FRANKENSTEIN (1931)

Frankenstein Movie Review

Mad scientist Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) sets out on a mission to create a human out of body parts of the recently deceased. When his plan actually works, Frankenstein and crew are not prepared for what comes next. This 1931 classic is a great way to start off my favorite time of year--October. Horror movies, falling leaves, Halloween, haunted houses, postseason baseball...what's NOT to love about October?! What's that you say? My birthday? Okay, yes, there's that, and getting older is no fun--the psychological scarring of another year gone is a lot to deal with, but my girlfriend always makes that dreaded day special, so I can get past it.

"I wish you would"

Okay, right, back to the movie. Frankenstein is considered one of the all time great horror classics, and I am a bit ashamed I have never reviewed it before. Boris Karloff brings the monster to life in one of the most legendary performances in film history. His ability to effectively scare us and make us feel a connection to, and even compassion for, this character is a true testament to what a fantastic actor Karloff was. To me it's not necessarily anything the monster actually does in the film that makes him so memorable--it's Karloff's performance that has stood the test of time. Tragically overshadowed is the performance of Clive. The sheer number of emotions this guy goes through in this film, from the feeling of being God to the ultimate regret, requires a special kind of actor to pull off successfully, and Clive does just that. Visually the movie is stunning. The movie is not without its drawbacks--the acting of some of the secondary characters comes to mind, along with the borderline absurd plot and outcome--but it's easy to see why Frankenstein is considered one of the all time greats.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 8

Frankenstein Movie Trailer