For us horror fans, October is always a monster month. From haunts and Halloween parties to new merch and movie marathons, October is our time to celebrate all manner of things scary and supernatural. And now, Prime Video has made it easier than ever to have a truly monstrous month-long celebration by stuffing its streaming slate with a hefty handful of Universal Monsters.
To be a little more specific, we’re talking about Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), The Invisible Man (1933), and Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), all hot new additions to Prime Video. And if you’re wondering, what about The Wolf Man (1941)? Well, he’s currently wandering the woods over on Peacock. And, The Phantom of the Opera (1925)? Haunting the aisles over at Shudder and AMC+. And we can’t forget The Mummy (1932)!? Tragically, Imhotep is currently cursed to the realm of no free streaming.
These are the movies, the monsters, that helped define horror’s cinematic DNA. Yes, the films may be old, but they’re not dusty old relics. The Universal Monsters movies are emotional, affecting, and still unnervingly prescient in their anxieties about otherness, creation, arrogance, and consequences. They deserve a watch for the iconic makeup and practical effects. They deserve a watch for cinematography, subtext, and foundational performances from horror heavy hitters like Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Claude Rains, Dwight Frye, and Elsa Lanchester. They deserve a watch because they refined the language still spoken by horror films today.
For even more Monster fun, cue up Dread’s own Development Hell: The Unmade Horror Movie Podcast in between watches. Hosted by Dread Central’s editorial director Josh Korngut, Development Hell unpacks the unmade, the reimagined, and the weird production histories behind the best horror movies never made, with a whole miniseries on the Dark Universe. Part gossipy deep dive, part historical archaeology, this miniseries features special guests The Monsters That Made Us, and is an especially fun listen if you want context on Universal’s monster ambitions and the scripts that never quite made it.
Take some of the scrolling stress out of the equation and let Prime Video set the mood this October with Dracula and Renfield’s unnerving stare (and laugh). Kick things up a notch with Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein to see a monster and a myth evolve. Then, unwrap The Invisible Man for palpable paranoia and effects that still hit. And finally, dive into Creature from the Black Lagoon for a dreamy, escapist creature feature. So get cozy, snag some candy, light a candle, and let the original monster squad remind you why monsters never go out of style.
Categorized: News Podcasts
