Scarecrow's Blog From the Darkside

Ygor plays the flute to the Monster There is a line where Hardwicke’s Frankenstein mentions that while his father’s Monster (Chaney, this go-around, undermining everything Karloff built for it through his fixed scowl and brutish behavior) remains alive no one is safe. I think that is a running theme no matter how off the continuity of these monster sequels are: as long as Frankenstein’s Monster remains alive, whether advertently or inadvertently involved, people die and villages live in fear. Ygor builds a relationship with the Monster, although sometimes strained and difficult (the Monster doesn’t always listen, sometimes operating against Ygor’s wishes), wanting to exploit his great strength to his own advantage (ultimately seeing the chance to have his brain in that towering body, utilizing Dr. Bohmer’s jealousy and envy of what Frankenstein has in the scheme of succeeding. Ankers and Bellamy, with Chaney and Lugosi, all return from The Wolf Man for Ghost of Frankenstein (di...

Niemann tends to the Monster in House of Frankenstein I really had no plans to watch the Universal Studios monster sequels in October this year. In fact, at one point early in the year I had the thought of spreading them out throughout 2018, sort of making it a year of classic horror, but things just didn’t work out. The Mummy series has been featured in October for a few years now, but for the exception of the first one I decided against it this year. But with seven days until October begins, I didn’t see any reason not to at the end of September. Kharis carries Amina in his arms in The Mummy's Ghost (1944)  I opened this Monday with The Mummy’s Ghost and included House of Frankenstein as the accompanying double feature to it. Both have Zucco, either as a high priest aged and with bad nerves and Lampini, conductor of a wagon carrying the bones (and earth from his home in the Carpathians) of Dracula in a traveling show. Zucco is made short work of in the latter whe...

  After finishing up “Garden of Bones” I just wasn’t sure if I wanted to watch and put together a write-up for “Ghost of Harrenhal”. And I realize why: so much ground is covered and a lot squeezed in. What I personally found very disappointing is the treatment of Renly Baratheon’s death. Renly was a good man, a likable leader, and considering the monsters (literal and human) that occupy Westeros one of a few who might have done some good as King of the Iron Throne. Not even minutes after Renly agrees to an alliance with Catelyn (she tells him Robb doesn’t want the Iron Throne, just to operate the North, especially Winterfell), the black creature that birthed out of Melisandre stabs him from behind with Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) unable to protect him. Brienne looks guilty of it as swordsmen arrive to defend the lost Renly, resulting in her escape with Catelyn, later declaring her allegiance to Ned’s widow in exchange for the right to kill Stannis when the chance co...

  Qarth could very well be safe haven for Danaerys and her starving, thirsty remaining Dothraki but with those dragons (the potential to have them is ideal for anyone looking to use them as weapons) in her possession the traders (there is a leader of 12 whose authority rules within the city’s walls) that occupy the city could very well look to do away with her and take them. One of the twelve certainly holds Danaerys’ dilemma (no food or water, without a home/kingdom, in desperate need of decent accommodations for a change) against her, asking just to see the dragons. As long as those dragons are available for others to possibly attain, Danaerys’ and her people’s lives are at risk. But you can see her where Danaerys starts to assert her authority as a leader even if under duress and vulnerable due to circumstances out of her control. Jorah does work hard to keep Danaerys from losing her cool but even if not mad she’s still got that Targaryen blood coursing in her veins. ...