Fine Stories and Other Wordy Tidbits
We finally did it, folks. We've reached the end. We're free. Free from the curse of Kharis and his lame-ass movies. Of course, Kharis couldn't let us go without one last ordeal to suffer through. After the batshit nonsense of The Mummy's Ghost, I was a little optimistic about this film. I still didn't think … Continue reading Horror Is Universal: “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944)
If Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man was the Batman v Superman of this cinematic universe, then House of Frankenstein is its Justice League or The Avengers. Assuming, of course, that those movies had the members of the crossover turn up one at a time, never interact and made sure to kill off each character before … Continue reading Horror Is Universal: “House of Frankenstein” (1944)
I have a confession to make. Or perhaps a retraction. After completing my last review, I put off watching this movie for a couple of weeks. Why? Because I thought I knew what it was going to be. I have made no secret of how much I hated The Mummy's Hand and The Mummy's Tomb. … Continue reading Horror Is Universal: “The Mummy’s Ghost” (1944)
I deliberated for a while about how to begin this article. I like to open these articles by posing a question or thesis statement, or I'll just try to write something that I think is funny. But in this case, I'm hard-pressed to do either. I can't think of anything to say about this movie … Continue reading Horror Is Universal: “The Invisible Man’s Revenge” (1944)
Well, if it isn't our old bloodsucking buddy back for another round! Cinema's favorite vampire has had a pretty decent track record in Universal Horror so far. The 1931 Dracula was a triumph of tension and eerie atmosphere, and the Spanish-language version built on that already-strong foundation to make something even better. Dracula's Daughter managed … Continue reading Horror Is Universal: “Son of Dracula” (1943)
So, what are we doing here? I'm breaking my own rule just a bit, after all. The Phantom of the Opera isn't one of the Canonical Six that I'm supposed to be focusing on. What's the reason for this detour? There are a couple of reasons, actually. The most important is that this movie came … Continue reading Horror Is Universal: “Phantom of the Opera” (1943)
The cinematic showdown has been around since time immemorial. We've had Batman v Superman. Freddy vs Jason. Godzilla vs King Kong/Mothra/King Ghidorah/etc. Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny...okay, not that one. But you get the idea. One badass fights another badass, with (hopefully) awesome results. And then we have today's film, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf … Continue reading Horror Is Universal: “Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man” (1943)
Unwatchable. It's a hefty word, or at least it's supposed to be. In today's digital word, we're more likely to see it tossed around as shorthand for "something I personally didn't like." But what does it really mean? When is a film really, truly unwatchable? The problem is that "unwatchable" can mean a few different … Continue reading Horror Is Universal: “The Mummy’s Tomb” (1942)
NOTE: This article will contain mentions of sexual assault and a discussion of anti-Japanese racism, both of which may be upsetting to some readers. TERRIBLE JOKE INCOMING IN 3, 2, 1... What's the best way to get rid of Nazis? You have to use a Not-See! HA HA HA! And now that I've gotten that … Continue reading Horror Is Universal: “Invisible Agent” (1942)
When I first pressed Play on this movie, I really had no idea what to expect. Son of Frankenstein had been a decent, if not perfect, conclusion to the story begun in the 1931 film, and after three movies, the most interesting story possibilities for the Frankensteins and the Creature had already been played out. … Continue reading Horror Is Universal: “The Ghost of Frankenstein” (1942)
