Henry Frankenstein pieces together body parts in the hope of bringing a human-like creature to life. The mad scientist’s dreams are shattered by his monstrous creation awakening with rage to a world that hates and fears him.
Maximum of stimulating shock is there, but the thing is handled with subtle change of pace and shift of tempo that keeps attention absorbed to a high voltage climax.
– Alfred Rushford Greason,
Variety,
24 Sep 2007
fresh:
One of the most deservedly famous and chilling horror films of all time.
– Don Druker,
Chicago Reader,
5 Jun 2007
fresh:
The film is unique in Whale's work in that the horror is played absolutely straight, and it has a weird fairytale beauty not matched until Cocteau made La Belle et la Bete.
– Tom Milne,
Time Out,
26 Jan 2006
fresh:
A stirring grand-guignol type of picture, one that aroused so much excitement at the Mayfair yesterday that many in the audience laughed to cover their true feelings.
– Mordaunt Hall,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
fresh:
As much as the later movies diluted the character of the Frankenstein creature, nothing could blunt the impact made by Karloff in the role of the most memorable movie monster of all time.