For centuries, monster legends have romped over geographic boundaries to permeate folklore stories around the globe. And for decades, ever since Universal first began creating monster flicks in 1923 and subsequently introduced the concept of the horror franchise, movies have made a select few of these monsters legendary through their birth and occasional resurrection on screen. With The Wolfman making his hairy return to theaters on February 12, we at RT thought it was time to recognize the journey that a few of the most iconic and classic Universal Monsters that have made over the years to blaze a path in not only cinema, but popular culture, breakfast tables, and beyond.
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Count DraculaSuave, worldly, seductive, and deathless: is it any wonder folks have never tired of Count Dracula? Ever since his debut in Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, the Count has made boundless villainy seem positively charming — how else can he sink his fangs into so many young necks? For moviegoers, two early characterizations helped define the character: F.W. Murnau’s loose 1922 adaptation of Stoker’s book Nosferatu (Stoker’s widow successfully sued for copyright infringement) and Tod Browning’s 1931 classic for Universal, Dracula. While the former, starring Max Shrek, depicts the Count as a rat-like freak, the latter, featuring Bela Lugosi — he of Eastern European accent, impeccable dress, and hypnotic eyes — became the archetype for onscreen vampires thereafter. However, Lugosi wasn’t the only actor to put a distinctive stamp on the role. In the late 1950s, Christopher Lee stepped into the cape for the bloody, lavish, Horror of Dracula. In more recent years, Francis Ford Coppola mixed bloody gothic horror with eroticism in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, starring Gary Oldman. Since then the Dracula story has undergone endless transformations — it’s been played for laughs (Dracula: Dead and Loving It, Love at First Bite), dark artistry (Guy Maddin’s Dracula: Pages from a Virgin’s Diary), and high camp (Andy Warhol’s Blood for Dracula). Even Universal got back into the act with Van Helsing in 2004. The Count may suffer from a terrible curse, but audiences have been blessed with his presence for nearly a century. Strengths: Eternal life, superhuman strength, control over weather and animals, hypnotic abilities, shapeshifting, invisible in mirrors. Weaknesses: Sunlight, garlic, crucifixes, Sacramental bread, requires Transylvanian dirt to sleep, constantly needs to drink fresh blood. |
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200+ First appearance Most recent appearance
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The WolfmanUnlike Dracula and Frankenstein, the Wolfman wasn’t inspired by any particular piece of literature; instead, his legend was drawn from folklore dating all the way back to Greek mythology. As a result, there have been a number of cinematic wolfmen, some of whom came by their lycanthropy in different ways — but this year’s version, like the 1941 Lon Chaney classic, follows Lawrence Talbot, an ill-fated Welsh gentleman whose return home leads to a fateful bite. By the end of Chaney’s first outing, his character was dead and buried, bludgeoned to death with his own walking stick (and by his own father!), but that didn’t stop Universal from bringing him back to fight Frankenstein (Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man), making him an unwitting pawn in a mad scientist’s revenge scheme (House of Frankenstein), and finally curing him (House of Dracula) — only to re-cursify the poor sap again for Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. In recent years, filmgoers have been more likely to see the Wolfman pop up in campy fare like Transylvania 6-5000 or The Monster Squad — an error Joe Johnston’s updated version seems likely to rectify. Strengths: Superhuman strength, sharp teeth and claws, heightened sense Weaknesses: Silver (particularly bullets and walking sticks), sunlight, fleas, inability to prevent further Howling sequels |
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25+ First appearance Most recent appearance
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Frankenstein’s MonsterIf you’ve taken any sort of high school English course, you’ve more than likely read Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein (or at least crafted a report based on Cliffs Notes). And if you’ve read the book, you probably already know that the popular film portrayal of Frankenstein’s monster is less than faithful to its source. The monster’s first on-screen appearance came as early as 1910, in a silent film titled Frankenstein, which was actually somewhat close to Shelley’s original story. Since then, however, the monster has been portrayed and reimagined in many ways and in a variety of genres, from Blaxploitation to B-movie skin flicks.. In truth, it’s likely that Shelley turned over in her grave when the classic Universal horror films of the 30s and 40s reduced her emotionally and psychologically complex monster to a groaning, flat-headed, mentally deficient giant with bolts in his neck. But this characterization has become the, well, universally portrayed representation of the monster, and you can still find the same cold, lifeless expression plastered across green Halloween masks every October. More recently, a few films, including 1994’s Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, have attempted to depict the story as it was originally written, characterizing the monster as a cognizant, functioning being, a tragic victim of his circumstances, as opposed to a sluggish zombie oaf. And while there are those who will argue that the prospect of a hideously disfigured undead goliath with the power to reason is much more terrifying, it seems most are content to cower in fear from a big green guy who moans and rips up junk. Strengths: Brute Strength, mix-n-match body parts, resurrectibility Weaknesses: Women, large bodies of water, mirrors, electricity, compound sentences, desire for romantic partnership, dependence upon Big & Tall stores |
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30+ First appearance Most recent appearance
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The MummyWith over 3,000 years of life experience, the Mummy has proven a very adaptable monster teammate, manifesting himself as both a human seeking love long buried and a murderous killer with no regard for human life. First played by horror legend Boris Karloff (who also starred as Frankenstein’s Monster) in 1932, The Mummy was an Egyptian priest named Imhotep revived by an ancient spell who searches for a way to revive his lover or mummify one that looks like her — as most any guy in love would do if the resources were available. The Mummy would later be revived in Kharis, a slow plodding, killing machine of very few words who delivered revenge on behalf of Egyptian priests in The Mummy’s Hand and The Mummy’s Tomb (where Wolf Man Lon Chaney took on the role of the Mummy) and two more follow-ups. The UK’s Hammer Films Productions would revisit the Kharis mummy character in The Mummy (1959), and created three more Mummy movies that were not part of a series, but followed the same general premise. While the Mummy made a number of appearances after the Hammer films, Imhotep was most notably awakened again in 1999’s The Mummy, which spawned four other franchise movies starring Brendan Fraser and later, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Part desperate lover, part bandaged killing machine, the Mummy might lack some of the charisma and sex appeal of his teammates, but his well-rested, adaptable personality makes him one of cinema’s most iconic monsters. Strengths: Hearing people read while sleeping, death-inducing hypnotic gazes, catching up to people while walking, staying alive, confidence with women (when attempting to mummify them), sand/insect/mummy army control, ability to endure eternal pain, monogamy Weaknesses: Dependent on life-giving scrolls, one track mind (love or killing), Brendan Fraser, flesh eating insects, eternal pain, dry, irritable skin |
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25+ First appearance Most recent appearance
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The Invisible ManDespite his condition, the Invisible Man has become one of the most instantly recognizable and iconic of the Universal monsters — which just goes to show where a few bandages, a stylish fedora and a pair of dark shades will get you. Something of the thinking man’s monster, he’s less outright villain than just a really unfortunate, if overly curious dude. H.G. Wells’ 1897 novel introduced the character as an opportunistic scientist who tests his formula for invisibility on himself and goes completely mad in the process. But it was Claude Rains’ sympathetic turn in James Whale’s 1933 film that brought the creature to enduring notoriety; afflicted by the misguided need to help mankind, Rains brought pathos and redemption to the character. It remains the best portrayal in the face of many sequels, spin-offs and inspired-bys: Vincent Price’s take in the sequel, unauthorized Japanese and Mexican versions, and Chevy Chase’s ill-fated comedic spin. In recent years the character lent his essence to Paul Verhoeven’s creepy Hollow Man, his dignity to League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and will soon appear in two new films. Not bad for a guy who doesn’t exist. Strengths: Invisibility… avoiding law enforcement authorities, getting into places for free, spying on the girls’ locker room Weaknesses: The crushing existential crisis that comes with the inability to be recognized; madness |
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20+ First appearance Most recent appearance
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The Gill-manGill-man (the creature’s infrequently used actual name) first appeared in Of all the Universal monsters, this creature from the black lagoon is the
Strengths: Swimming prowess, superhuman strength, sharp claws, tough
Weaknesses: Love, throbbing biological urges, can be damaged by prolonged sunlight |
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4 First appearance Most recent appearance |
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Written by: Tim Ryan, Jeff Giles, Ryan Fujitani, David Chung, Luke Goodsell, and Alex Vo
