Day 26: Night Monster

It's pretty common practice in the film industry to tout the most well known actor in the film even if they don't have a major role. Bela Lugosi dominates the cover of this tape! But Lugosi fans should beware that his role in the film is not major. He plays the minor part of a butler who is all but forgotten by the end of the film. But of course Universal had to make it seem like Lugosi was the lead actor.

A wealthy paralyzed man invites 3 doctors who cared for him to his creepy mansion. There he reveals that he has been working with an Eastern mystic to learn new ways to cure his paralysis. Also arriving on the scene is a Psychiatrist summoned by his sister to prove her own sanity. As the night continues the doctors are murdered one by one and a dark secret slowly comes to light.

Apparently this film was mentioned by Alfred Hitchcock himself as having an important influence on his own work. It's not hard to see. The film is filled with suspense that carries through all the way to the closing minutes. The mystery of the killers identity isn't too hard to figure out or anything, but they add a few wrinkles that make you second guess it.

I've heard some high praise for the acting in this film. I can't say I really agree. I don't watch too many classic horror films often so I'm not sure if it's the style of the period or what. The characters in the film didn't sell me on the terror of being trapped in a creepy house with a murderer. No character seems to express any sort of fear what so ever until they are actually confronted by the killer. Quite the contrary, everybody seems to remain absolutely calm as they continue to discover more bodies. I'd think there would be all sorts of emotional chaos, but hey! I guess I've never been stuck in a house with a homicidal maniac before so what do I know?

Night Monster was a let down to me in multiple categories. While not exactly a terrible film, the final reveal didn't nearly measure up to the suspense. It's also always awful to see a talented actor like Bela Lugosi barely utilized at all. Such seems to be the case in many of his films and it's just mind blowing to me that DRACULA himself didn't get more lead roles in his time.

Body Count:5

Side Note: I'm assuming the Police Captain is a comic relief character? He is absolutely useless! His crime solving techniques could only be described as primitive at best. He's regularly made to look like an idiot.