SON OF FRANKENSTEIN, or as it might be called today, FRANKENSTEIN 3: THE OFFSPRING, begins some time after the events of BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. This time, young Baron Wolf von Frankenstein (Basil Rathbone) shows up to claim his family castle, where the maniacal Ygor (Bela Lugosi) has set up shop. Not-so-shockingly, it doesn't take long before the family re-animating business, once again raises its green, bolted head. This was one of the last "serious" films in the so-called "series", before they spun off into an increasingly ludicrous la-la land of "monster mash" movies, winding up as fodder for Abbott and Costello. Boris Karloff got to play the monster one final time, before it became a schlock horror staple (not that that's a bad thing). Lugosi really sinks his teeth into his devilish role. Lionel Atwill's Inspector Krogh is his best character since Doctor X. Watching these old classics makes it even more clear just what a comic genius Mel Brooks is! His YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is a perfect parody of the first three FRANKENSTEIN films. I admit to having a hard time viewing this without thinking about Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, etc.! Highly recommended... P.S.- Those really are some big door knockers!...

Sequel to 1935' "The Bride of Frankenstein". Wolf Frankenstein, son of Dr. Henry Frankenstein, decides to move in with his wife and son to the castle where his father had the laboratory where he created the Monster. It is clear that the inhabitants did not warmly welcome him because the stigma of past events still existed, but the police helped calm the moods. Wolf meets Ygor, a hunchback who becomes his assistant in the laboratory and tells him that the Monster has not been destroyed but instead is in a coma. Wolf Frankenstein, also a doctor and scientist, fascinated by his father's experiences, revives the Monster, but this one seems to have a connection with Ygor and only obeys him. Ygor then uses the Monster to take revenge and kill some of the villagers who tried and condemned him years ago.The atmosphere of this film seems minimalist compared to the previous two and does not have the horror impact of the predecessors, although the story is still very interesting and with some memorable performances, especially Inspector Krogh. But the end disappointed me: although in the end Wolf had 'saved the day', he was the main responsible for the chaos because it was he who revived the Monster, but what we get is him leaving with his family in a train and the whole population waving him goodbye cheerfully instead of being judged and blamed for his acts that led to the deaths of some more people. Does one good action erases the bad ones? Otherwise, interesting at least one viewing.

Baron Wolf von Frankenstein (Basil Rathbone), his wife Elsa (Josephine Hutchinson) and young son Peter (Donnie Dunagan) move into the Frankenstein castle where Heinrich Frankenstein created his infamous monster. Soon after, Wolf meets hunchback Ygor (Bela Lugosi) who reveals that the monster is still alive, but in a comatose state. Driven to prove his father was a genius, Wolf revives the creature, which Ygor uses as an instrument of revenge…Son of Frankenstein was only the third in Universal's Frankenstein series, but already it saw the movies verging on self parody. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) had a streak of dark humour, but Son takes the already familiar formula to the nth degree: the storms are stormier, the expressionist sets are even more expressionistic, the shadows are more menacing, the monster's platform shoes look a tad higher, the snaggle-toothed hunchbacked assistant (played with relish by Lugosi) has a broken neck to boot, and Baron Frankenstein (Rathbone hamming it up a treat) is even more fervent about the creature than his father. And don't even get me started about the immense proportions of the castle's door knockers!With Rathbone and Lugosi joined by fellow horror legend Lionel Atwill (as the village's one-armed police inspector Krogh) and, of course, Boris Karloff as the Monster, the film is an unabashed treat for classic monster movie fans, one that revels in its Gothic excess, with secret passageways, a bubbling sulphur pit, a laboratory full of crazy electrical machinery, and—as if you needed to be told—an angry mob of locals waving pitchforks and torches. It's all very silly (with Atwill continually adjusting his false arm being the most comical aspect), but also quite a lot of fun.

This is one of the best horror films from the 30s, the acting and atmosphere are the strongest parts of the film, its the third installment in the Frankenstein series but it doesn't have that much of a connection with the other ones.Bela Lugosi its great as Ygor, a man who cheated death and gets deform by it, Basil Rathbone makes a magnificent performance as Frankensteins son, There's also inspector Krogh, played by Lionel Atwill, who its also great in the film.Overall, its one of the best Frankenstein films, its intense and chilling, there's also a absorbing element tot he film, I definitely recommend it.