UNIVERSAL MONSTERS - why are classic horror movies still popular? | video essay
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- čas přidán 2. 07. 2020
- After almost a century, the Universal Monsters continue to capture audiences and bring in new fans around the world. But what is it about the original house of horror that has endured for all this time? As one of those still carrying the torch for these classic horror films, I put forward a modern perspective as to why they still resonate with contemporary audiences and how the monsters have turned from icons of terror to comfort viewing...
All credits in video. No ownership is claimed over the content herein. - Krátké a kreslené filmy
Fantastic video! I genuinely felt like I learned a hell of a lot & you really made me appreciate this era of classic horror so much more!
Well done for shouting out smaller channels I respect that. 👍🏼
Your post brought me here, thank you guys for supporting other cool channels
Thanks for bringing me here. I remember watching frankenstein with my grandma as a kid and I remember being told that the Original Grinch is voiced by Boris Karloff.
Good looking out rejects!!
Sorry it's taken me so long to see this but THANK YOU SO MUCH for this shout-out! Wow that means a lot, and I'm glad you enjoyed my video!
It's interesting that you talked about the monsters not being scary because they're so stereotyped and they've been the subject of so many jokes... I'm in my thirties, so obviously by the time I came along my first exposure to the monsters was the same way: secondhand, through parodies and send-ups. Yet, when I sat down to watch Dracula for the first time, as an adult, I found that first sight of Bela Lugosi onscreen to be an incredibly powerful moment. Not in spite of the jokes and cliches, but because of them. Because I had heard bad Bela Lugosi impersonations and depictions of vampires in Victorian garb for my entire life, and now I was seeing the origin of every single one of them. I realized that I was bearing witness to a cultural archetype, a performance and presence that was so influential that it has lived in our collective consciousness for almost one hundred years, and might last a hundred more. The jokes wouldn't have been so persistent if the source material wasn't effective, and it still is.
Maybe the films don't entertain us at the level we're accustomed to today, and obviously there is much that hasn't aged well, but as time goes on they only haunt us on a level that goes deeper and deeper, because no modern performance of any of these roles has been able to dethrone the originals in our cultural consciousness.
It’s sad how Universal is trying to make these monsters into marvel superheroes when the intrigue has always been the deeper meaning behind the monsters character.
They have definitely gotten away from the atmosphere that made these movies so great.
I think Invisible Man did a pretty decent job to rectify that - or at least set them out on the right course. The themes felt much stronger in that film than actually being like "hey look at this cool invisible guy". Even though I really wanted to see Johnny Depp's version, I like that they went with an actor who is pretty much unknown to a general audience (us horror lot know him from The Haunting of Hill House - but some still might not even make that connection). I have a lot of faith in Blumhouse taking the reins from Universal a little bit.
I had expectations for this franchise, but alas this was never meant to be.
Marvel superheros? I personally never got that impression, but everyone has their own impressions.
These movies may be old but they are better than most modern horror films
Most modern films*.
Universal Classic Monsters will be cool for ever.
Classic Hollywood is what inspired me to become a makeup artist. It's incredible how much the average viewer takes for granted. Practical makeup effects are both a science and an art.
These films will always hold a special place in my heart. Whilst they maybe aren’t as scary as they were when released, they created a great atmosphere with entertaining characters that have yet to be matched. What I’d give for another classic style B&W horror film in the cinemas.
Young Frankenstien did a great job of recreating a similar atmosphere,a tongue in cheek homage in my eyes.
My beloved Universal monsters, the friends of my childhood..
I’m a 27 year old Canadian and I’m a fan of the classics
I am 62, and a huge fan of horror movies, both old-school black-and-white (I have a serious crush on Boris Karloff) and recent movies, like Get Out, The Witch, and MidSommar. Like the music of Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven, and the paintings of Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Monet, these movies will never die. They will find an audience forever.
Same here,i was in love with Fay Wray,i would have battled Kong for her!!!!
I also think the draw to these films that make them still popular is they are from a simpler time. The actors spoke with an old world elegance. Plus the Gothic settings are a plus
Timeless characters, perfect gothic production design, make-up, cinematography and atmosphere!
I grew up watching these movies on AMC durning the 80's and to this day I still watch them. They are great story telling (for the most part) they are a great way to escape and are perfect movies for the month of October
It is so great to hear from another Universal Classic Monsters Fan!
I've seen a good number of the films. The Wolfman is my personal favorite, Lon Chaney Jr is great and you have such sympathy for him and his curse. I also finally saw Bride of Frankenstein last Halloween and it was as good as you describe. Like you mentioned I certainly expected the Bride to be the star, not just a player in the last five minutes.
Even 5 minutes of the bride was enough because she was Beautiful and ( rare for the time ) a female monster. You could not take your eyes off her. Plus it was the climax of this truly classic film.
4:36 For the Creature From the Black Lagoon, it’s not change that it fears. It’s rejection. He fell in love with the woman as she swam above him/it. When he/it came to her she screamed in terror. That made him/it angry and took her away for him/itself. This is, or course, MY opinion.
Interesting take! I think that definitely applies to the first film, but in later ones he just wants to go back to where he came from and resume his peaceful life (e.g. that scene in The Creature Walks Among Us when he stares longingly at the sea). But I can definitely see that as being a possible fear in the first film.
"It was beauty that killed the beast...".........damit,that`s been used.....
They're Classics for good reasons. As a "Monster Kid" of the 50's and 60's, I think of the characters as treasured friends from childhood. And as a Gay kid, they were proof to me that there were others who were "different". Especially the Creature from the Black Lagoon. We both happened to be born in 1954. I've always been proud to have the Creature as my "Birth-Monster".
The Universal Monsters never get old.
I love the Universal Monster classics. I own most of the DVD collections .
NECA just announce a Universal Line of Action figures today (Jan 29th , 2021). My gift of good news to you!!!
Great video. I've been a fan of these monster movies since I was kid. I had universal action figures and monster playdough sets. My first experience with programming a vcr was recording these every Saturday on AMC. I'm American and 43 years old. Island of lost souls is one of my favorite outliers. The Wolfman saga is also a favorite.
Great video! I didn't grow up with the Universal Monsters but I came to love and adore them. My favourite monster is Dracula! The movie Renfield actually touches the point u mentioned, portraying Dracula as someone who abuses his position of power and psychologically manipulates Renfield!
Loved this! It's true, those monsters were branded into our brains as kids... and we loved them!
I’m 28 and I’ve loved these movies ever since I was a young boy. The Wolfman was always my favorite! It’s my experience as well that not many people in my age group appreciate these films. Oh well!
I love all of the classic Universal monster and horror films.
I hope they never remake CREATURE FROM BLACK LAGOON! OMG the horror.
The good old days of Classic Movies: Frankenstein, Son of
Frankenstein, Ghost of Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein.......I love them All!
Growing up in the 60s i was thrilled when these were shown late at night,i honestly could`nt get enough and will watch them to this day,i was not alone in having sympathy for the monsters,Frankenstien always struck me as a very sad film,King Kong broke my heart and i always wanted to be a werewolf....with few exceptions the films today are highly forgettable.
Karloff was a genius, my opinion. I was a youngster in the 50s and 60s, and loved all the sci-fi, horror films. Suspension of disbelief is very easy with a child. We were into it from the first opening credits. After growing up, and learning real history (not the lies taught in schools) we gain a clear understanding of the real monsters that have existed and used their influence from within the highest offices of power. It's never been worse than it is today.
Karloff Lugosi Price Cushing Lee and even Carradine all had ability to play drama horror comedy unlike any actors today.
The original Dark Universe shocked the world because they never saw the like of it before. It was Gothic, romantic, sinister, poetic, frightening and macabre with humour that evolved from the elements of each story. What we need is a new Carl Laemmle and Carl Laemmle Jr. Between them they gave us the great silent Lon Chaney films and the 90 year old original Dark Universe.
The original Dark Universe did not have "movie stars" it had actors who gave pathos and meaning to the characters. Most of these were written in the Victorian era, when people were fascinated by the macarbe and conflicts of morality.
Modern filmmakers will always try to put their stamp on a story. I lost count of how many of these forgetable film remakes, and variations have been made.
They worked because, as I said above, no-one had seen this kind of thing before done in this way.
When Hammer made their versions they introduced blood and a sexuality that was more telling than before, and again used actors, not stars.
Maybe what is needed is a late night showing on prime time television, with a young person such as yourself giving an introduction on the importance of these films, even from a filmmaking aspect.
If you haven't seen them already I would recommend, The Black Cat and The Raven 1934/5. Both star Boris Karloff & Bela Lugosi. These two films would not be made today.
I've.always wanted new ones like this. Either like this or hammer horrors.
The Mummy was especially screwed over by the inclusion of Tom Cruise, who takes creative control of the movie and makes it about how badass he is. e.g. Russel Crowe's character calling Tom Cruise's character a "Young Man" even though Tom Cruise is older than Russel Crowe.
@@BlackOpsMaster10263 I don't get the hype about tom cruise. I mean his stunts are often good but his acting nah his actings bland asf
@@BlackOpsMaster10263 Very true, he destroyed a franchise but will he take responsibilty for it, of course he won't, his ego will not allow him. It is my hope to make films in the Gothic style, but whatever films I make, if and when I get the chance, I would NEVER work with Tom Cruise.
@@bilbebop3693 I can't call the mummy movies of Brandon's because they were more Indiana Jones adventures have nothing to do with the classic karloff or the 1940s films . So disappointing. Can't comment on cruzes but I would guess it was a CGI monster. No thank you. Even the mummy movies of hammer are still enjoyable.
There was also Hunchback of Notre Dame 1925, Lost World about dinosaurs in 1925, Phantom of the Opera in 1925, The Bat in 1926, King Kong 1933 about giant Gorilla, Billy the Kid vs Dracula, Jesse James meets Frankenstein's daughter in 1958.
Billy the Kid vs. Dracula???
I LOVE BILLY THE KID MEETS DRACULA. IT'S ONE OF THOSE SO BAD IT'S GREAT MOVIES! I WISH THEY'D REMASTERED ON DVD.
I am 32 and i love some of the Universal Monster movies like Dracula, The Mummy and The Wolfman are my favorites!!!
Love the video. The Universal monsters are what shaped me into an adult. Along with Mad Magazine, rock music and the king of horror hosts, Ghoulardi. By the way, what is the title of your intro and outro song? I used to play it on my radio show in the early 2000s, but I can't remember the title.
Time for a Kiolbassa in Parma.
Hello there, I just came across your video. I am a UK fan of a classic Monsters and I really enjoyed your video. I recently brought a universal monster Blu-ray box set and the picture quality was Fantastic Four films of these age it's definitely my preferred way of watching them. I do agree that getting some of the younger generation to watch these films can be difficult but if you start them young enough then you get the thrill of these films I myself am also a huge fan of hammer and I always think about them both together for example sometimes I'll watch Frankenstein with Boris Karloff followed by the Curse of Frankenstein with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee
I probably have the same box set. Is it the one with the 8 main films? The picture quality is incredible, and I wonder if I would have the same connection to them if I hadn't watched them first in such a good quality.
I remember watching these movies on TV as a kid and loved them. They were already about 50 years old by that point but I never even thought about how old they were or the fact they were black and white because they were so good. I still love them now obviously and like so many here wish there was a way of watching them now. 🤔
I mean you can buy them
@bizotically_yours83 thats true but its another cost on top of all the streaming services we have to pay for. 😒
9:39 yes, you can't judge a film by todays standards. every film is a product of its time, if you can accept that then you should be able to enjoy many more films, or music for that matter, than most people. good overview here. thank you
It is sad that the modern horror films have become all about gore!
Knives and knives going into bodies is an acceptable way of scaring people in the modern age!
The early monster movies had a different approach.
Fear was an emotion and as an emotion, it lived in our subconscious.
It was "fear of the knife" and not the knife going into a body to produce blood that was the important thing.
As an 86 year old, I am happy that I grew up exposed to Universal monsters who didn't stab their victims, but did scare them nevertheless!
There's still a few modern films that rely heavily on atmosphere, they kinda botch it in one way or another though.
I think maybe not everyone has the patience for slower tension. I watched several of the old universal films last year for the first time, and enjoyed the atmosphere and charm.
But they also didn't overstay their welcome like Haunting of Hill House, Carnival of Souls, and Skinamarink did. I got a little bored with those.
Me: looks at title
Also me: cause their fucking great, duh!
I just saw the wolf man, and you could say that Bela Lugosi was the first wolf man in classic cinema, but with the name of Bela "the gypsy", because he was the one who convert Chaney to werewolf.
Tim , what is the difference between the wolfman and werewolf? Even chaney calls himself a werewolf in Frankenstein meets, so Henry hull is technically the first wolfman or werewolf.
@@randyacuna3248 Wolfman and werewolf are the same, and i didnt know about, Werewolf of London, until a few months, I thought Wolfman was the first one.
@@omarbenigno5201 yes, 1935s Werewolf of London is the first one and technically Warner Oland is the first werewolf who bit Henry Hull at the beginning of the movie .
Amazing video, hope to see some more on these icons of horror!
I grew up in the 60's. Shock Theater was the greatest time of the week. I feel that He Black Cat, while it has no monster per se, is the greatest film of the Universal franchise.
Awesome! Great video 🙏🏼 I think the sound of those movies are really unique. The scores are intense, scary, and the dialogue / screams carry a lot of weight and depth in the mix.
The best part is the fact that you can watch them in both color and in black and white.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE everything about Universal Monsters! I mainly collect Monsters collectibles, I have all the Monsters Funko Pops.. well all but the $600 Flocked Wolfman.. I’ve already gotten the most expensive one in the Gemini Collectibles 4 pack Metallic limited to 300 pcs.. also have the black and white 4 pack. I’ll get the flocked WolfMan real soon, I’ve lost every EBay auction.. last one I lost by $5 smfh
You can get a flocked "Mego" Wolfman for $14 bucks!
@@Barnabas45 thanks but I’m looking for the Flocked Wolfman Funko POP from 2015 Comic Con.
I'm so gutted I started collecting Pops after the Universal Monsters range was released! I've got the more recent releases but I would do anything for a Creature.
@@AidanGulaMedia yea I’m done with Pops as a whole but I can’t stop my Universal Monsters love. I have an extra glow in the dark Creature out of the box, hopefully that’ll help ya out
They should try doing it retro and not focus too much on making it modern. It takes away a lot of the charm when they look like any other movie from the last few years
Incredible! I've been working on a full collection of the whole universe myself. It's a pain trying to find good quality copies of these
They have them all remastered and restored in a blu ray box set it’s on amazon
How? I got a DVD set on sale at Walmart last year after Halloween and just ordered a Blu ray copy of creature from the black lagoon a couple minutes ago?
The streaming service Peacock has a bunch of Universal Monster movies on it. Not all of them are there, but there's enough big ones on there to attract new fans.
Could you please do a video talking about the other Universal monsters such as the Mutate from "This Island Earth" or the graboids and their various forms from the "Tremors" franchise?
Ooh I'm afraid I don't know enough about these at the moment, but I will definitely get round to the more sci-fi monsters in the future!
Hey! Im from México, and I loved your video! Is unique in yt!
James Whale supposedly was not happy about the editor's decision to add the cross being highlighted.
That's so interesting to me as I think that moment really nails the poignancy of this film's themes. I wonder if his perspective would change if he knew how it's regarded today
I LOVE Universal Classic Monsters!!!
I have all the old Universal Monster movies and Tom Cruises Mummy movie. I just like watching them and no matter how they try the directors these days just can't duplicate them and I mean how they used to do it not with computer, CGI, or Green screen or the make up. The 2 Dracula movie's everyone remembers Bela Lugosi who remembers the Spanish Dracula or even his name.
Among die hard Universal Monsters fans, the Spanish version is very well remembered as it's widely regarded as having much better cinematography and better production than the Bela Lugosi one. But the majority of English speakers won't have seen it so it's Bela Lugosi's iconic performance that lives on in memories
Awesome video man!
The narrator mentioned that he didn't know any young fans of these film classics. IMO, the youngsters of the 40s through the 70s enjoyed a good story with relatable characters. The audience born after 1980 enjoys visual effects and gimmicks...story and characters aren't part of the equation anymore.
I'm 20 and I mean I don't know any other fans my age
thank you for the wonderful video! Fantastic.
Could you make a video explaining why each individual classic monster is the real victim
And don't forget the hammer films.
Love and study these films.a fan for life.!!!!!
As a kid in late 60's I started watching old black and white movies especially film noir but then discovered the classic horror films of Universal then Hammer. I have watched them over
and over again and have collected most ever movie and tv show made. To those who haven't tried to watch these classics don't understand why they were and are still so good and
better than anything made today or for decades. The writing the acting directing was so good and without blood gore filth CGI trash! even the cheap B movies were good! Actors like
Karloff Lugosi Price Carradine Cushing Lee and others had a certain originality and style and unique voices but could play drama action and horror which is not easy to do. Most
'horror' films are more film noir mystery with comedy thrown in. Of course some of them make no sense but that is the fun. Unlike the absurd CGI movies today which are so dumb.
It's great to discover lost gems on here and other places that I never saw before and will never run out of 'new' old classic films! I'd hope more kids would enjoy these movies.
Zombies are all the rage these days (games, movies, tv, etc.) but there were none introduced during this era. Do people consider Frankenstein a zombie of sorts? He never struck me as one as he was semi-intelligent.
@Gus_in_Japan Awesome question!!
You could have, White Zombie (1932), Revolt of the Zombies (1936) and I Walked with a Zombie (1943) but these are not Zombies as most people know them since Night of the Living Dead (1968) and onwards. Zombies as in the old films are usually linked with voodoo where the myths and legends of Zombies may have started.
NOTLD zombies were quite intelligent so I think he counts
This was great! Thank you!
If “modern audiences” want diversity in these classics, point out James Whale was gay, Boris Karloff, though difficult to tell, was a man of color and Elsa Lanchester was in an open marriage with a gay man who she would find lovers for.
Outstanding video
Yeah bring him by the classics is important you got to remember where we came from as far as this film thing very old movie young person watches it's like watching a new movie all over again rediscovering history
If you need to appeal to the representation needs of younger folks, don't forget that Boris Karloff was of South Asian ancestry as well as British! There are a few photos of him with his brothers & they all have inarguably dark complexions. Color footage of Karloff from his later years helps to prove that Indian heritage, too.
That won`t be good enough,it never is.
Addam's family comic strip was in 1936 before the TV series.
My favorite is the creature from the Black lagoon I remember Halloween week amc wood play all Frankenstein Dracula the wolfman creature from the Black lagoon The mummy The invisible Man I would stay up all night
13:41 Shows more complete list of Universal monster movies. Can pause it if want to read list.
I think the last great true 'horror' movie was HOUSE OF LONG SHADOWS with horror legends PRICE CUSHING LEE CARRADINE! A must see have for classic horror fans.
Mataron a los mounstruos poniéndolos con los payasos de Aboot y Costello. Lo mejor de ellos se dió en los 30 y 40
I love them and this
🤘
Great Program....But Volume TOO LOW 📣📣📣📣
Great video, though I'm not sure that "political remakes" is the way to go for this franchise
What streaming app has these movies?
They were on Peacock during October but have since left. You can buy 6 of them on a dvd collection for $20 on Amazon or the full 30 movie collection for about $65.
Anyone Gen Zer or those who refuse to watch these movies because they aren’t diverse enough, just remind them that Frankenstein starred a man of color. And was directed by an openly gay man!
Forgot to Mention “the shape of water” remake of the creature from the black lagoon
Well, maybe an unofficial remake or reboot is more accurate. It's true Guillermo del Toro was attached to a Creature remake, but Universal did not allow his vision. That resulted in The Shape of Water.
Such a good video
I think 2 good versions of modernized examples is "hallowman" (2000) and "Frankenstein" (2015)
I wouldnt even consider "The shape of Water" or the 2020 "invisible man" to be good modern version (one is a fan fiction sequel and the other having literally nothing to do with the original besides its name)
In hollowman you see the breakdown of a mans sanity just like the 1933 film and in the 2015 frankenstein they take many cues from the book and first 2 films, including the pond scene as well as him being attacked for looking different.
Unlike the modern invisible man, having somebody being invisible is its only similarity. (Go watch enough starring Jeniffer Lopez, its very similar) That would be like saying star wars and star trek are the same because they both have outer space. They are 2 fundementally different things.
Another perfect example is the original mummy, its about an acient Egyptian who has come back to life and is trying to resurrect his lover. The 1999 movie is the same thing told differently. The 2017 mummy has a mummy and a face that appears in a cloud... That is it, it has nothing to do with that original story/concept.
If you call the 2020 invisible man movie "Surprise" nobody would have said "Just call it the invisible man"
People dont automatically say (insert zombie product) should have just been called "Night of the living dead" because they both have zombies.
(both hollowman and frankenstein 2015 wasnt even done by universal)
These are timeless stories yet people seem to always advocate for the fundemental story to be different. (thats inconsistent) a good example of the story staying the same is the 90's dracula. They added a love story, but didnt remove the original story.
Another fan of Frankenstein (2015)!!! That movie is AMAZING...though super difficult to watch.
I see why you say they should. But all of those ideas sound very tedious.
No. I am not an antisocial freak, I don't feel "different" and therefore relate to monsters as a result, or feel a connection to them because I fit into some victimhood-clutching pigeonhole. I like monster movies because monsters are cool. End of frigging story. Also, most modern "entertainment" is woke trash.
my family use to laugh at me and my pop never understood how at a young age I could watch film noir movies but I loved them and still do.
Excellent analysis.
Rob Zombie sucks btw.
a few people who know i love monster movies always telling me how great Zombie movies are and I say the same thing! nothing but CGI blood gore trash.
I know why there still popular
Because their the guys from fortnite
It’s only ever a snowflake take when you want to make
Something void of empathy. They ARE misunderstood. The creature IS the victim. That isnt a take.. it was Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s entire intention
Also yeah BoF is very inherently and I think intentionally queer
It ain’t that deep. Horror fans love campy stuff bc it reminds us of our childhood.
7:00 "if rob zombie saw this in the 60s and 70s, then this is clearly not a snowflake creation" unless rob zombie and your other idols are snowflakes? but were not ready for that yet huh
Don't forget the strange gigantic monsters, like Godzilla creatures and King Kong and the ants the spider, the lizard's, and the humans type like be the fly, hunch back of norther damn, zombies, the blob, the manster, the two headed man, the Man who walks through the walls, Jack the ripper. Don't forget them. The Man bat, not of Batman.
Wasp woman and the headless horseman,Gome. Thanks for the horrors show and Abbott and Costello meet Dr jekel and Mr hyde.thanks see you next year.
Do you have a group of Christmas, people like,. Santa Claus and elf's and snow man, and Santa's workshop helpers, the magic raindeers.
And do the Halloween party type of Christmas for example. The gerlims, violence Christmas, bloody Christmas, pumpkin Head, stuff like that,l can't think of anything else right now, thanks.
The Gremlins, also Gargoyles, Trolls and Goblins.