31 Days of Horror #4

Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) Of the creatures usually accepted as being part of the classic ‘Universal Monsters’ canon, probably the least well-known is the so-called Gill-Man, a half-human, half-fish animal who…lives in a secluded lagoon. Called Black Lagoon. And that’s it. There’s apparently a reason this movie isn’t as revered as the other horror classics from the studio. Obviously made on the cheap and without much of a story, or characters, or a monster, or an idea, I suppose it was more of a sensation for its 3-D effects (though it is typically shown in 2-D today) than because it was actually entertaining, much less frightening. It’s a dull, plodding movie and the Creature itself is unfortunately laughable. Isn’t it silly that we movie geeks feel guilty if we don’t enjoy something that’s old or fondly-remembered, like we missed something in translation by not being alive at the time of its release? Regardless, this isn’t a movie that gets brought up too often, and I don’t want to be the one bringing it back into conversation, so let’s move on. C
#10.

#11. The Golem (1920) This is a fascinating silent relic from Germany’s early experimentations with a style that would become Expressionism. It was released the same year as the rightly famous ‘Cabinet of Dr. Caligari’ and both films share similarities in their stories of mad scientist types bringing a zombie-like figure to life only for their creations to turn on them. What makes ‘Der Golem’ particularly interesting is how it concerns a colony of Jewish people fighting for survival from their rich oppressors, even if it means turning to black magic to do it. Germany’s ill feelings toward the Jewish race were already beginning to take shape by the 20s and to see a film from the country at the time that presents them so positively (some unfortunate stereotypes aside) is quite unique. Add in the fact that it is a legitimately entertaining thriller, with impressive set pieces, especially the very creepy scene in which a Rabbi summons a dark entity, and a Frankenstein-esque monster that clearly inspired that later film. It’s definitely a treasure for fans of silent cinema. A

#12. White Zombie (1932) Despite being in the public domain and inspiring a relatively popular rock group, this Bela Lugosi indie is all but forgotten, save for a group of serious fans who believe it is one of the all-time great horror movies. I lean more towards the views of the film’s original critics: it’s a messy, silly, hammy thing that may have some good atmosphere, but which can’t make up for its nonsense plot. It’s about a guy (Lugosi) who brings folks back from the dead (using hypnotism, I think, but it’s not explained) so he can use them as free labor. Then this other guy asks him to kill the new girl in town so that she can be brought back from the dead and be his zombie wife, but he can’t stand how soulless she is, so he rebels and it turns out she’s not actually dead anyway, and what the HECK. The best thing the movie has going for it is Lugosi who is a great presence in any horror flick, and it may have inspired Val Lewton to make his great atmospheric horror movies several years later. So, not quite a masterpiece, but it’s a harmless curiosity. B-