As a connoisseur of classic horror films who has spent countless nights huddled under a blanket, watching these timeless masterpieces with my flashlight, I must say that Universal Pictures’ monster movies from the 1940s are an absolute delight!
1935 saw Universal Studios debuting “Bride of Frankenstein,” marking the first sequel in their nascent Universal Monsters film series. Back then, franchises weren’t as prevalent as they are today, but the original “Frankenstein” had garnered such popularity that the studio aimed to bring back the original team and see if they could recapture the success with a second attempt.
The Universal Monsters sequel production swiftly gained momentum after the initial success, churning out continuations for films like Dracula, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, and eventually, films that gathered multiple monster icons together. This transition turned a series of standalone monster movies into an unusual, at times chaotically constructed universe of characters. Although it’s difficult to surpass the original in many instances, numerous sequels from this era continue to be recognized as timeless classics within the horror genre.
As Halloween draws near, let’s delve into the top-notch follow-ups of the Universal Monster series instead.
More Universal Monsters
- The Universal Classic Monsters Are Essential Streaming for Any Horror Fan
- Universal Classic Monsters, Ranked
- Are Any of the Universal Monsters Scientifically Plausible?
The Best Universal Monster Movie Sequels
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
There is something inarguably special about Bride of Frankenstein that extends out from the very first frames, in which a young Mary Shelley (Elsa Lanchester) reveals in a prologue sequence that she has not yet told the whole story of her mad scientist and his creature. From there, returning director James Whale and returning stars Colin Clive and Boris Karloff as The Creature take us into a strange, tragicomic new world in which Dr. Frankenstein sets out to make his monster a mate. The black comedy tone, plus the addition of the great Ernest Thesiger as Doctor Pretorius, elevates the material, and pushes Bride of Frankenstein into a realm so exclusive that it’s not just the greatest Universal Monsters sequel, but possibly the greatest Universal Monsters movie period.
Stream it now on Peacock!
Dracula’s Daughter (1936)
Following the release of a sequel to “Frankenstein”, it was only natural for the studio to consider a sequel to “Dracula”. Despite Bela Lugosi not reprising his role as the Count, they managed to produce an outstanding continuation. The film, titled “Dracula’s Daughter“, focuses on Countess Zaleska (played by Gloria Holden), a vampire who is the very daughter of the Count. She embarks on a mission to lift her curse by destroying her father’s body. When this fails, she struggles against her inherent nature in a gripping psychological battle that remains one of the most captivating vampire movies ever made, and a notable early example of queer cinema.
Stream it now on Peacock!
Son of Frankenstein (1939)
It’s worth mentioning that among all the solo monster series, only “Frankenstein” has managed to produce two sequels on this list. This is due to the fact that, although eight years elapsed between the initial film and the third installment, “Son of Frankenstein” continues as an impressive demonstration of continuity with the previous films in the series up until that point. In this movie, we delve into the life of Dr. Frankenstein’s son (played by Basil Rathbone), who returns to the family castle and endeavors to repair the Frankenstein legacy. However, he accidentally uncovers his father’s work and encounters the creature (portrayed once more by Boris Karloff) in the process. The film boasts creative design elements, compelling character development, and Bela Lugosi as a madman named Ygor – essentially everything you’d expect from what can be considered one of horror’s first legacy sequels.
Stream it now on Peacock!
The Invisible Man Returns (1940)
In the initial “Invisible Man,” we follow a man who becomes invisible due to some mysterious chemicals, but this newfound invisibility drives him insane and leads him on a destructive path. For the sequel, Universal cleverly switched things up, centering around a man (played by Vincent Price) sentenced for a crime he didn’t commit. He is given access to the invisibility serum, takes it, and uses his newfound powers to seek justice and clear his name while battling the impending madness that threatens him. This role offers a fantastic opportunity for Vincent Price, presents a fresh take on the “Invisible Man” idea, and delivers an unexpectedly emotional monster movie experience.
Stream it now on Peacock!
The Mummy’s Hand (1940)
They defeated the mummy at the end of The Mummy, but the thing about Egypt is they have a lot of mummies over there, so Universal went back with The Mummy’s Hand. A sequel basically in concept only, the film follows a new team of treasure hunters, a new mummy, and a new curse, and the results are wonderful. If you’re looking for the roots of the “lovable band of scoundrels in search of riches” style of mummy story that helped give birth to the 1999 remake, look no further than this film.
Stream it now on Peacock!
Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (1943)
This is the pioneering movie featuring a collection of horror icons! Following the succession of standalone Frankenstein films and the hit release of The Wolf Man in 1941, Universal Studios attempted to create a synergy by blending their monsters into a single production. While Larry Talbot, portrayed by Lon Chaney Jr., takes second billing, he bears the main narrative burden as grave robbers resurrect him, leaving him unable to die. Seeking Doctor Frankenstein’s research on life and death, Talbot hopes to find a means of peaceful demise. In his journey, he crosses paths with The Creature (played by Bela Lugosi), leading to a whirlwind of chaos. Though the plot can feel cramped at times, the amusing outcome explains why Universal Studios continued producing more monster mash-up movies following this initial release.
Stream it now on Peacock!
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1946)
To create something fresh and appealing at the box office, Universal Studios shifted direction towards blending horror and comedy in the 1940s. They enlisted Bud Abbott and Lou Costello for a string of adventures involving their horror characters. Their debut, featuring encounters not only with Frankenstein’s monster (portrayed by Glenn Strange), but also The Wolf Man (Lon Chaney) and Dracula (Bela Lugosi), remains their most successful. It boasts an authentic eerie ambiance and the distinct buddy comedy style of Abbott and Costello perfectly complements it. Notably, this is only the second and final time you’ll see Bela Lugosi portraying Dracula in a Universal Pictures production, so enjoy it!
Read More
- BODEN PREDICTION. BODEN cryptocurrency
- GHST PREDICTION. GHST cryptocurrency
- BETA PREDICTION. BETA cryptocurrency
- STRD PREDICTION. STRD cryptocurrency
- Mango Markets Exploiter Found Guilty Of Fraud And Manipulation
- GBP EUR PREDICTION
- MATIC PREDICTION. MATIC cryptocurrency
- LOOKS PREDICTION. LOOKS cryptocurrency
- BRN/USD
- TNSR PREDICTION. TNSR cryptocurrency
2024-09-27 21:46