Ranking the Universal Classic Monsters
Universal's classic monsters from the 1920s to the 1950s are pillars of the horror genre. They have survived in the pop culture for nearly 100 years and are each iconic in their own right. Many of them have spawned successful franchises, remakes, and parodies that have enveloped decades upon decades of film history. Here, I thought I'd show my love to all the granddaddies of monsters. This list won't include monsters that were introduced later in a series, such as the Bride, and will only focus on the originators that everyone knows.
7. The Mummy
While this particular monster has blossomed and spawned some creepy and adventurous films in the later decades, the original The Mummy (1932) is a special feat in make-up, but not much more than that. For me, at least, this film is very dry and lacked the substance that the franchise would attain later on.
6. Dracula
Arguably the most iconic monster on this list, but also the most disappointing. Like the mummy, Dracula is a character that has flourished over decades of re-imaginings, but when I first watched the original Dracula (1931) I felt incredibly underwhelmed. Years after my first viewing, and an appreciation of film history, I have come to respect what Dracula had achieved, but I still find trouble sitting through the movie when Nosferatu did a much better job a decade earlier.
5. The Invisible Man
Out of all the monsters on this list the Invisible Man was one monster I didn't have a preconceived expectation going into his film. He was always in the background of cartoons and predominantly used as comedic relief. Here, The Invisible Man (1933) is a comedy-horror, more science fiction than fantastical, and more comedic than one would expect. The "invisible" techniques they used are still astounding today, and can easily compete with modern filmmaking, but this is a movie where you should see it multiple times to get an appreciation of.
4. Phantom of the Opera
He's dramatic, a romantic, and ultimately a menace. This interpretation of the Phantom blew my mind. My first impression of this character came from Joel Schumacher's remake, which I can never finish. Here, Universal's Phantom of the Opera (1943) is more of an origin story about the phantom and his fall from grace, taking great care in crafting the character's emotional beats and balancing them with utter terror at how far a man will go for love. This is one movie everyone needs to see, as well as the 1925 version.
3. The Monster
Most arguably the second most iconic monster in film, Frankenstein's Monster chilled the screen for decades with great make-up, shocking deaths, and stunning sets. Frankenstein (1931), as far as I'm concerned, is a perfect movie. The monster is sympathetic, the setting is eerie, and a lot of iconic scenes and lines that are boasted about in pop culture actually have weight that'll make you want to see this movie over and over.
2. The Creature/The Gil-man
This, and my number one spot, always gets flipped depending on the year. The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) means so much to me as a film, and the creature is designed incredibly. Not only that but they got insane underwater scenes for the 50s, and pretty much invested new technology to get these shots. The Creature is definitely the most unloved in pop culture, but after watching his movies you can easily understand why he has stuck around in the public's mind all these years later.
1.The Wolfman
I loved the Wolfman as a character since I was a kid. He was my favorite monster and I identified with him so much during hard times. Even though most wouldn't have seen The Wolfman (1941) his story is so iconic that like Frankenstein the general public more than likely knows what it's about. And then the special effects on make-up, the Gothic and dark aesthetic of their sets, the whole film is just a great piece of cinema. I watch it every Halloween, and every time I'm still impressed.
Well, that's my list of my favorite monsters that started it all. What are yours? Comment below.
