored, these ideas are hard to get invested in without compelling characters to keep you engaged.
Despite its generic visuals, forgettable characters, and downplayed atmosphere, there are a lot of elements going for this film. These come in the form of great creature design, creepy underwater scenes, and the otherworldly feeling of the creature and its lair. It may not be the best film in the series, but it has still got some good tricks up its sleeve.
7/10
The characters are also non-existent. While there are some interesting concepts about man and nature being explored, these ideas are hard to get invested in without compelling characters to keep you engaged.
Despite its generic visuals, forgettable characters, and downplayed atmosphere, there are a lot of elements going for this film. These come in the form of great creature design, creepy underwater scenes, and the otherworldly feeling of the creature and its lair. It may not be the best film in the series, but it has still got some good tricks up its sleeve.
7/10
While we are still getting remakes and reimagining of these iconic characters today, I do hope that you eventually take the time to watch these films that inspired these and others. While they are somewhat dated by todays high standards, a lot of them hold up quite well and have a charm and feel that most modern horror films lack by comparison. And despite the tricks most horror films pull off today, it's likely that these characters will remain more iconic in the years to come.