Which (Obscure) Universal Monster Should Go Next?

This article from our friends over at Bloody Disgusting examines some candidates for possible rebooting in the wake of the success of THE INVISIBLE MAN. They make some interesting suggestions. They wanted to focus more on lesser-known titles, so they picked, in numerical order, (1) ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN, (2) THE BLACK CAT, (3) THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN, (4) WEREWOLF OF LONDON, and (5) DRACULA’S DAUGHTER. Now I will offer my own thoughts in relative numerical order.

(1) This won’t work without Abbott and Costello. And neither of those guys is available. (2) I don’t know about this one. It’s a fantastic movie, but I can’t imagine anyone else in the two lead roles other than Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff. And, as with the earlier contender, neither of those guys is available. Maybe if Guillermo Del Toro directed it. But who could sub for Lugosi and Karloff? Does any actor today, no matter how talented, have that kind of Monster clout? Robert Englund, maybe, for one of the roles? But who else?
(3) This would be fantastic, but with today’s special effects the “oooh” and “ahhh” reaction from audiences would be considerably lessened.
(4) Yes. Yes yes yes YES YES YES YES!!! This underappreciated gem is a perfect candidate! Actor Henry Hull, even though he was terrific in that role, isn’t as iconic, in the name-recognition/front-end-loaded kind of way, as Lon Chaney Jr.. It would be easier to recast that role than it was to recast Universal’s Wolfman. Any sufficiently talented actor of the right age and physicality could play the part. Just take the original script and film it as-is. It’s ready to go.
(5) Yes, but let us do that proper reboot of Dracula first, okay?

By The Evil Cheezman

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS (www.evilcheezproductions.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/evilcheezproductions), specializing in theatrical performances and haunted attractions. He has written, produced and directed (and occasionally acted in) over a dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and Crime genres. His first novel, THE CONFESSIONS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER: WEREWOLF, is available for purchase at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/734763 MORTUI VELOCES SUNT!

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