This could have possibly been the greatest Frankenstein movie of all time; however, the plot does away with everything that the Monster learned in the previous film and pisses away all of the character and story development that came with the original Bride of Frankenstein. The iconic look of the Monster is also severely tampered with; instead of wearing his usual dark suit as in the previous Frankenstein films he dons a fur vest and tall black boots. What? A fur vest? Who the hell does he think he is?
The movie is about Dr. Frankenstein's son, Wolf Von Frankenstein, coming to receive his inheritance. That being his fathers estate and laboratory in the terrorized village of movies prior. It looks like Wolf Von Frankenstein is going to turn over a new leaf and clear his family's name in the village, however something clicks in his brain about 20 minuets into the movie and he decides to try and re-animate his fathers ravenous creation. Referred to earlier in the film as Wolf's half brother.
The movie has some incredible sets and the art direction is spectacular, you can really see the German Expressionist influences, and while the rest of the film is very well shot it lacks in certain areas. As I said before the character development hit a reset button with this movie and in doing so sort of lost the pace and momentum that the last two movies had built. And what makes a movie entertaining without an interesting monster and well developed characters?
The roles in the film are really kind of strange: Lionel Atwill gives a great performance as Inspector Krogh, Boris Karloff contributes a pretty mediocre one in his last portrayal of the Monster, Basil Rathbone is horrible, just horrible, and then there is Bela Lugosi who steals the show as Ygor. Ygor, the Monster's only "friend, was was hung but he somehow survived and goes through the entire movie with a wooden neck? This movie is hardly scary and I think serves as a weak follow-up to what many consider to be one of the greatest movies of all time.
It does its own thing. It could have been done a lot better or it could have just been left alone. If you want to judge for yourself go ahead and watch the Original, then Bride of Frankenstein, and then this movie. That should put everything in perspective.
Who is going to throw paint on the Monsters vest?
- This is the first Frankenstein movie not directed by James Whale
- Much of the film was written just before the scenes were shot
- This is the final appearance of Karloff as the monster
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