herbertweiner

This film combines art deco, film noir, the pulp fiction of the 30s, a marvelous music score, and the superb acting of Karloff and Lugosi.

Karloff's silloquoy consisting of the passage: "Are we not both the living dead?" transcends the movie with its Shakespearean quality.

And believe or not, there are psychiatrists like Dr. Verdegast! When he states, "There are many things under the sun!", I thought of the DSM-IV TR which classifies and describes psychiatric disorders.

Karloff was a civilized man, which despite his portrayal as a villain, shows in the film. Too bad there aren't more gentlemen like him.

Lon Chaney portrays psychological torment, guilt, and conflict so well in this film. These feelings are so absent in this century. Larry Talbot, in contrast to public officials and corporate executives, wants to do the right thing, and feels remorse at the suffering that he has caused. Chaney also does this in his later Inner Sanctum films. Maria Ouspenskaya is also great as Maleva, the gypsy. And the music is also marvelous. Films as these put contemporary horror films to shame. The former are fun and a pleasure to watch. This one is quite good.