Halloween season
simply isn’t Halloween season without a regular dose of golden age Universal
horror (1923-1963). Every day this October, I’ll be giving you a steady IV drip
of it by counting down Psychobabble’s
31 Favorite Universal Horrors!
#1. Bride of
Frankenstein (1935- dir. James Whale)
There could be no other number-one in this series. It is
widely regarded as the crown jewel of Universal horror and one of the few
sequels to best its original predecessor. It is an explosion of imagination,
special effects, pathos, humor, camp, and sheer madness. Every scene offers
something delightful to behold: the glittering, self-referential prologue in
the home of Mary Shelley and spouse; the mock-scary re-introduction of
Karloff’s monster; the unveiling of wonderfully withering and withered Dr.
Pretorius; Elizabeth Frankenstein’s weird freak-out in her bedroom; Minnie; Pretorius’s
astounding homunculi; the Monster’s strangely moving visit with a blind hermit;
the birth of the magnificent Bride and the Monster’s ill-fated attempt to court
her. Bride of Frankenstein is not as
scary as Frankenstein or as pungent
as Dracula or as consistently funny
as Abbott & Costello Meet
Frankenstein or as sophisticated as Psycho
and The Birds, yet it is a movie that
feels like it has it all and then some. It is a monster masterpiece and such
dizzying fun that it will keep you sugar-buzzed for a week after Frankenstein’s
castle explodes. It is Psychobabble’s favorite Universal horror, favorite
horror, favorite movie, and the best prescription for having a happy Halloween.
Hope you have one yourself.
