Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
Dr. Frankenstein and his monster both turn out to be alive after being attacked by an angry mob. The now-chastened scientist attempts to escape his past, but a former mentor forces him to assist with the creation of a new creature.
Bride of Frankenstein is one of Hollywood's great sequels, distinguished by James Whale's baroque, witty direction that brings genuine black comedy and camp sensibility to horror — a rare tonal feat for the era. The cinematography is exceptional, with expressionist lighting, gothic compositions, and iconic imagery that has proven endlessly influential. Novelty is high not because it reinvents horror from scratch but because Whale's singular voice makes it wholly unmistakable — the hermit scene, the miniature humans, the sardonic humor all feel like nothing else from the period. The plot is workmanlike and somewhat episodic, and the ending, while memorably operatic, is abrupt. Acting is uneven — Karloff is magnificent but Lanchester and some supporting players veer into self-parody (intentionally or not).