Live Life Team
Genre: Horror
Director: James Whale
Starring Cast: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Valerie Hobson
Following on directly from 1931’s Frankenstein, We discover Doctor Henry Frankenstein and his creation were not killed. With the monster on the loose again, and the mad Doctor Pretorius attempting to create a bride for the monster, the townsfolk have never been in more danger.
Bride of Frankenstein is considered by many to be better than its predecessor (Frankenstein), it’s certainly no less brutal, only a few minutes in and the grieving parents of the first film’s child victim have been killed by the monster, Bride of Frankenstein is rather more personal. The monster, although previously presented to some extent as a victim, becomes a much more sympathetic character, and Frankenstein himself is less the selfish egomaniac and a more solemn, regretful figure. This leaves a gap in the screenplay for a cackling, psychotic villain and the abhorrent Doctor Pretorius fills it with a ravenous zeal. His motives are never in doubt, from the moment you see his collection of tiny living humans in jars it’s clear his only desire is to create a race of monsters to command. His presence is just one of many elements which make Bride of Frankenstein probably the most important film of the era. It remains as spine chilling as any modern horror, but is generally more rewarding. So as Doctor Pretorius says, “Lets raise a glass to the new world of Gods and monsters”.
