Mini-review: Island Of Lost Souls (1932)

Island Of Lost Souls
Directed by Erle C. Kenton

Though '30s horror movies are almost automatically not scary in any way, I can still enjoy them for other reasons. They can be unique, inventive, atmospheric, or many other things. This particular movie is none of the above. I didn't care about almost anything that was going on the entire way through. Laughton and Lugosi both can do far better, the story wasn't all that interesting, and though some of the makeup is cool, that's not enough to get me to care about a movie -- I'm not that crazy.

Mini-review: The Invisible Man (1933)

The Invisible Man
Directed by James Whale

The greatest film by one of the greatest horror directors of all-time. Equal parts entertaining and impressive, this movie takes a monster and makes it into an incredibly compelling lead, thanks largely to the fiercely passionate and dedicated performance by Claude Rains. Though the movie itself isn't "scary", there are many great scenes surrounding Rains' psychotic and tragic lead that leave a strong impression. A fantastic performance piece as well as a revolutionary, brilliantly edited and constructed paranoid horror/mystery/sci-fi film with plenty of laughs and impressive special effects. The best Universal monster movie, without a doubt.

Mini-review: The Most Dangerous Game (1932)

The Most Dangerous Game
Directed by Irving Pichel & Ernest B. Schoedsack

Cold, sadistic, and bitterly ironic, this movie was ahead of its time as well as a timeless commentary on the brutal nature of man. Count Zaroff makes for an effective villain; a "civilized" man who has discovered a new prey and method of hunting to satisfy his animal urges. No time is wasted here, sending you straight into the story without hesitation. Short, but in no need of further fleshing-out of its story or characters, this movie says what it needs to say, and ends far before it wears out its welcome.

Mini-review: The Old Dark House (1932)

The Old Dark House
Directed by James Whale

One of the funnier classic Universal horror movies, and also one of the least talked-about. James Whale's films have always struck me as the most entertaining and energetic of the era, and this movie, though not quite on the same level as The Invisible Man or Bride Of Frankenstein, is still no exception. Filled with biting dialogue, bizarre and interesting characters, and performances rife with creepiness and excellent comedic timing. Far from the "scariest" movie of its time (which as a title wouldn't really mean much anyway), but still very entertaining.

Mini-review: The Black Cat (1934)

The Black Cat
Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer

Probably the creepiest of all classic Universal horror movies, this movie is a bizarre, risque showcase for Lugosi and Karloff, giving two of the best performances of their respective careers, aided by a script that lets the two legendary actors play off each other to great effect. Though there are holes in this movie (mostly found in the performances by its *other* leads and in the recycled musical score), most of what it has to offer is dark, eerie, and surprisingly unsettling for a film of its time. Well-shot, much more fleshed-out than it could have been, and quite effective.