Halloween time is creeping up again, so it's time for me to bust out another spooky yarn. In the past, I've given you detailed run-downs on actors from classic horror films, as well as Part 2 and Part 3 of that series. I also gave you detailed run-downs on the history of notable werewolf cinema, both classic, as well as more modern films. But today, I'm going to take a look at some of the most iconic movie monsters of all time, the true classics, and what I feel is each of their best representative films.
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First up to bat, is a movie monster that has, perhaps, been the subject of more films than any other: The Vampire! Vampires, beings that live like parasites off of the blood or life essence of living beings, especially humans, have been a part of various cultural folklore the world over, for a very long time. There have been various differing depictions in fiction, film especially, but in the modern era, most follow the mold set by author Bram Stoker's famous creation, Dracula.
And it is that film, or rather, the first truly official film adaptation thereof, that is my no-brainer for best film representation. The chilling German silent film Nosferatu came a few years before, and in its own right is a great version of the story (albeit with the names changed). But for my money, it never has, and never shall get any better than Tod Browning's 1931 masterpiece. The perfect gloomy, hazy, dreamlike atmosphere. The crisp pacing and snappy writing. The fantastic acting turns by pretty much the entire cast, but most especially Dwight Frye as Renfield, Edward Van Sloan as Van Helsing, and of course, Bela Lugosi in the role he standardized and immortalized, Count Dracula.
There are arguably more exciting, or scary, or tense versions of the Dracula tale by itself, let alone other vampire tales. But while Christopher Lee is iconic in his many turns as the Count, to me, the best Hammer film to depict vampires, also a strong runner up, is Brides of Dracula, which doesn't actually feature Lee or the Count at all. They continue regularly releasing vampire flicks in the modern era, even new adaptations or twists on Dracula. But I think Mr. Lugosi and his bridge-between-silent-and-sound epic, stands on a mountain all its own.
Pick for best vampire film: Dracula (1931)
Other great vampire films: Nosferatu (1922), Vampyr (1932), The Return of the Vampire (1943), Horror of Dracula (1958), The Brides of Dracula (1960), Kiss of the Vampire (1963), The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967), Count Dracula (1970), Fright Night (1985), The Lost Boys (1987)
Probably the second most iconic movie monster behind the vampire (this side of Godzilla, whom I've done an entire series about), is Mary Shelly's creation, Dr. Frankenstein's Monster. Of course, "Frankenstein" (as he's usually generically and incorrectly called) is a singular figure, unlike an entire "race" of undead terrors. But he is one hell of a singular figure. Created infamously from the parts of many dead men, Dr. Frankenstein's vain and insane attempt at creating what he thought would be the "ultimate man, without flaw", the Monster was "born" an unstable and potentially hugely destructive creature. Immensely strong, and quite possibly indestructible, Frankenstein's creation became something he didn't intend, and could not control.
There have been far less film adaptations of the Frankenstein story than vampire tales, or even just Dracula, of course. But there's still really only one true answer for this one. I'm a bit split, however, as I feel James Whale's 1931 original Frankenstein film is a spooky masterpiece on its own, and a more straightforward adaptation of the book (with some changes). But my vote has to go to its sequel, Whale's Bride of Frankenstein, for three reasons. One, Dr. Frankenstein, played by Colin Clive, is a deeply conflicted character here, showing great horror and remorse at what his creation has done. Two, because the new antagonist, and instigator of further ungodly experiments, Dr. Pretorius, played brilliantly by Ernest Thesiger, is an unforgettable and highly entertaining addition. But the third and probably deciding factor, is that the Monster itself, is given more emotion, and actual lines, so that Boris Karloff has more room to really portray the creature with depth.
There are other strong Frankenstein films, but nothing comes even close to James Whale's original movies.
Pick for best Frankenstein film: Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Other great Frankenstein films: Frankenstein (1931), Son of Frankenstein (1939), The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), Frankenstein 1970 (1958), Young Frankenstein (1974), Frankenstein Unbound (1990)
Universal Studios immortalized several classic monsters, basically creating the "monster movie" genre, in the early 1930s. Among those, was the 1933 adaptation of H.G. Wells' science fiction classic, The Invisible Man. Universal themselves, wound up making a whole series of mostly unconnected Invisible movies, but nothing would come close to the tone, spectacle, and acting chops of the original. Claude Rains put on a master class performance, all with just his voice, and some gestures (when he's clothed).
A largely unknown or forgotten film, from the early 90s, starring Chevy Chase, no less, that I feel is a good second best representation, is John Carpenter's oddball Memoirs of an Invisible Man. It has the comedic elements that you'd expect from Chase, and the drama and tension that you usually expect from Carpenter, but it's a creature all its own. And its most outstanding feature, and why it's my runner up vote, is because it does a better job than any other film I've certainly ever seen, of depicting what it might really be like for some "everyday Joe", to have to deal with the practicalities and inconveniences of being invisible.
Pick for best Invisible Man film: The Invisible Man (1933)
Other great Invisible films: The Invisible Man Returns (1940), Invisible Avenger (1954), Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992)
Another early 30s sci fi/horror adaptation, this time by Paramount Pictures, was of Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. There had been several adaptations prior, including Paramount's own silent 1920 version. There would also be other famous adaptations after, such as the 1941 Paramount "remake", starring Spencer Tracy. But while Tracy does a great job, their 1931 film features what I feel is Fredric March at the character's best.
He is suitably sympathetic and conflicted as Dr. Jekyll, the well-meaning scientist who wants to "remove evil from man". But he really lets loose and goes to town when playing the chemically induced alter-ego, Mr. Hyde. I'd gladly put his Hyde up against any other performance of the character. He's almost charming, in a bestial way, if he wasn't such an evil bastard.
Pick for best Hyde film: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)
Other great Hyde films: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941), The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960)
There are plenty of varieties of "undead" persons in human folklore and mythology. I think something deep and primal in us, is just (rightly) scared shitless by the idea of dead people getting back up and moving around. It's a frightening proposition. And while zombies have undoubtedly been in far more films by this point, I think perhaps the most iconic flavors of "undead", besides vampires, are Egyptian mummies. Made famous around the turn of the 20th Century, when famous archeological digs made world news, the idea of supernaturally reanimated, linen-wrapped ghouls from long ago, captured the imagination of millions. Most especially after they started becoming the subject of movies.
Arguably the most famous of these, was one of the first, Universal's 1932 The Mummy. Starring Boris Karloff, it's a very different beast than most mummy flicks that would follow, including Universal's own unrelated series. Featuring a strange sort of (one sided) love tale, the reanimated Imhotep, sees a girl he believes is the reincarnation of his long-lost love, and he seeks to make her his once more. It's definitely a classic, and Karloff does a great job as the titular monster.
But this time around, I'm actually going to give it to England's Hammer Films, who made their own series of horror films in the 50s, 60s and 70s, based largely around the classic movie monsters I'm discussing here today. Their first in their own mummy series, was also aptly and simply titled The Mummy, starring their two big guns of the era, Peter Cushing as John Banning, a surviving member of an archeological expedition, and Christopher Lee as Kharis, a mummy reanimated to destroy those who opened the tomb of the Princess Ananka. There are some great mummy films, including Universal's, but Hammer's 1959 entry just has the right amount of atmosphere, chills, great pacing, great sets and visuals, and fantastic cast performances, that to me it is the ultimate in mummy fare.
Pick for best mummy film: The Mummy (1959)
Other great mummy films: The Mummy (1932), The Mummy's Hand (1940), Pharaoh's Curse (1957), The Cure of the Mummy's Tomb (1964), The Mummy (1999)
Last but certainly not least, is probably my personal favorite of the classic movie monster mold: the werewolf. Much like vampires, werewolves, or people who can turn partially or fully into some kind of beast, have long been part of human folklore and human fears. And like vampires, there have been many (though seemingly not near AS many) movies about persons of the "were" persuasion.
As far as I'm concerned, though I admit it's part of an unintentional theme here, the original 1941 Universal classic The Wolf Man, starring Lon Chaney Jr., is the one to beat. The Wolf Man make-up, by what many call "today's standards" may not be as frightening as it was in the 1940s, but it still looks great, even if it isn't my favorite look for a werewolf. But what really sells this original film over others, to me, is Lon Chaney's performance. He is a good-hearted and earnest man, who would never intentionally hurt anyone. And yet, because of his misfortune to be bitten by a werewolf, a man who himself was likewise good but afflicted by a curse, he transforms against his will during full moons, and commits atrocities he wakes up not remembering.
As stated, there are other great werewolf films, with great werewolf performances. One of my favorites, and the closest to a "runner up" I'll talk about, is 1985's Silver Bullet, which features a young Corey Haim, as a wheel-chair bound boy, who is trying to protect his town from what only he believes is a werewolf, after it kills his friend. Bullet gets my vote for best modern werewolf movie, and best overall werewolf flick besides the Chaney classic. But Lon Chaney is a damn champion in Wolf Man, and his humanity, and sorrow at a curse he cannot change or escape, that ruins, fundamentally ends his life. He sells it so damn well, you really feel for him. It is perhaps a more tragic tale than any other classic movie monster film I can think of.
Pick for best werewolf film: The Wolf Man (1941)
Other great werewolf films: Werewolf of London (1935), The Undying Monster (1942), Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), The Werewolf (1956), The Curse of the Werewolf (1961), Silver Bullet (1985)
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As a final aside, two more modern films that I would say, if you're a fan of these classic movie monsters, that provides great and interesting incarnations of said creatures, are 1987's The Monster Squad, and 2004's Van Helsing. Both have, in my personal opinion, two of the best movie designs for werewolves that I've seen. The most bestial and lupine, for sure. And both are highly entertaining films, well worth watching.
With that said, I hope you all have a very Happy Halloween!
