PopHorror Let's Get Scared
There were two big bangs in my Universal Monsters fandom that I love more than most. One of them is Dracula, the other is Bride of Frankenstein. Honestly, I have spent more time watching these movies than any other. It was a staple in my childhood. I always loved monsters, I used to find these bright orange Universal Monster books in my elementary school library. Each a story based on the movie. I read them over and over. They had me immersed in the classic monster universe.
Though I loved zombies, I have nothing but fondness for those old black and white movies meant to spook you, the ones that are child’s play in the horror world that moved way too fast, tossing the classics out to dry.
Synopsis
Mary Shelley reveals the main characters of her novel survived: Baron Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) goaded by an even madder scientist (Ernest Thegiser) builds his monster a mate. Will the monster (Boris Karloff) take hold of the out of control Doctor, or will he use him to make his bride (Elsa Lanchester)?
The Rundown
Bride of Frankenstein is iconic in the way that everyone knows the name. The monster and his bride are not only held as literary staples, but the movies also hold their own throne at the table of ghouls and goblins. They were made popular because our grandparents would tell us the tales of how scared they were the first time they saw these movies. In my family, Universal Monsters are a shared treasure, maybe the only thing we agree on. In my opinion, Bride of Frankenstein hit harder than most other films. The monster was innocent until he saw his bride, and his hatred flowed once again. You can feel the monster’s pain throughout the movie.
Watching the monster’s mood shift reminded me of myself as a kid. I also grew a hatred for most of the human race, until recently, I let a lot of things go and cleared the air. One thing that helped me do this was a ton of movies, films like Bride of Frankenstein. They hid me away from others and comforted me at night, every time I felt like I was a hideous monster to the human race. I knew how it felt to be alone in the world. Most people saw me as a problem child who was on the wrong path and blamed me for all of their own mistakes. Like the angry mob that chased the monster when all he wanted to do was live.
The Abused Will Abuse
What hit me was the Bride’s response. I was constantly laughed at and tricked by girls growing up. There was a relation to both the monster and the bride because both of them wanted the same thing, but one was horrified at the idea of living, in turn, the other felt the same. I knew the pain, and it always choked me up.
Who would give life to someone who had already struggled through one life? It made me think a lot. I don’t want to know what life would be like without these movies. The impact that they made on the world will last forever. You can still feel every moment, every hurdle, every twist (Just kidding, the film is very straightforward). Maybe that’s what attracts me to Bride of Frankenstein, I can let my pain out without judgment.
In The End
Bride of Frankenstein helped shape my life, and I will always stand by that. The setting, the character portrayals, to me, this movie is the perfect blend of horror and drama. There is still a certain magic to the film on a rewatch, which I do often. Every time I watch Bride of Frankenstein, I am transported back in time to staying up late to watch late-night horror movies.
