The Walking Dead (1936)

A group of well-dressed, behind closed doors villains need a patsy to divert attention from their deeds. Enter John Ellman (Karloff), a man with a criminal record, fresh from prison, keen to put his past behind him and in need of a job.
He references a few horror classics but Michael Curtiz, director of Casablanca (1942), delivers something a lot more sophisticated than the creaky B+W horror movie I was expecting. It owes a significant debt to James Whale, but unlike so many of Whale's imitators it doesn't simply emphasise the crazy, it keeps the lab scene mostly dignified and is all the better for it.
The Ellman character works because of Karloff's ability to effectively play the tragic victim, to generate pathos with just a glance from his unforgettable eyes, sometimes mere seconds after he's chilled you with a steely glare.

3½ mental strappings out of 5

The Crimson Cult (1968)

aka Curse of the Crimson Altar

A trippy and downright bizarre opening scene sets an odd tone for a story about an antiques dealer searching for his missing brother to follow. His investigation leads him to a village where a small percentage of the locals appear to venerate the infamous Black Witch Lavinia.
The addition of pre-seventies hipsters to the traditional country manor setting adds little of value, existing primarily to serve up gyrating lady hips and carefree flashes of tit on a harmless platter. It gets bored with those kinds of antics eventually and settles into the film it really is, which is an average mystery/occult thriller with Christopher Lee, Boris Karloff playing an overly dramatic version of Karloff, and Barbara Steele painted bluish-green.

2½ kaleidoscope lenses out of 5

The Raven (1963)

It begins with Vincent reciting the classic poem in a suitably spirited way, but afterwards becomes something very different: it’s a spoof of what Corman had achieved with the Poe works prior to it. It’s 80+ minutes of great men goofing around, playing scenes for laughs but failing to hit the funny-target most of the time. Price and Lorre appear to be enjoying themselves; Karloff not so much; me even less, despite having expectations adjusted after suffering through a previous disappointed viewing many years ago.

1½ stirrings out of 5

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

Dr. Seuss + Chuck Jones + Boris Karloff = Pure Win. This undeniable children’s classic remains just as relevant every year. It’s one of those specials where you know what’s coming and you can anticipate every move, but it doesn't detract from its enjoyment at all. I forgot how much of The Nightmare Before Christmas was inspired by this. Seuss’ rhymes are fun and the moral of the story (Christmas is in our hearts, blah blah blah) is as pertinent as it was 45 years ago.

5 roast beasts out of 5

Son of Frankenstein (1939)

Boris Karloff reprises his role as the big guy in this second sequel to Frankenstein. Features the first appearance of Ygor (as portrayed by Bela Lugosi). The Monster is even duller and more devoid of personality here than in the earlier installments and is reduced to being Ygor’s lackey. This feels like a step in the wrong direction, and of course both the movie and monster suffer for it.

2.5 let the poor bastard die already out of 5

The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

“Alone…bad. Friend…good!”

Forget The Empire Strikes Back or The Godfather Part II…this is still the greatest sequel ever made. Picks up right at the end of the original, where both creator and creation are given a new lease on life. The Monster is much more developed this time around; he's refined and articulate and actually given a conscience and his first words. I love how at the end, even the bride rejects him. Poor fucking monster.
“I love dead…hate living.”

5 bad hair days out of 5

Frankenstein (1931)

The tragic love story of the mad scientist and his creation; the misunderstood monster with the abnormal brain of a criminal and made up of the body parts of corpses, who was brought into the world without a will of its own and subjected to laws of which he doesn't understand...and all of its many moral implications. There’s no denying this one's a classic.

5 angry mobs out of 5