Boris Karloff

Frankenstein (1931)

Frankenstein (1931)
Rating: ★★★★
Dec 1, 2003Universal Frankenstein Adaptation
The classic version of Mary Shelley's tale that left the indelible image of Boris Karloff as the dull monster with bolts in its neck. Director James Whale draws on German Expressionist designs to create one of the landmark classics of the genre
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The Mad Genius (1931)

The Mad Genius (1931)
Rating: ★★★½
Aug 8, 2000Control Freak Ballet Master
John Barrymore as a ballet master who controls and dominates pupil Marian Marsh. This was clearly made as an attempt to replicate the success that Barrymore had playing more or less exactly the same type of role in the earlier Svengali
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Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Rating: ★★★★
Mar 7, 2000Universal Frankenstein Sequel
The first sequel to the 1931 Boris Karloff Frankenstein, which many prefer to the original. Director James Whale comes into his element and provides a whole other level of droll humour that the first film did not have
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The Man Who Changed His Mind (1936)

The Man Who Changed His Mind (1936)
Rating: ★★★
Dec 15, 2015Mad Scientist Perfects Bodyswap Process
Classic Boris Karloff mad scientist effort in which he plays a scientist who invents a device that allows him to swap minds into different bodies. All the usual Gothic fear-filled view of science from this era, but rather well made and with Karloff on fine form
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The Invisible Ray (1936)

The Invisible Ray (1936)
Rating: ★★★
Nov 23, 2012Radioactive Mad Scientist's Revenge
Boris Karloff-Bela Lugosi pairing from the heyday of mad science cinema. The science is portrayed with a fascinating and fearful Gothic awe, which leads to some undeniably captivatingly directed scenes, even if the script is nonsensical from a scientific standpoint
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Son of Frankenstein (1939)

Son of Frankenstein (1939)
Rating: ★★★½
Oct 19, 2003Universal Frankenstein Sequel
The third of Universal's Frankenstein films, the last to feature Boris Karloff as the monster and the last good entry before the sequels became formulaic. Shot with the clear influence of German Expressionism, this is filled with memorable characters and some great performances
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House of Frankenstein (1944)

House of Frankenstein (1944)
Rating: ★★½
Feb 15, 2001Universal Monster Bash
The second of Universal's team-ups of their in-house monsters and superior to the first of these, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man. Despite some imaginative moments, the script has the feel of stitched-together improbability
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Isle of the Dead (1945)

Isle of the Dead (1945)
Rating: ★★★½
Sep 2, 2003Plague Outbreak/Possible Vampire Creature
One of the classic horror films from producer Val Lewton whose works always sat in an uncertain place between reason and superstition. This is a slightly less effective Lewton work featuring Boris Karloff on a plague-ridden island unsure if a vampire creature is responsible
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Abbott and Costello Meet Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1953)

Abbott and Costello Meet Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1953)
Rating: ★★
Dec 3, 1999Two Idiots Meet Dr Jekyll
The third of Abbott and Costello’s comedic meet ups with the Famous Monsters – in this case a series of lowjinks as they encounter Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (played by Boris Karloff)
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Frankenstein 1970 (1958)

Frankenstein 1970 (1958)
Rating: ★★
Feb 26, 2020Frankenstein Film
Boris Karloff became an icon of horror after appearing as the monster in the 1931 Frankenstein and its two sequels. This B movie was the only time he played Baron Frankenstein, appearing as his modern descendant using an atomic reactor to bring his creation to life
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The Comedy of Terrors (1963)

The Comedy of Terrors (1963)
Rating: ★★★
Apr 1, 2001Murderous Morticians Comedy
Droll black comedy with Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone as morticians who decide to drum up business by murdering people. This assembles much of the team behind the Roger Corman Edgar Allan Poe films
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Die, Monster, Die! (1965)

Die, Monster, Die! (1965)
Rating: ★★
Jun 30, 2001H.P. Lovecraft Adaptation/Mutations
Adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s The Color Out of Space, directed by Roger Corman's production designer Daniel Haller that draws on elements of Corman’s Edgar Allan Poe films. Achieves a certain heavy-handed atmosphere
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House of Evil (1971)

House of Evil (1971)
Rating: ½
Jan 30, 2020Murders in a Sinister Old Mansion/Evil Toys
One of four miserably cheap Mexican films that were the last works an 81 year old Boris Karloff ever appeared in. Here he presides over relatives gathered for the reading of his will as they are killed by malevolent toys
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