We can already see the classic Universal monsters on HBO Max. The darkest films of the 1930s, based on essential stories from literature, have arrived on the platform of streaming. For a truly spooky Halloween season, millions of horror and horror movie fans turn to several of these films year after year, and now they can be viewed at the touch of a button on our remote control.
The fact that these tapes are available in digital format to be viewed through countless devices is quite an achievement, because we will finally be able to go to a permanent place to witness the mythical works that have shaped the conception of fear for numerous generations. –a few years ago, seeing these tapes was not so easy, even if they were well preserved–.
Have they put on their plastic fangs or wrapped them in bandages? Well, here is the selection that is part of the catalog.
Frankenstein (1931)
Boris Karloff stars in the film as the most memorable monster on the screen, in what is considered by many to be the greatest horror film ever made. Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive) dares to manipulate life and death by creating a human monster from lifeless body parts.
James Whale directs the best adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel.
Dracula (1931)
Rising ominously from the shadows of the Carpathian Mountains, Dracula’s Castle strikes fear into the hearts of Transylvanian villagers. After a naive estate agent succumbs to Count Dracula’s will, the two head to London, where the vampire hopes to wander among respectable society by day and seek out potential victims by night.
Directed by genre veteran Tod Browning and starring beloved actor Bela Lugosi, this film, without a doubt, is the one that made us see the modern vampire as we now see it. It is based on the work of Bram Stoker.
The Mummy (1932)
When the Egyptian mummy Imhotep is accidentally revived after 3,700 years, it is revealed in a flash back that he was a high priest, embalmed alive for attempting to revive his true love after she had been sacrificed. Alive Again, he embarks on an obsessive – and deadly – search to find her lost love.
Here, Boris Karloff gives one of the performances that made him an absolute horror legend.
Continue reading: Universal’s classic monsters come to HBO Max
The Invisible Man (1933)
An enigmatic doctor discovers a drug that, as the title says, makes him invisible. In order to give the appearance of a human figure, he covers himself with bandages and puts on sunglasses – which is clearly the most cool of the films of that time – and travels to a small English town, where he will do everything he can to hide his discovery. But what he didn’t count on was that the drug would send him into a sudden and terrifying killing frenzy.
Before the crazy and effective versions commanded by Leigh Whannell and Paul Verhoeven, this was the ultimate chill parade.
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
The legendary Boris Karloff returns to play the screen’s most misunderstood monster, who now yearns for a mate of his own. Colin Clive returns to play the overly ambitious Dr. Frankenstein, who creates the cheeky bride (Elsa Lanchester).
Directed by James Whale (his last horror film) and with a haunting musical score.
Werewolf of London (1935)
Botanist Wilfred Glendon (Henry Hull) travels to Tibet in search of a rare flower, the “Marifasa Lupina”, which only blooms in the moonlight. Despite warnings that the region is dangerous, Glendon continues his search until he finally locates the exotic flower, but not before having to fend off an attack from a howling monster. Back in London, Glendon is visited by the enigmatic Dr. Yogami (Warner Oland), who tells him that a series of current murders are the work of two werewolves.
This classic is the mold for all the lycanthrope works that came after.
Jose Roberto Landaverde Film buff and music lover. I am fascinated by writing, listening, reading and commenting on everything related to the seventh art. I am a fan of Rocky and Back to the Future and of course one day I will climb the “Philly Steps” and drive a DeLorean. Faithful believer that the cinema is the best teleportation machine, and also that we can all see ourselves represented on the big screen. Constantly, like Scott Pilgrim, I ask myself: “Does bread make you fat?”