The Romantic Horror Legacy of UNIVERSAL MONSTERS

An in-depth exploration of the Classic Universal Monsters, discussing their themes of attraction, alienation, and tragedy through the ideas of the monster, including Dracula, Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, The Wolfman, The Phantom of the Opera, and The Creature From the Black Lagoon.
PATREON - / mattdraper
TWITTER - / mattdraperyt
#UniversalMonsters
#Frankenstein
#Dracula
Music:
"Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" by Johann Sebastian Bach
Dracula OST
Frankenstein OST by Bernhard Kaun
Bride of Frankenstein OST by Franz Waxman
The Wolfman OST by Frank Skinner
Phantom of the Opera OST by Edward Ward
The Mummy OST by James Dietrich
The Invisible Man OST by Heinz Roemheld
Creature from the Black Lagoon OST by Henry Mancini
The Mummy 1999 OST by Jerry Goldsmith
"Monsters" by The Midnight
Sources:
www.latimes.com/archives/la-x...
www.entertainmentearth.com/ne...
jewcy.com/arts-and-culture/wh...
www.pastemagazine.com/movies/...
screenrant.com/frankenstein-1...
www.acmi.net.au/stories-and-i...
www.avclub.com/a-guide-to-the...
bloody-disgusting.com/news/34...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/mov...
blogs.dickinson.edu/secretliv...
www.jstor.org/stable/3828327
www.hollywoodreporter.com/mov...

[@MattDraper]

Who's your favorite Universal Monster?

[@owensreviews625]

Hands down, has to be the wolf man.

[@MrocnyZbik]

Dracula with Bela Lugosi. Best way for a date.

[@carsonsmith7314]

All of them. Just all of them.

[@sergioruiz733]

Wolfman, mainly because as a kid I saw one tear my fence apart on my farm.

[@tayloredwards4968]

It has to be Frankenstein. I'm not a big fan of the book version. But the movie version I really enjoy. Although he's a monster he's nothing but a gentle giant.

[@HunterShark300]

It's a shame Universal doesn't know how to use these characters anymore.

[@rodolforiverajr_]

Very true 🤔

[@bentramer682]

That and audiences don't actually understand movies, they just pay to see products, between that and the fact that movies only made for money have any writers with a high school diploma to write anything as long as it has something people recognize, I can see a major crash before another era like this is ever seen again.

[@hallking7441]

Watch the Hammer films!

[@Lc._.1]

For their Halloween event, Halloween Horror Nights, they have been smash hits and a big rejuvenation for the Classic Monsters!

[@Trysten317]

Cough cough

[@owensreviews625]

I don’t know why, but there’s something about the universal monsters that always makes me return to them year after year.

[@maxhammer4067]

There magical and fairy tale like. And the acting holds up. Bela is the ultimate dracula and boris is the ultimate Frankenstein

[@gnosis555]

They just great all around - scripts, acting, direction, imagery - fun and classic.

[@zillydino]

The lack of gore and focus on atmosphere is another key thing!

[@magicman3163]

It’s because they are cool monsters

[@tomhohn5234]

Me too. I grew up with them.

[@Xehanort10]

6:15 The Gill Man was only fighting back against the people who disturbed his home.

[@p.taylor981]

I love the Invisible Man, my only issue with it is that in the film the serum directly makes him go mad while in the book he goes mad over the power he feels being anonymous

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Classic mad scientist copout, that...not a fan of it either. Ironically, in both versions, I think what REALLY drove Griffin over the edge was how he could see what he was almost too clearly.

[@scotth6814]

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. The temptation of what you could do with being invisible would change anyone for the worse.

[@wednesdaygeckok.7899]

The movies always changed things Usually to streamline the stories

[@josephkolar3443]

Universal recognized that the best monsters have an air of tragedy to them. Have we lost that post-Jaws? Now audiences are supposed to cheer at the monster’s death, not feel sad.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Maybe...even Hammer Horror films often had that same air of tragedy about their many monsters. In particular, I think of Carmilla in The Vampire Lovers and Dr. Jekyll And Sister Hyde, obvious outcasts, just as obvious dangers to human life and yet I can't help but think that there might have been another way for them to make it.

[@sonofshoenice8010]

@@johnathonhaney8291 Christopher Lee’s version of the Mummy is my personal favourite, a great, largely forgotten physical performance

[@johnathonhaney8291]

@@sonofshoenice8010 Only film where he got to show both his formidable vocal chops (in the flashback scenes) AND the gift for mime he showed in Curse of Frankenstein...fond of that one too!

[@bezoticallyyours83]

As entertaining as many of the other big icons are, I don't think anyone really feels sorry for serial killers, child murderers, demons, and cannibals. You can make a case for Jason Voorhees being pitiable. Deformed, bullied, drowned, and not even allowed to rest in peace. Although I'm not sure if there's any soul left in that rotting behemoth? Renfield was both comedic and tragic. Benicio's Wolfman had a sad background. Whereas Chaney was pretty laid back and had a warm relationship with dad before he got bit. And there were a few lesser movie icons before 80s slashers that weren't tragic at all. The creepy guy from Black Christmas, Norman Bates, Dracula, the Invisible man, Dr. Frankenstein.

[@GrizzlyAdams94]

No October is complete without a Universal Monster marathon, and this video got me in just the right mood for them

[@walterfechter8080]

"E's awl eaten a'why!" -- The constable in "The Invisible Man."

[@TheMattShow1011]

I found DVD’s of all the Universal Monster movies at an Arizona gas station recently. It felt poetically tragic.

[@raymondplanchette9673]

Which gas station was this?

[@TheMattShow1011]

@@raymondplanchette9673 It had Shell gas with a Starbucks inside but the actual store was not branded.

[@raymondplanchette9673]

@@TheMattShow1011 Interesting. I live in Arizona, so I'm more curious about the city and major cross-streets. You a local, too?

[@leojablonski2309]

@@TheMattShow1011 Starbucks? Explains it

[@emilymccarty6343]

The narrator said they petered out ..😢😊😤😊

[@venom7558]

I've always loved these films. It's really actually makes me disappointed and angry that you don't see these movies broadcast on television much anymore,esp. now around Halloween.

[@richardbartolo2890]

Television took a huge nose dive around the early 1980's the day they stopped showing moves, And that happened first, They replaced all the movie packages & decent television shows with mutants like Phil Donahue, Geraldo Rivera and Maury Povich, Whose aim was to pit people against each other to fight and yell so Maury and his gang could get a fat residual check. They were issued checks and we were given the privilege of wasting our time watching morons fight with each other. And we had to pay for that trash. The final nail in the coffin was when we had 5 fat clucking hens on the "The View". What a waste of time, money and film. Anything they cluck about on the View is totally self involved at its base. Dump your cable T V. You can find good movies for free on line. With T V you have no control, And your paying for it. Your going to own a computer any way, See if you can find what you like online. You can find better things on You-Tube than you can on cable. And you will only have 1 bill.

[@speedracer1945]

@@richardbartolo2890 reality shows really changed Television. It morphed into more and more since its cheaper. Stations like History channel and late night no movie but infomercials . Not to get political but we had two presidents one was a B - actor and the other was a reality show host. Entertainment is getting confusing cuz its hard to tell who is mirroring who .

[@speedracer1945]

Only TCM plays them now and then. Dont forget Lon Chaneys Phantom of the Opera and Hunchback .

[@jimmywoo3885]

@@speedracer1945 Yup, Turner Classic Movies plays them often. Also, on MeTV Svengoolie, every Saturday night, plays most of the old Universal horror flicks, among other old sci-fi and horror, if you can handle a horror host.

[@Nighthawk5015]

Luckily they're easy to find in physical media. I have most of them and watch them every year.

[@heilong79]

I used to love these as a kid growing up in the 80s, they used to be shown late at night once a week and I was allowed stay up to watch them. The atmosphere was so special and it gave me a love for monsters.

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

I think Frankenstein and its sequel have probably aged the best. Those movies are still oddly powerful. "We belong dead." Unexpectedly moving. I think they were the best.

[@Bigfrank88]

They're probably the best films overall, James Whale really knew how to handle the drama.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

The prayer scene in Bride always gets to me.

[@98izzark69]

Invisible Man for me

[@raymondplanchette9673]

"I love dead, hate living" and "We belong dead", coupled with the monster's copious tears in Bride always gets to me.

[@tophers3756]

@@Bigfrank88 his humor onscreen was a bit broad, but I chalk it up to the era and the lingering ties of film with stage plays

[@walterfechter8080]

Here's what I got from "The Wolfman" -- No good deed goes unpunished. Larry Talbot becomes cursed for attempting to save a woman from a monster. Sir John's (Claude Rains") expression of shock (and crushing sorrow) after discovering his son's monstrous alter ego left me with a few tears. It was like something straight out of Greek tragedy. Poor Larry. Poor Sir John.

[@davebooshty299]

The Gillman is especially a Victim considering People went into HIS homeland , attacked him and etc.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

A point Guillermo Del Toro made explicit in The Shape of Water.

[@rachelnesser9223]

Yes indeed! Totally agree! Guillermo del Toro even describes the film as a "home invasion" story -- he saw the injustice of the humans invading the Gill-Man's natural home.🥺

[@dangeroreilly2028]

same for 1933 King Kong, but that wasn't Universal.

[@davebooshty299]

@@dangeroreilly2028 oh I do realize that I think it was RKO actually I think.

[@dangeroreilly2028]

@@davebooshty299 correct, Dave!

[@GamerBro_52]

The gill man makes me happy when i see him

[@carsonsmith7314]

Probably my favorite film franchise of all time. Personally, Bride of Frankenstein and the wolfman have always been my favorite films of the franchise, but I love them all regardless.

[@dannyorozco4]

These films are classic in their own way. Thank you, Universal monsters live on forever.

[@ultraman3014jc]

The Wolf Man/Lon Chaney Jr. (the only man at the time to play all of the Universal monsters) 😎👍👏 Creighton Chaney's tragic lifestyle really gave life and realism to his performance as a Lawrence Talbot. And as a Christian, I really love the mythology of the Wolf Man (a metaphor for the evil within every man's heart/soul). His curse of lycanthropy is like the curse of sin that affects and plagues all of mankind. Sometimes we can't stand the fact that we all inevitably hurt ourselves and those around us in our lives (like the Wolf Man and even Creighton himself). I'll end my comment with a quote from Dr. Samuel Loomis in Halloween 2 (the original). "Samhain isn't goblins or evil spirits. It isn't witches or ghosts. It's the unconscious mind. We're all afraid of the dark inside ourselves." Well said Donald Pleasence, well said 😔👍👏

[@speedracer1945]

Yeah , Chaney played all the characters but his best was the Wolfman . Loved him in Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein were all monsters were in . One of my favorite films .

[@sbcj9]

I love the classics. Creature from the Black Lagoon is one of my favorites from that time. I love the classic look and just like watching back now and see what they did to make them iconic.

[@TheOnlyJzillaMerida]

Dracula has ALWAYS been my favorite monster from the classic series. Bela Lugosi MASTERED that role and made those movies an absolute joy to watch.

[@staceyboomboom8031]

I always get Bauhaus's "Bela Legosi is Dead" stuck in my head when I see him

[@rociomiranda5684]

I feared them and loved them when I was a little girl. They hold an endless fascination for me. I watch all the movies at least once a year. I've had a crush on Karloff ever since I can remember. These monsters are my friends and these are my comfort movies. I just want to point out that, although Dracula the novel certainly shows fear of the immigrant from the East, Dracula the character (and I don't mean Vlad Tepes) is explained by Van Helsing as a former medieval warlord, presumably Catholic, who fought the Turks and attended a witchcraft school presided by the Devil himself. The reason Dracula fears Catholic symbols like the Cross and the Host is because he is ashamed as he betrayed his God and lost his soul. If anything, he is an antichrist figure who even quotes the Gospels to Renfield and Mina.

[@JP-yw4wx]

60 now and I still own all of the monster plastic models that were produced by Aurora. All painted to perfection. They're mine always. Thanx for such a cool video. 🎃

[@mosriteminioncause7741]

The codes of the times - These were set rules that forced the film makers to focus more on the stories and use more innovative methods to convey horror to the audience. This is what helped to make enduring classics of these films - unlike the unfettered blood and gore of modern times...whose themes lose sight of the fact that the human mind naturally wants forget sick images. So the eerie beauty and mood of the Iconic Universal Monster films still endure.🧟‍♂🧛‍♂🐺🐸

[@VicMartino]

The Universal Monsters were my favorites growing up as well as now that I've grown up. One can never "outgrow" the Universal Monsters. They were/are "Universally" loved! Excellent monster movies. Best of all time.

[@DiegoReviews]

Being a hairy man myself, I’ve always been partial to the Wolfman. Loved this deep dive into all the Universal Monsters, Matt!

[@MattDraper]

Thanks, Diego! Being a reanimated monster pieced together from several different people, I've always been partial to Frankenstein's Monster.

[@hankjones7054]

Being an extremely unimpressive individual myself, I've always been partial to the invisible man. Great video!

[@grigoregruesome3606]

Being born a semi-aquatic fish man I’ve always been partial to The creature myself.

[@SpiderMan-gf1lc]

being the good sucker I am, Dracula was certainly my attraction!

[@goodowner5000]

With accusations (occasionally) of being all wrapped-up in myself, I'll have to say it's The Mummy for me.

[@wimvanderstraeten6521]

The props and sets of the classic 30's Frankenstein movie would later be used for Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein.

[@michaelsegriff3362]

Always been partial to Creature from the Black Lagoon. Love the creature design, the story and the action. And of course, I’ve always had a huge crush on Julia Adams. Had an Aurora model of every one of these classic monsters as a kid growing up in the 1960’s, was an avid collector of Famous Monsters of Filmland and watched all of these films whenever they were on TV. Truly enjoyed this video, thanks.

[@sergioruiz733]

The Wolfman for sure, mainly because a childhood encounter while shutting the barn up with a creature that jumped on our fence before leaping into the neighbours field have always sustained my fascination with the idea of a Wolfman.

[@mariovazquez4436]

Do you know what creature it was?

[@sergioruiz733]

@@mariovazquez4436 My dad says it was probably a cougar, though looking the slash marks between the 2 fence posts and the distance of those posts from another and the weight of the creature that sagged a 5,9 foot tall fence, I am still skeptical. As ridiculous as it sounds I know I saw a biped leap that fence, whether it was a wolfman or a human being or what have you, I know it wasn't a bear or cougar. It honestly haunts and fascinates me to this day.

[@mariovazquez4436]

@@sergioruiz733 sounds like fascinating encounter and a very creepy memory that sticks with you

[@sergioruiz733]

@@mariovazquez4436 Its honestly one of my few memories from my childhood that is still very vivid for me.

[@thestorm99]

Judging by your spelling of 'neighbours", with a "u", I'm guessing you're in the UK? There's the legend of Black Shuck, there. A giant black hound that roams the moors. And there are also several accounts of big cats being seen and even attacking people. The Black Beast of Exmoor comes to mind.

[@rubencomics74]

Black and White Horror is my kind of Horror. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein and The Wolfman are my favorites

[@Mrs.Frankenstein]

Frankenstein is my favorite, however I absolutely love the Bride, and The Son of Frankenstein was a great film. One of my favorite lines though comes from Dracula: "Listen to them, children of the night. What music they make."

[@chrisn7259]

My favorite is The Wolfman, mostly because of the poignant performance of Lon Chaney, Jr.

[@Emike-nc9ew]

Nothing makes me more happy to see you talk about universal monsters.

[@poodong9618]

Easily Bella Lugosi's Dracula. So iconic.

[@stanley5745]

I loved your video on Bride of Frankenstein, very happy to see you expand on it here.

[@brt5273]

The Wolfman, probably because I found him the most sympathetic and identifiable of all the monsters. I remember as a little kid hoping that there would be a cure or some way to break the curse so that Larry Talbot would be freed/saved from it.

[@raymondplanchette9673]

I'm so pleased to see this exploration of Universal Monsters. Thanks for keeping the undead alive.

[@20th_century_specter]

The Universal Monster films are truly magical. Even after 8 decades, they're still as powerful as they were when they were released.

[@eternalcowboy224]

Those posters are amazing.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Some of the black and white finer illustrations we saw in the video were actually pieces from comics painter art god Alex Ross.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

10:38 Funny story...Universal Frankenstein is taken from a play based on the book. In this play, the names of Victor Frankenstein and his best friend Henry Clavel are reversed, which is how it wound up being that was in the film version.

[@jlkitz1775]

The Wolfman, The Invisible Man & The Creature from the Black Lagoon are my favorite Universal monster films 👍🏾. And it cracks me up how the same music is used throughout the movies 🤫

[@CinemaSeven]

I like the Wolfman so much that I wrote a dry parody short screenplay about an average man being bit by a hipster in New Orleans. Universal Monsters have always been cool.

[@matarax]

So my wife loves Werewolves and we named our son Benjamin. I just asked her if she knew the biblical Benjamin was perceived as a Werewolf. She said no. That's a mighty big coincidence 🤔

[@sadlobster1]

I LOVE the Universal Monsters...but the truth is, some of the sequels that came after the very first movies in the lineup just felt silly rather than scary. Some examples I can give are House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula, the Mummy series of sequels and even Ghost of Frankenstein. As much as I love the series, I feel like the original novels and folk legends did the monsters much better justice

[@vanguardian2864]

I know people are sick of remakes and shared universes, but I’m yearning for each of the major classic monsters (Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolf Man, Mummy, Mr Hyde, etc.) to each be given a SCARY film adaptation, as close to their literary counterparts as possible. There’s something about the time periods, romanticism and atmosphere about these stories that keeps me coming back. Geek thought: it would be awesome to see an insane movie about the classic monsters fighting the slasher icons (Freddy, The Shape, Jason, etc.)

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Perhaps something along the lines of Neil Gaiman's American Gods?

[@vanguardian2864]

@Johnathon Haney Possibly, or a more grounded and mature version of Van Helsing

[@imlaughing2death]

"Geek thought: it would be awesome to see an insane movie about the classic monsters fighting the slasher icons (Freddy, The Shape, Jason, etc.)" As a kid I remember watching a kids film called "Monster Mash" that basically has this premise. Frankie, The Wolfman and Dracula encounter analogues of Chucky, The Xenopmorph and a wierd combo of Jason and Freddy Kreuger. Don't expect much since, you know, old 3rd party kids cartoon, but you might get a kick out of the climax.

[@Enshohma]

HELL YES!!! I never thought you'd give the classics their proper due in a video essay!

[@chonchjohnch]

This video reminds me of the anecdote where the English teacher talks about how blue curtains are emblematic of the sadness of the author, but then a student points out that maybe the curtains are just blue

[@aceyspud551]

Maybe Dracula is just a vampire.

[@magicman3163]

They had to buy the cheapest background products and blue dye is cheaper than red dye

[@dangeroreilly2028]

sometimes a cigar is just a cigar

[@glompworthyash]

The argument is actually rather that authors even when not purposefully putting meaning into their writing, still do so because of their experience, their background, their upbringing. No one comes up with anything original, but rather is a product of their beliefs, their environment, and so even when the curtains ARE simply blue, perhaps the author was remembering fondly on blue curtains for their youth, or at an ex’s home, or whatever. Otherwise why even put any attention to the curtain colors at all if not to give off a vibe or feel?

[@SAPProd]

I’ve always loved the Universal Monsters films, discovering them via Crestwood books at the library, then tracking them down through tv and tape. Capcom’s fighting franchise Darkstalkers embodies the desire to be monsters perfectly. The creature designs obviously draw inspiration from the Universal Monsters (rumor is the game originally started as a licensed fighter before they went with original designs), and even most of the endings are similarly tragic in nature, a far cry from most fighting game endings of the time. It’s why I wish Capcom would bring the games back, not just for the sake of the games themselves, but because they are a link to the classic monsters.

[@zemox2534]

I agree. Darkstalkers is an awesome game series.

[@ejdet.feeney9020]

I love watching universal monsters all Them especially all The Brides from Frankenstein Dracula mummy bride as well as the other movies and tv shows

[@arcadeassassin7176]

i just realised part of the reason why Luca worked so well is because it's like a universal monster movie but with happy ending.

[@shanelorrison5224]

So the Hayes code is the film version of Frederic Wertham’s Seduction of the innocent and subsequent creation of the comics code authority. Man, censorship sucks.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

It truly does. When I hear people arguing how we need a NEW Hayes Code, I want to slap them. Artistry happens DESPITE whatever restrictions you're up against, not BECAUSE of it.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

11:44 Can we also just point out that Bride of Frankenstein created the horror cliche of the apparently dead monster coming back long before Michael Myers pulled the same trick in Halloween?

[@kyleforbes6048]

Ah, the Universal Monsters. Nice to see you finally showcase the classics in such a classic way.

[@speedracer1945]

For its time the invisible man was good effects and loved the first one. The Wolfman had great makeup and the Creature from the black lagoon too was a very lethal looking monster though smelted fishing.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

6:49 And by that definition, the original Mummy as portrayed by Boris Karloff is a rotten monster through and through. He's a controlling ex-boyfriend who can't let go until finally his ex MAKES him do just that (with a little assistance from Isis). I will always say that Ankhsunamen/Helen Groevner was the true hero of The Mummy.

[@danielhawkins4222]

I grew up watching the Universal Monster movies when they were on TV in the 90s. My parents got me the huge dvd box set in the early 2000s that I still have displayed on my cabinet. It has three statue busts of Dracula, the Monster and the Wolf Man. I use to watch all the bonus documentaries and have gone on to research everything I could about these films. Basically, these films are extremely dear to me. You did a great job with your views as usual. Thanks, dude :)

[@speedracer1945]

These films were wild for the eras they were in . Dracula was fantastic as well as the Karloff sequels . One of the best makeups created was the Creature from the black lagoon. The Wolfman scared the crap out me as well as Frankenstein's monster as a young lad . A friend and I collected all the magazines in the late 60s as the films played on TV . Too bad they dont play these films on TNT etc only TCM occasionally does .

[@doc]

I grew up with all of these, used to rent them from blockbuster every weekend on VHS. First one I ever saw was house of dracula and that got me hooked, watched literally all the universal classic movies after that. The Frankenstein series is still my favorite, with Bride of Frankenstein and Son of Frakenstein being probably two of my favorite movies of all time! I make it a goal every halloween to watch at least a couple of them!

[@johnathonhaney8291]

9:02 With respect, that also has its roots in distrust in Eastern Europeans and ethnic groups like the Slavs and Rom.

[@ScarletVoodoo]

You calling The Mummy "boring" hurt my soul, sir. It is my favorite.

[@agm5424]

A good example of a well done gothic series that no many know or talk about is Pennydreadfull. If anyone is interested in a good example of a "dark universe" I recommend giving it a watch since this is, in my opinion, the definitive example of a good gothic series. It's set in victorian London with almost all the classic monsters; fair warning: is a slow burner. Also I'm referring to the first version of the series, the one with Eva Green, avoid the "city of angels" version like the fracking plague.

[@ScarletVoodoo]

I adored it. The last season was somewhat disappointing but overall it was an amazing take on these classic characters.

[@jackofallclaws6672]

Too bad the recent update to The Invisible Man lost the tragedy and somewhat sympathetic characterization of the titular character. I understand what the filmmakers were going for, but still.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

You ever read the original H. G. Wells novel? Trust me, THAT'S the kind of scumbag he was. As Alan Moore put it, Griffin was "one of the single unlikable characters in literature", "a right bastard" and "your classic psychopath". So yeah, the recent movie was true to the novel's spirit.

[@jackofallclaws6672]

@@johnathonhaney8291 The book also explains that Griffith was an Albino. As such, part of the reason he ended up the person he was was because of forces and societal issues beyond his control.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

@@jackofallclaws6672 Yeah, no, I realize that's the classic Victorian interpretation of such, but it's bullshit that's right up there with eugenics. Evil is a choice, not a destiny. When given power, the choice Griffin made was megalomania, mayhem and murder. Things can drive you one way or the other...but you ALWAYS own your behavior. It's to Whale's credit that he NEVER his Griffin off the hook like you just did the original.

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

Didn’t expect a Universal Horror Monsters video to bring me to tears! More than once! Fantastic work about other fantastic work. Great intro &/or overview for a fascinating thread in a large genre. There’s always been something particularly special about the Bride’s addition to the canon. Elsa Lanchester gave such a prismatic, layered, responsive, revelatory performance...yet like all Universal Monsters (& some real outcasts + misfits), bc the characters made such strong haunting impressions, they became iconic in pop culture, & subsequently over decades they’ve been referenced, imitated, parodied, amplified, etc in various contexts, retrospectively flattening some genuinely sensitive, fine-grained, thoughtful acting into a set of static images + distillation of mannerisms. This side effect of entering cultural mythology can make it challenging to be open to the actual performances as they are in the films, even if we get lucky enough to see them in an environment that treats them respectfully, with a professionally restored cinematic version, not over-edited for TV or a cheap distro dub that makes everything look shabby or sound incoherent. The sincerity in Matt D’s exploration plus excellent editing/mixing allowed a sense of the compelling nuance + power of the acting to shine thru, even in clips-it really caught me off guard emotionally🖤. Lanchester is so much more interesting than her most famous film role. There’s some odd synchronicity here, since she was married to/creatively partnered with Charles Laughton-whose portrayal of the “monstrous*” Hunchback of Notre Dame became as iconic as Bride, with that version of HoND commenting on snowballing horrors coming with WWII. Then in ‘55 Laughton made his only film as a director, Night of the Hunter, a gothy noir featuring a menacing Robert Mitchum as an entirely different kind of monster. Matt D’s video made me think of that “chain of monster” roles - Bride->Hunchback->Mitchum’s murderous false preacher - & how they may have informed each other, & what they say about “monsters”. *...arguably Laughton’s monster portrait was his titular role in The Private Life of Henry the VIII

[@jabroni9446]

Matt is at his full power during October

[@vicmartinoofficial331]

The Universal Monsters are my favorite of all monster movies. I remember as a child every Saturday night on WNEW channel five here in NYC watching them with my cousin Rosie who use to "babysit" me on the weekends. Later on they were aired on WOR channel nine. I was always watching them.

[@ginofrancejr555]

Excellent video I LOVE THE UNIVERSAL MONSTERS

[@stephenvelez9710]

Back for another listen, been on a bit of a Karloff jag as of late❤️

[@MusicFromAnotherTime]

I just found your channel the other day and I just wanted to let you know how awesome your videos are. I've been watching a bunch of them and they are all super fascinating!

[@BoyNamedSue4]

I think it speaks volumes that the generation that were kids when these were out reinterpreted them as Everyman characters in the munsters

[@jlkitz1775]

I love the original monsters 😍🙌🏾🎥. These stay in high rotation for my movie nights; they take me back to my childhood & just make me feel good 😊

[@padraigpearse1551]

Personally I wouldve swapped out the 43 phantom with the 25 phantom. Lon chaneys was just so much more iconic than the 43 one

[@oh_poor_damaged_mepatrick1529]

Wow that's one of the best video essays on universal horror I've ever had the pleasure to stumble across.... great job!

[@gerasandoval8649]

I loved this so much. Thank you

[@taketheatrain5393]

This is so meticulous, informative and brilliant! Great memories from my childhood. Bravo!

[@richardrodriguez3004]

Love the old Universal monster movies.

[@improperbostonian6722]

Universal Classic Monsters are for ever cool.

[@robotb9-606]

The Universal Monsters Are the Best Horror Films Ever Made.

[@danteanise3013]

Thank you for this video. I have been a great fan of the classic dark universe and the monsters there in. I have always related to the outsider character and its general struggle to be "normal." From Adam, the Frankenstein monster to Mr Spock. Thank you for showing me yet another point of view about these classics. Keep up the good work.

[@marcusharton5463]

I was always kind of wary of that Wolf Man interpretation, because in that case, his family absolutely are the most powerful in town textually rather than merely because they're different. Dracula, I get it, because it goes to lengths to show that he is an "other" by virtue of reasons out of his control. But in Wolf Man, it didn't seem like they thought the family (just the returning Larry) was Other besides being employers. I guess that's where the muddiness of the narrative details comes in, because if the father had simply acccepted the suspicions of the townfolk, instead of throwing his weight around to deny it, he could've probably addressed it (albeit with difficulty). So, it felt like a tragedy of unchecked power meeting something it can't just walk over.

[@MegaIkedog]

Funny that you posted the video today Matt, as the Universal Classic Monsters 30 film Blu-ray boxset is just $70 on Amazon! At less than $2.50 a film, how could you not pick it up??!!

[@user-yo6qj9ed8q]

i cried in the end? during worktime?? sitting in the office??? dammit janet this is a good video, thank you for this!

[@fernandoluna6589]

excellent work matt

[@AlexMartinez-gv7hy]

I've seen Dracula and only that film, im hoping to watch the other films someday. I like the Wolfman as I had to hide my true self for a good amount of time.

[@TequilaToothpick]

The classic Universal Phantom of the Opera is the 1920's silent movie version, which is the first Universal Horror film.

[@adrianlutes2465]

When they tried to remake these monsters, I thought it was a good idea. Unfortunately, they ruined it big time. Van Helsing was a good example.

[@STSGuitar16]

I'd LOVE to see faithful remakes of these classic movies. Not new spins on the stories, not modern settings and characters, just new films that are actually faithful to the original movies. Seeing a classic Frankenstein or Dracula movie on the big screen would be so cool. Many know vague stereotypes about a lot of these monsters, but I'd say most folks these days don't really know the plots of the movies they're in, so it really would be cool to see that and further preserve these stories using modern production techniques. Like I said, no spins on the stories or heavy use of modern cgi or modern characters (like they did with the recent remake of Invisible Man), just good old fashioned monster movies that just happen to be made today. Call me crazy, but I think that that idea would be popular for sure. At least, I know that I'd certainly go to the movies to see something like the original Dracula story!

[@hydrolito]

You missed some of Universals monsters Beast men and Panther woman from Island of Lost souls 1932, Monster and the girl 1941, Invisible Woman 1941, Invisible agent 1942, Son of Dracula 1943, She Wolf of London 1946, The Creature of the Black Lagoon 1954 and possibly some others. Metro Goldwyn Mayer also had similar movie Dracula Daughter in 1936. There were also some other movies I'm not sure who made them Billy the Kid vs Dracula, Jesse James meets Frankenstein's daughter, Aztec Mummy vs Robot, and Wrestling Woman vs Aztec Mummy.

[@robertgembala8532]

True classics , Remember watching these as a kid with my dad , on the old creature feature Television show played one every week

[@criticalrants]

It's always a pleasure to see you talk about horror movies Matt. Great work!

[@MattDraper]

Thanks, my dude!

[@SuperAtlantis1]

These movies are so classic. Love them all still. The Wolfman is my favorite

[@lukebaxter3252]

I absolutely love the Classic Universal Monster movies. Like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and James Bond, there's a comfort for me whenever I think of and watch any of the Universal Monster films. Like I can just put any of them on and curl up in a blanket in the dark and be immersed in the creepy atmospheres these films depict. My favourites have to be The Mummy, Dracula and the first two Frankensteins. And I got into them because of the Brendan Fraser starring Mummy movies that I grew up with, which helped make the Mummy my favourite of all the Universal Monsters. And because of these films and others that surrounded them, I've been obsessed with this era of Hollywood.

[@johnpittsii7524]

Thanks for the review Mattt. Much ❤ as always 😊

[@Xehanort10]

10:59 The film monster's basically a manchild who can't understand why he's being treated how he is as opposed to the novel's intelligent monster who's abandoned by Victor and attacked by everyone he meets for being ugly. And then after Victor destroys the bride he promised to make him he snaps.

[@konnorrockkonnoisseur4970]

When I read Dracula and watched the 1931 film, I detected ZERO references to anti-Semitism. I was understood Dracula’s fight with the British protagonists as a fight between the superstition of the “less civilized” Eastern Europe and the West, thought to be more advanced through science and reason, with the westerners having to lean back towards older beliefs in the supernatural to take down an evil foe. Dracula was also a representation of everything Victorian England tried to stand against with regards to sexuality, with him taking on multiple promiscuous wives and some sort of symbolism with blood or something

[@nunyabizness6595]

41 movies. I didn't realize there were that many. I like it.

[@stephenvelez9710]

Matt, this is beautiful ❤️

[@jasonsantos3037]

My favorite universal's monster is the Gillman from creature from black lagoon.

[@person14876]

Gonna do hammer horror and it’s legacy

[@imlaughing2death]

I always bring up Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in discussions of the classic monsters, since it's one of the few properties that got away from Universal (aside from their Abbot and Costello version from 1951). The 1932 film slots right in with Dracula and Frankenstein because it was odd transition period where the sound movies didn't have music, it had phenomenal makeup and it actively bucked the censorship rules with Hyde being less out and out evil, and more a free-spirited hot head who is unchained by the constraints of his society. The 1941 film however, while usually not as well regarded by fans, takes alot of cues from later films and uses alot of subtext to get an arguably more insidious character past the now rigidly enforced Hay Code, and polishes it up with a slick visuals and a phenomenal score.

[@danielross5292]

I really love All Those Classic Horror movies a Heck a lot But it's a Real Shame That Hollywood don't make movies like Them anymore!☹️

[@Xehanort10]

15:49 Two Face as the Phantom.