The Best Horror Sequel Is More Tragic Than Scary

Horror movies are rarely critical darlings, and it’s even rarer for a horror sequel to garner critical acclaim. The best horror movie sequel, however, seems to be universally loved. That’s pretty interesting, considering that the star of the movie didn’t like its direction.

The best horror sequel had a hard act to follow

The most important movies are so famous that you know the storyline even if you haven’t watched them. For example, everyone seems to know the plot of King Kong whether or nor you’ve watched the 1933 film or any of its remakes. James Whale’s 1931 film Frankenstein is in that category. Everyone is familiar with the tale of Frankenstein’s monster, but the version of the tale we all know is derived from the 1931 film rather than Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel. Whale’s movie remains one of the bedrocks of horror cinema.

The sequel, Bride of Frankenstein, is even better. While it still has plenty of Gothic horror moments that would have been shocking in the 1930s, it’s ultimately a heartbreaking tale about a creature who wants to find companionship but cannot. It’s a horror film that’s great because it’s a horror film and a tragedy at the same time.

The best horror sequel might be the best horror movie

Bride of Frankenstein is also great because it manages to make the central monster sympathetic. Modern Hollywood has a hard time doing that. Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with a one-note villain. However, sympathetic villains are sometimes the best.

The only other horror film that works as well as a tragedy is Carrie. The audience sympathizes with Carrie White as much as they did with Frankenstein’s monster. For that reason, it’s easy to see Bride of Frankenstein and Carrie as the best horror films ever.

Boris Karloff’s daughter said her father wasn’t in love with ‘Bride of Frankenstein’

Karloff’s daughter, Sara Karloff, has kept her father’s legacy alive. During a 2016 interview with CypticRock, she discussed the reaction to Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. “Nobody expected that film to be the tremendous success that it was and certainly no one expected the creature to be the star of the film,” she said. “Everyone anticipated the star of the film would be Colin Clive, not the creature. He had been in the business for 20 years; he was 44 years old, and Frankenstein was his 81st film, so he was certainly not a newcomer.

“The recognition he got from that film was strange to everybody and certainly to him, but I think that it is through the years that the appreciation of that film has grown, and it is thanks to the fans,” she added. “It was a wonderful marriage of direction, script, acting; it was just a wonderful combination of all of these things coming together in that film that has made it stand the test of time.”

Sara revealed that her father took issue with Bride of Frankenstein but dismissed his concern. “My father objected to giving the creature speech, but I think the fans and critics have proved him wrong,” she said. “That is considered one of the finest sequels ever made.”

Bride of Frankenstein is a classic, and you might just need a box of tissues to get through it.