Classic Movie Monsters Done Right!
These Classic Movie Monsters First Appeared Decades Ago, but that Doesn’t Mean they Haven’t Been Done Better Since!
Classic movie monsters are almost as old as film itself. Of course, they didn’t originate there, but they definitely managed to make their mark on pop culture once the world got to see them in all their big screen glory. Since then there have been a ton of different imaginings of these classic movie monsters and there’s still rumor that there could be a Marvel/ DC shared universe in production by Universal (the home of movie monsters) called The Dark Universe.
Just because these iconic creatures first appeared nearly 100 years ago, does that mean their original incarnations are the best? I certainly don’t think so. Don’t get me wrong, I love a classic, but just because someone did something first doesn’t mean they did it best. So with that in mind, I’m taking a look at how classic movie monsters have changed over the years and picking the best movie representations of Vampires, Werewolves, Mummies, Gill-men, the invisible man, and Frankenstein (yes, I know he was the Doctor, but we all know what I mean). Heck, I’m even throwing zombies in there since they’re modern classic movie monsters. Some have gotten a lot more big screen love than others, but that didn’t stop me from digging through the archives. That being said, I’m going for the creatures themselves, not necessarily the quality of the film they appear in. So, check the closets and plug in the nightlight, because these classic movie monsters are ready to go bump in the night.
The Invisible Man
Movie: The Invisible Man
One of the lesser “seen” of the classic movie monsters, the Invisible Man hasn’t gotten a lot of screen time compared to his big bad counterparts. He first appeared on the big screen in 1933, but we didn’t get a truly terrifying version of the character until 2020’s The Invisible Man. The film transforms the character into a narcissistic sociopath who also happens to be a leader in the field of optics. When the woman he’s abusing runs away from him, this psycho fakes his own death and uses a cutting edge suit that he created to continue tormenting her. His goal is to drive her insane by gaslighting her and convincing everyone around her that she’s already crazy. Things start small, but abusers aren’t known for their “self-control” and things rapidly escalate. The Invisible Man manages to capture the suspense crucial to selling the idea that an unseen force could be lurking anywhere, just waiting to strike.
Honorable Mention: Hollow Man
Kevin Bacon brought a modern version of the character to cinema’s in 2020 in a film that examined the psychological implications of being invisible to everyone, even yourself. Of course, he goes absolutely insane from the procedure and terrorizes everyone associated with the project.
The Gill-Man aka The Creature
Movie: The Shape of Water
The only thing rarer than movies about the Invisible Man are movies about the Gill-Man. He first appeared in The Creature from the Black Lagoon back in 1954, and since then he hasn’t strayed too far from said lagoon. However, Guillermo Del Toro managed to put his twist on the creature in an odd sort of romance. Not only did he give the creature more humanity than half the humans in the film, but he created a genuinely empathic creature. In the film, he’s being held in a secret lab where he’s poked and prodded all day. It isn’t until he creates a bond with a mute cleaning lady that his incredible depth is revealed. In Del Torro’s version, this isn’t just some creature that lives in the water, this is an ancient god that dwelled just beneath the surface and lived in harmony with those who knew him. It’s because he’s not just a flippered monster in this film that I chose it as the best representation of this classic movie monster.
Werewolves/ The Wolf Man
Movie: The Underworld Franchise
I’m picky when it comes to werewolves. For one thing, I hate the idea of them just being big dogs. Instead, I find myself more of a fan of the anthropomorphic take on these classic movie monsters. There have been quite a few takes on this over the year, but it wasn’t until Underworld that we got a version where the man and the beast were one. Part of the horror of this creature might be the uncontrollable bloodlust that comes from being taken over by the beast within. However, in the film Underworld what we saw were humans that pointed their inner beast in a direction and said: “go get ‘em.” The end results were monsters that still had all the terrifying aspects of the original but now has enough control to hunt in a pack and go after specific targets. To me, that made them actual wolves and not just rabid dogs running amuck.
Honorable Mention: Dog Soldiers
There’s a reason why this movie is considered a modern cult classic and if you want to find out, you’ll just have to watch it!
The Mummy
Movie: The Mummy (1999)
The Mummy was actually the first of the classic movie monsters to be introduced in Universal’s Dark Universe series, and while I love Sofia Boutelle in the part, it was such a terrible movie that I can’t in good conscience give her this honor (especially when they reveal the big twist at the end). So, I’m going to stick with a film that’s a little more beloved than it should be, The Mummy. Brandon Frashier might be the hero of these movies, but a hero is only as good as it’s villain, which is why I’m giving this one to Arnold Vosloo and his take on Imhotep. A Mummy is more than just some guy wrapped up in bandages shuffling back and forth and this incarnation brought out the evil magic that’s behind this undead monster. Vosloo is just as creepy as Boris Karloff‘s take, but he had evil servants, killer bugs, and a few plagues at his disposal as well.
Honorable Mention: Buba Ho-Tep
Want to see what happens when The Mummy takes on an Elvis impersonator and an octogenarian that thinks he’s JFK in a retirement home? I’ve got the movie for you then.