Ranking the Universal Monster Movies

     The continuation of writing about horror films resumes in this week’s blog. After my review of The Witch, I wanted to broaden my scope of horror, but I did not just want to choose any random movies. I wanted to go back to the beginning of horror, and what exactly is the beginning of horror? The Universal Classic Monster movies. No, they do not officially start the horror genre, but they start horror as a pop culture phenomenon. They are so simple, yet so effective in how they create the horror setting as well as the clichés that other films would copy from them. I had never seen the original Universal Classic Monster movies before, so I thought this week was as good of a time as any! I did not want to watch all of the movies since there are over thirty of them, so I will just be ranking what you would call the “big name” movies. I will be ranking the following films: Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Invisible Man (1933), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Son of Frankenstein (1939), The Wolf Man (1941), Phantom of the Opera (1943), and Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). Let’s get to the ranking! Spoilers ahead!!!

8. Son of Frankenstein (1939)

     Meh. I did not really enjoy this film at all. I do not think it is a bad movie per say, but it just felt uninspiring. The problem is that I had just watched the movie’s predecessors right before this one, and this movie simply does not hold a candle to those two films. I like the overall plot of Dr. Frankenstein’s son being the main star, but the Monster is barely in the film. Also, the Monster is downgraded from Bride so severely, so it feels like we are taking steps back instead of moving forward in relation to the plot, although I do think the Monster’s death in this film is very cool. The movie was just boring and way too long. I think the Frankenstein series should have just stopped after the first two since they were so amazing, and this film was just…not.

7. The Wolf Man (1941)

     Though this Classic Monster movie is a step up from Son of Frankenstein, I still felt dissatisfied when watching this one. Do not get me wrong, I think the characters of Larry and the Gypsy Woman are terrific and maybe some of the best in the Monster Universe, but even they cannot save my attitude towards the film. I wanted Larry as the werewolf to be more dangerous and scarier than he was, but I was again dissatisfied with that element of the film. The film builds these characters up, but it felt way too quick with the progression of Larry’s madness for there to be any payoff of me feeling for him or even his love interest. I know this movie is highly regarded by modern critics, but I just cannot get on board with their appreciation of this movie, so it ranks here at number seven.

6. Dracula (1931)

Now we are getting to the movies that I actually liked, and while I think Dracula was the weakest of the good movies, I still enjoyed it. I think that this movie was probably the “scariest” out of the other movies I saw. I mean none of the movies are scary considering they are outdated and maybe weaker in the special effects department, but I was perturbed a couple of times during the movie. Renfield as a character creeped me out especially when the sailors are staring at his disturbing expression on his face. Also, the uncanny castle setting at the beginning of the movie made me feel itchy and claustrophobic, and it definitely made me feel I was in Renfield’s shoes of feeling unsafe. The criticism I have with this movie is that besides Van Helsing and Dracula, I did not care about any of the characters. I know Mina is a popular character in literature and film, but there lacked character development with her. Who is she as a person? I could not tell you. Though those minor details bug me, I think the character of Dracula is great and makes for an interesting, yet frightening movie villain.

5. The Invisible Man (1933)

     What is the first word that comes to my mind when I hear The Invisible Man? Fun. That is the word because I had so much fun watching this movie. I think what I loved about this film is that it does not take itself too seriously, yet is effective in its storytelling abilities. This is the first movie in the Classic Monster Universe with Claude Rains that I saw, and he definitely left a lasting impression on me. I loved the comedy with the tavern owner and her repeated screaming, the montage where the Invisible Man is causing chaos throughout the land, and the scene where the Invisible Man kills his work partner Kemp. Those moments are definitely going to be ingrained in my head from my time of watching these Monster films. Though not a scary film, I do find an invisible person with no morals roaming the lands to be pretty eerie. Maybe it would not be too hard to catch him (for example the ending), but the presence of the unknown is a scary thing in itself. I was fully invested in this movie due to its memorable characters and its genius dialogue, so I could definitely see myself watching this again in the near future.

4. Creature of the Black Lagoon (1954)

Creature of the Black Lagoon is probably the most beautiful film in the whole list. The underwater effects of the Creature and zoologists’ scenes is so extraordinary especially for the 1950s. Not only do I think that the Amazon Rainforest is a perfect setting for the movie, but I also think the character development is really strong is this film as well. The characters feel very real, so you have to feel scared for them in their bizarre situation. One of my favorite scenes in the list of movies I watched came from this movie, and it was the scene where the Creature is below Kay in the water. The way the stuntman mimicked her every move in the water was so fascinating to watch that it came to be no shock when I found out that the scene is one of the most popular scenes in cinema history. The scene also gives us a peek into the Creature’s motives for terrorizing the crew as he is lustful towards Kay. Creature of the Black Lagoon was my first Monster movie, and it did not disappoint in the slightest. I really thought this would be in my top three favorites, but it still holds strong at the number four slot.

3. The Phantom of the Opera (1943)

Most of the people who are reading this blog post right now have probably seen some version of Phantom of the Opera at a point in their lives. The Internet requested that I should watch the 1925 version, but it is a silent film, and I just cannot keep focus when watching silent films, so I chose the 1943 version, which the Internet said I should avoid. I do not know what problem the Web had with this version because I absolutely loved this adaptation of Phantom of the Opera. Yes, I do not have prior experience with the musical, but I can tell that this was a masterpiece of a movie. The music performed throughout the movie was magnificent, and I felt very tense listening to it knowing that the Phantom could strike at any moment. Claude Rains returns to the Monster Universe in this adaptation, and he really does a great job of breathing life into the eccentric and predatory Phantom. Christine is a likable protagonist even if her love interests make her seem unlikable at times due to them not being…likable. The film’s bright and colorful atmosphere juxtaposed with the dark and mysterious plot makes this movie a must watch!

2. Frankenstein (1931)

Speaking of masterpieces, Frankenstein is definitely one for the books. You can immediately tell this is going to be a dark and gothic movie in the first scene where Frankenstein and his assistant Fritz start digging up a fresh corpse to use for their experiment. Like Creature of the Black Lagoon, you really do get attached to the characters in Frankenstein. You can clearly see that Frankenstein is a good man who is deeply disturbed and who wants to be seen as an ingenious  man. This is proven as his character progression has him rescind back to being level-headed where he can see his faults of disrupting the laws of science. His girlfriend Elizabeth is also an interesting character where I feel as if we the viewers are supposed to be seeing everything from her perspective. Not only are the characters amazing, but the setting of the tower during the lightning storm is by far the most memorable setting in all of the Monster films I have watched. From iconic lines (“It’s alive!) to iconic scenes (The Monster being burned in the windmill) this movie is basically without faults, and I can definitely see why it is considered such a staple in horror.

1. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Coming in first place as not only the best Monster movie, but possibly one of the best movies ever is Bride of Frankenstein. If you ever wondered if there was a sequel that outperformed the original, there is, and it is Bride of Frankenstein. Not only does this movie expand upon the original story, but it also is requisite in knowing the lore of Frankenstein’s universe. From the very first scene of the Monster surviving his death and killing two villagers, I knew I was in for a treat. Though the Monster does get a bride, we see that Frankenstein’s bride becomes mad in this film as she thinks that death is coming to get her and her husband. Dr. Frankenstein takes a back seat from being the “mad scientist” as he never really wants to revert back to his old ways (though he does have doubts) until Dr. Pretorious, Frankenstein’s old teacher, eventually forces him to make a bride for the Monster so that monsters can become familiar to the world. Pretorious is such a convincing villain in that he is subtle in his wickedness as he toys with the Monster in convincing Frankenstein to build him a wife in such a calm and soothing manner. Speaking of the Monster, I cannot forget to mention that he learns to speak in this movie which again is essential to learning the motives and passions of the Monster. The part where he learns to speak from the blind man is such a powerful and riveting scene where you can feel the sadness and humiliation of the two men from being the outcasts of the village. Finally, I was confused to see that the Monster’s bride only was created in the last ten or so minutes of the movie, but then I thought that she did not have to be in the movie that long for her to be important. She was the impetus that got the Monster to realize that he would never be accepted even from his own kind and that he was made a fool of by Pretorious, so he took his life and their lives with him. You would never feel bad for the Monster if it were not for his character arc that was highlighted throughout the movie. He is by far the most complex Monster and dare I say character in all eight films I have watched. To me, Bride of Frankenstein is a flawless movie from its rich character transformations to its remarkable abilities in storytelling. It has to be a 10/10 for me because it is that astonishing.

Thank you for reading my ranking of the Universal Monster movies. Please leave a comment if you wish. I always appreciate feedback! Have a great day, and be respectful towards one another!

The Witch (2015) Review

     

     Recently, I have been obsessed with binging videos and podcasts from the YouTube channel Dead Meat . I have always had a love for horror movies with my first being Scream. Ever since then, horror films have been a huge part in my life and are a big reason why I decided to be an English major. I always hear on the Dead Meat channel that one of their favorite movies is The Witch. The film tells the story of a Puritan family who is excommunicated from their settlement due to different religious beliefs. After finding a new home, the family experiences great tragedy when their newest-born member is stolen and unbeknownst to them, killed by an old witch. Thomasin, the family’s eldest child, is mocked and tyrannized by her family for the child’s disappearance and the events that come after. Today, I will be giving my review on The Witch and what I enjoyed about the film as well as what I interpret the film to mean. Shoutout to Dead Meat for giving me the idea to watch this movie! Spoilers ahead!!! (The film is on Netflix if you are wondering where you can watch it.)


     First, I must say that I liked the film. I would definitely recommend it to you to watch. It does not depend on jump scares, but relies on the uncanny atmosphere and the unknown appearance and motivation of the witch terrorizing the family. I think that is why I liked this movie so much. I do not like horror films with a paranormal focus and the reliance on jump scares. That is why I liked Us so much. It was scary without cheap jump scares. The writers did an excellent job in transporting me to early Puritan times due to the language they used as well as the talented actors they chose to showcase in the movie. The girl who played Thomasin and the woman who played Katherine were definitely the standouts in an already outstanding cast. I also have to give a round of applause to the other child actors who took such complex roles and made them into their own.
    

     A particular scene that I loved from the film is when Caleb comes home after going missing from the family after being seduced and taken by the witch. What comes next is definitely the most startling part of the film. Caleb is definitely possessed as his mouth becomes sewn and he coughs up an apple that the witch presumably forced into him. The apple symbolizes Caleb’s possession and before he dies, he finds comfort in god with a disturbing, yet cheerful grin on his face. You have to watch the scene to get the full effect of being fearful in that moment of watching the movie, but it is very well done by the actor who plays Caleb.


     Another reason why this film is scary is because of the way Thomasin’s family treats her due to thinking she is a witch. The fact that people were treated this way by family members back in those times is unsettling, and it makes me feel for those who were persecuted because they had different thoughts and feelings then those of the “normal people.” Seriously though, I wanted to reach through my T.V. screen and strangle her family. A theory I have of what the film is trying to convey is that religion can become hypocritical if you always try to find a way bring it into matters. Thomasin is shown to be talking to god throughout the film, but she does not abuse her religion like her mother and father do, especially the mother. The mother constantly brings her religion into every matter. The other family members are shown to be more rooted in their faith than Thomasin, yet she is definitely the one who sins the least in the movie. The mother constantly berates her daughter, her father admits his pride at one point, the twins jeer at Thomasin throughout the movie’s entirety, and Caleb shows lust towards his sister and the witch. To me, the movie’s ending proves this to be valid interpretation of the film’s motivation. 


     The ending of the film shows Thomasin being the sole survivor of the witch’s hands and the family’s madness. This is most likely due to her being saved from the witch because she knows that Thomasin is most like her (and the devil’s) kind. It is ironic that the supposed “good” religion is the one that makes Thomasin feel excluded, yet the supposed “evil” religion embraces her with open arms. At one point in the film, Thomasin pretends that she is a witch and mocks the religion by teasing her twin sister for her constant jabs, yet the religion still includes her with open arms. This is not to say that the religion is not evil because it definitely is, but the movie draws parallels to both religions by showing the family’s extremist religious beliefs that eventually turn “devilish.”


     The goat, Black Phillip, is revealed to be the devil at the end of the film who is responsible for Thomasin joining the cult of witches in the woods which was definitely the other scariest part of the film. It made sense why the twins were misbehaving in the film and why they tried to blame Thomasin for the family’s troubles. The twins eventually reveal that Black Phillip has been talking to them. I think that Black Phillip was just trying to get the twins to do his dirty work by causing chaos on the farm, so that he could find a new follower which would eventually be Thomasin. The scene where Black Phillip stabs the Will, the father, with his horn actually got me. It was the only jump scare in the film, but it served the purpose of Black Phillip getting  Thomasin to join his cult, so he had to get the father out of the way to speed up the process. The twist as a whole was very clever, and I liked how the writers tapped into the lore of goats being devil-like creatures.


     Overall, the movie is well-executed, and it shows a different side of horror that is not explored enough. It plays with your mind, and it makes you wonder if certain things are truly what they seem or not. I did not know about this movie until hearing about it recently which is quite a shame because I feel as if it is underrated and underappreciated. I will eventually rewatch the movie at some point because I feel as if I will see things differently or will interpret the message of the movie in another way. 


Thank you for reading my review and interpretation of The Witch. I would really appreciate some feedback and/or comments if you can. Please be safe and be respectful towards one another!

Star Wars Movie Rankings

     Star Wars has been a part of my life for well over a decade now. I would go as far to say that I am more of a fan now than when I first watched the movies when I was nine years old. Say what you want about the new trilogy, but I am honored to have seen them all in theaters. That is something surreal that I will look back on as I get older. Though some movies in the franchise are better than others, every movie has something unique to offer. Today, I will be ranking the nine “Skywalker Saga” movies from my least favorite to most favorite. Spoilers ahead!








9. Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace 



It should come as no surprise that we find the first movie of the prequel trilogy in dead-last. The movie is a heaping pile of garbage. It is just a genuinely bad movie. The only good things about it are Darth Maul and Qui-Gon Jinn. That is about it. The plot is awful as the Sith are really not the main concerns. The child actor who plays Anakin cannot act to save his life, so that is something you have to deal with throughout the film. I thank god that Darth Maul was expanded on in The Clone Wars, but I really wish the movies would have acknowledged him a bit more. Also, we do not have to talk about Jar Jar Binks considering I have the same opinion of him as about 90% of the rest of the fanbase. The Phantom Menace is by far the worst entry of the Star Wars franchise. 







8. Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi


Ugh. I really did not like this movie. Sure it is better than Phantom Menace, but is that really saying much? I saw this in theaters, and I came out scratching my head, searching for the logic in the movie’s choices. We have Luke Skywalker being the opposite of who he used to be, Leia surviving being exposed to space, Rose and Finn’s subpar side plot, Snoke and Phasma’s premature deaths, and Laura Dern’s character. So many ideas that The Force Awakens had are completely dismissed in this movie, it is almost a slap in the face to fans of that movie. I really did not understand the logic in Rian Johnson’s writing and why he chose to go in a completely different direction than what the previous movie was setting up. There are so many things that made me cringe during this movie; however, I think the cinematography is this film is the best in any Star Wars film, so I will give the movie that badge of honor. The space battles are beautiful, and the set designs are so amazing. Other than that, The Last Jedi barely holds at the number eight spot of this ranking. 






7. Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones


At this point, I actually like the following films on the list. Yes, even Attack of the Clones. Did George Lucas show his greatest potential with the second entry? No, but he did not fail in my opinion. The lightsaber duels are some of the best in the entire franchise. Dooku versus Yoda still remains one of my favorite battles ever. The clone army being introduced in this film probably is the best part especially after watching The Clone Wars and learning more about the clones. Ewan McGregor’s gives a great performance as Obi-Wan as well. The cons for this movie include the acting, the love story between Anakin and Padmé, and the number of things they cram into the film. To me, Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman never had chemistry in their roles which really affects the prequel trilogy as a whole. Also, the movie starts to get boring after awhile due to the number of events that happen, which drags the movie down if I am being honest. Nonetheless, I still do like this movie, and I look forward to re-watching it in the near future.







6. Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker




Ok. This is probably an unpopular opinion of this movie not being lower, but truth is I actually really enjoyed ROS. Call me crazy. Like I said in my review, is it a perfect movie? Nope. Not by any means considering the movie never lets you breathe. Nonetheless, I had so much fun watching it. I think the movie did a great job of acknowledging the entire franchise, so that right there is a plus. Kylo Ren’s transformation as well as Adam Driver’s performance is definitely one of my favorite things about the sequel trilogy, so I was satisfied with this movie since there is a lot of Kylo Ren. Though I loved the way Leia died, I did not like the ad-libbing of her lines into the movie since the dialogue did not fit in those certain movies, but I appreciate the writers for including her in the final film. Also, Palpatine returning was quite strange, but I did not mind it. Maybe it could have been foreshadowed better, but I was honestly fine with it. The ending still gives me chills even after I have re-watched it over and over again. I really hope they expand on Rey again in the future because I do think her character can be expanded quite a bit more. Overall, I did like this movie better than most, but I do understand the criticism of the writing being a little sloppy.







5. Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith


Revenge of the Sith is by far the best film of the prequel trilogy. The movie is a genuinely good movie on its own, but it also makes the prequel trilogy worth it. It does not hold back, and for the only time in the franchise (maybe excluding ESB), the heroes lose. Fans finally got to see Anakin turn to the dark side, and the way the writers make him turn is great. The scene that always has me upset is when most of the Jedi are wiped out. It is something we had never seen in the franchise before, the raw and tragic reality of our heroes being overthrown and killed in cold blood. I also loved how the writers made Anakin become Darth Vader to protect Padmé only for her to give up on life because he turned into Darth Vader. It is the little things in this movie that made me realize that the writers knew what they wanted to accomplish all along even though they had to create a rising action that may have not lived up to its best potential. Despite there still being some below-average acting, Revenge of the Sith does a fantastic job of making its strong mark on the Star Wars franchise. 







4. Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens


My first time seeing a Star Wars movie in theaters did not disappoint. It was a surreal experience being able to see a franchise continuation that had started in the 70s make its way back onto the big screen. My parents had seen the movie when they were kids, and now I was seeing a Star Wars movie as a kid. Despite Force Awakens being somewhat of a retelling of ANH, I thought the movie was incredible. Seeing Leia, Han, Luke, C-3PO, Chewbacca, etc. on my screen again filled me with so much joy. The writers made me interested in the new characters as soon as they were on the screen which cannot be said for other movies. Kylo Ren was a great follow-up villain to the legendary Darth Vader, and Finn and Poe gave us a different perspective of how the First Order was affecting those in the galaxy. Han Solo dying still shocks me to this day, but the decision to kill him off gave the movie a fresh feeling that could not be seen in ANH. The Force Awakens will always have a special place in my heart, and I will always cherish the time I first saw it. 







3. Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi


The second runner-up spot goes to the sixth (technically third) movie in the franchise. Despite being the weakest of the original trilogy, Return of the Jedi is still a classic. The segment of Jabba’s Palace and the ending of the movie are two of my favorite moments of the entire saga. I even enjoy the Ewoks for what their worth. I mean I would rather deal with them than the Porgs or Jar Jar Binks. Even the twist of Leia being Luke’s sister was believable and not overdone after Darth Vader was revealed to be Luke’s father. Also in the film, we see Luke transform into a real Jedi who has control of his actions and the Force, itself which successfully brings Darth Vader back from the Dark Side. Overall, Return of the Jedi remains to be a strong entry in the franchise as it weaves together the stories that were set up in its predecessors.







2. Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back


This is probably an unpopular opinion for this not to be the number one spot, but it is only because I love the original movie so much. The Empire Strikes Back is an important lesson in how to make a worthy sequel to that of a critically-acclaimed original. The Empire Strikes Back expands the lore of the Force, and it explores more places of the Galaxy, creating a more intriguing setting for a viewer. From the Battle of Hoth to Luke force-communicating with Leia, the movie has it all. It balances action with character building that also gives motives to why certain characters are the way they are and why they do the things they do. The best twist of any movie ever is revealed in this film, and it still gives me the chills every time I watch it. I love this movie so much, and I gain an even deeper appreciation for it as time goes on, but the final movie in my ranking has a slight edge over Empire Strikes Back…







1. Star Wars IV: A New Hope


I mean what is there to say about this movie? It’s such an important piece of pop culture. Every single scene in this movie is iconic. The second we see C-3PO and R2-D2 aboard the Rebel ship, we are immediately transported into another universe. Like ESB, the movie meticulously balances action with building the characters. The music in this film is also probably the best music in the entire saga as it immediately became iconic in cinema. It is interesting when you re-watch the movie to see Luke Skywalker as only a kid as in the new trilogy he is an old man. I love how you can see him progress as an ignorant kid who cannot use the Force to a Jedi master in future films. Princess Leia breaks down barriers as a woman in the movie which was something that was not so prominent in the 70s, so the movie also had some important political undertones that paved the way for future films not only in the Star Wars saga, but for other Hollywood blockbusters as well. Her development is interesting too as she matures in later movies yet still manages to be so powerful and so inspiring in this first entry. What else do I have to say? It is one of the best movies of all time, so of course you cannot put into words how phenomenal A New Hope is. It is the reason that I am doing a Star Wars ranking right now, so of course it needs to be number one for me.



Well, that about does it. Thank you for reading my Ranking of the Skywalker Saga! I look forward to writing about more Star Wars in the near future. Like I mentioned in this blog, I have watched Clone Wars, so I can maybe write about my favorite episode of each season because I have a lot of thoughts on the show. Please remember to be nice to one another and to be there for one another during these rough times. Thanks for reading and stay safe out there!