Daedalus Review Thread
Star Rating Guide
☆ - Poor movie, wouldn't recommend watching.
☆ ☆ - Okay movie, would recommend watching if available for free
☆ ☆ ☆ - Good movie, would definitely recommend watching again
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ - Great movie, would highly recommend
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ - Awesome movie, could more than likely rival a classic
1.) Dracula (1931) ☆ ☆ ☆
Dracula (1931) was an interesting delve into the classic world of monster movies and a clear indicator of what would be coming as I worked my way slowly through the rest of the box set. It had some really cheesy, questionable special effects, but the overall pace, suspense and acting was great. It was a fun film for the month of October and I'd recommend it to those looking to delve into classic monsters.
2.) Frankenstein (1931) ☆ ☆ ☆
Frankenstein (1931) was surprisingly slow paced compared to Dracula. It was also interesting to see looking back on it how more modern remakes, including the Van Helsing film with Hugh Jackman played tribute to the windmill scene in this film. Though, it was intriguing to see how they presented Frankenstein as more of a curious creature, unsure of his place in the world and struggling to grasp his strength or why people reacted to him so. Overall, it was a good film and I'm glad I finally watched it. Not 100% sure if I would rewatch it though.
3.) The Invisible Man (1933) ☆ ☆ ☆
The Invisible Man (1933) was an interesting early thriller that could probably almost be classed as a slasher. The main antagonist has a slow spiral into madness, driven mad with his perceived power with his discovery of invisibility, though his hubris turns out to bite him later. There were certain plot holes that had me scratching my head with weaknesses revealed to one of the assistants he worked with that were never passed on to the police during their manhunt, but overall, it was an enjoyable flick and one I would recommend.
4.) The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) ☆ ☆
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) was disappointing when compared to Frankenstein, its predecessor. The pacing was all over the place, the characters felt two-dimensional and it was one of the films from my box set that I feel I could have been better off not having spent the time watching. I would recommend watching it at least once to check it off your bucket list, but otherwise you're not really missing much by avoiding it either.
5.) Werewolf of London (1935) ☆
Probably the least favorite of my films I've seen of the Universal classic monsters box set and I'm not sure how I feel about it. The special effects were subpar when compared to some of the other, even older films, and the plot seemed to flit between this and that without consistency. I spent most of the time watching the film out of the corner of my eye and when the credits came on, I felt like I hadn't missed much.
6.) Dracula's Daughter (1936) ☆ ☆ ☆
Dracula's Daughter (1936) is another one of the Universal classic monster films I found myself enjoying. It had just the right amount of suspense, left you with questions causing to watch more and eventually led to the finale that while not as great as other moments in the film, still delivered to bring a clear and concise closure. It was also nice to see how they seemed to keep things in chronological order with this film beginning where the end of Dracula (1931) ended. I'd recommend watching the two of them, in order.
7.) Son of Frankenstein (1939) ☆ ☆ ☆
Son of Frankenstein (1939) picked up where Bride of Frankenstein failed. It balanced the suspense with the drama in the gradual display of how the exposure to great knowledge can corrupt even the most wholesome of men and lead them down a dark path. We see how the son of the original Dr. Frankenstein, a doctor in his own right, but a loving husband and father by contrast meets his father's creation and becomes consumed with the power such a creature could bring. It is only when his family becomes threatened that he comes to realize how dangerous such a creature could be if left to live.
Overall, I'd recommend it for a watch at least once.
8.) Venom: The Last Dance (2024) ☆ ☆ ☆
Venom: The Last Dance was a fitting end for the journey that began in 2018 with the first film that introduced us to the titular anti-hero. In this film, we are introduced to a new military agency who is seeking to capture and study the symbiotes. We learn more of what the symbiotes are fleeing from and of the Codex, something that can only exist when a symbiote's host dies and it revives them, fusing the two together on a molecular level. We find Eddy hiding in Mexico, seemingly content to spend his evenings drinking. We find ourselves introduced to a new antagonist, who has a new set of minions, all of whom are intent on obtaining the Codex.
Overall, I think the film was enjoyable. I was never the biggest fan of the voice Tom Hardy used for Eddy in the films and there were a few random moments that I think the film could have done without. I would recommend watching it at least once, but you're not missing anything if you wait to watch it when it becomes available on streaming.
9.) The Crow (2024) ☆
Honestly, I wasn't all that impressed with this film. I went into it with an open mind, hoping that it would prove the naysayers wrong. However, I was disappointed to find out that it was lackluster. I couldn't get immersed in it, no matter how hard I tried. It seemed to go all over the place in terms of story and the characters were introduced with little to no backstory. I spent most of the movie playing around on my phone and barely paying attention to it. I was thankful I rented it and didn't purchase it.