Son of Frankenstein Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Frankenstein’s son moves back home, finds his dad’s old monster pal hanging out in the basement, and chaos ensues (again).

🍿 Son of Frankenstein: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Return to Frankenstein

Baron Wolf von Frankenstein, son of the infamous Henry Frankenstein, returns to his ancestral village with his wife Elsa and son Peter. The villagers, still terrorized by the memory of the monster, greet them with suspicion and hostility. Wolf seeks to restore his family’s reputation but finds himself drawn into the legacy of his father’s experiments.

Discovery of the Monster

Wolf explores his father’s abandoned laboratory and encounters Ygor, a twisted blacksmith who survived a hanging. Ygor leads Wolf to a secret crypt where the Frankenstein monster lies in a comatose state. Intrigued, Wolf decides to revive the creature, hoping to understand his father’s work and perhaps even control the monster.

Ygor’s Revenge

As Wolf revives the monster, Ygor secretly manipulates it for his own vengeful purposes. The monster, under Ygor’s control, begins to murder the jurors who sentenced Ygor to death. Inspector Krogh, a local police officer who lost his arm to the monster as a child, investigates the deaths, suspecting Frankenstein’s involvement.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Baron Wolf von Frankenstein (Basil Rathbone): The son of the infamous Dr. Frankenstein, he returns to his ancestral home to confront his father’s legacy, ultimately becoming obsessed with reanimating the Monster.
• The Monster (Boris Karloff): The reanimated creation of Dr. Frankenstein, he is found in a comatose state and revived, becoming a pawn in Ygor’s vengeful schemes.
• Ygor (Bela Lugosi): A cunning and vengeful shepherd with a broken neck, he manipulates both Wolf and the Monster to exact revenge on those who wronged him.
• Inspector Krogh (Lionel Atwill): The local police inspector with a prosthetic arm, he investigates the mysterious deaths in the village and suspects the Frankenstein family’s involvement.
• Elsa von Frankenstein (Josephine Hutchinson): Wolf’s wife who is initially supportive but grows fearful as her husband descends into obsession.
• Peter von Frankenstein (Donnie Dunagan): Wolf’s young son, who develops a strange connection with the Monster, unaware of the danger surrounding him.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Baron Wolf von Frankenstein: “This creature is indeed a monster. There’s not one part of his physical being that’s like that of human beings.” – Wolf expresses his initial shock and disgust upon truly examining the Monster’s unnatural composition.
• Baron Wolf von Frankenstein: “I, as a man, should destroy him. But as a scientist, I should do everything in my power to bring him back to conscious life.” – Wolf wrestles with his moral obligation to destroy the Monster vs. his scientific curiosity.
• Ygor: “He is my friend… he does things for me.” – Igor cryptically explains his relationship with the Monster, hinting at his control over the creature.
• Inspector Krogh: “One doesn’t easily forget, Herr Baron, an arm torn out by the roots.” – Krogh recounts his childhood trauma, revealing his personal stake in the Frankenstein saga.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $400,000
• Domestic Gross: $1,500,000 (estimated)
• Worldwide Gross: $127

💥 Son of Frankenstein Reviews

Personal Review

I was blown away by how much fun this movie was! Basil Rathbone’s performance really got me, especially when he went all nervous and crazy! And Lugosi? I couldn’t even tell it was him! The whole movie had this weird, awesome vibe that made me feel like I was in a scary fairytale. Seriously, watch it!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic horror films”
  • “Viewers interested in Frankenstein lore”
  • “Admirers of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi”
  • “Those who appreciate German Expressionist set design”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence and murder”
  • “Disturbing imagery”
  • “Thematic elements of mad science”

Professional Reviews

• Classic Horror Review: “Son of Frankenstein showcases stellar performances from Rathbone and Lugosi, elevating it beyond simple monster movie status. The Expressionist sets create a visual feast, making this a must-see for fans of classic horror, emphasizing visual style and atmospheric tension.
• Modern Cinephile: “While not as groundbreaking as its predecessors, Son of Frankenstein delivers solid entertainment with its blend of horror and sci-fi elements. Lugosi steals the show as Ygor, and the film’s exploration of family legacy adds depth. It’s a worthy addition to the Frankenstein canon, though continuity is shaky.
• Horror Obsessed: “Son of Frankenstein is a visual triumph. The use of shadows and set design creates an immersive experience. Karloff’s final performance as the Monster is poignant, even with limited screen time. Lugosi is truly spectacular, elevating the movie significantly.

Audience Reactions

The iconic dart scene between Rathbone and Atwill is both chilling and darkly funny.: Viewers praise the film’s excellent cast, especially Bela Lugosi’s performance as Ygor.

The set design is striking, creating a visually immersive experience.: The film’s Expressionist sets and innovative cinematography get high marks.

Overall Consensus: A visually striking sequel with standout performances, particularly from Bela Lugosi, making it a beloved entry in the Universal horror series.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “”Son of Frankenstein” was initially planned to be filmed in Technicolor, but the idea was abandoned due to issues with how Boris Karloff’s makeup appeared on color film. Test footage does exist.”
• “Bela Lugosi’s role as Ygor was originally intended for a much smaller character, but Lugosi’s performance was so compelling that the role was expanded significantly during production.”
• “The film’s expressionistic sets were heavily inspired by German silent films like “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”, featuring distorted angles and heavy shadows to create a sense of unease.”
• “This was Boris Karloff’s last full performance as Frankenstein’s monster for Universal Pictures. He later reprised the role briefly in archive footage.”
• “Lionel Atwill’s character, Inspector Krogh, with his prosthetic arm, was a direct inspiration for the character of Inspector Kemp in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein.””

🖥️ How to Watch Son of Frankenstein?

As a classic film, ‘Son of Frankenstein’ can be found on various streaming platforms and for purchase. Check services like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies for rental or purchase options. Availability may vary by region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Son of Frankenstein, you might like these similar films:

• Frankenstein (1931): The original classic that started the Frankenstein craze, establishing the themes and visual style continued in ‘Son of Frankenstein’.
• Bride of Frankenstein (1935): A thematically similar and visually stunning sequel that delves deeper into the monster’s emotional life and the hubris of creation.
• The Wolf Man (1941): Another classic Universal monster movie with a focus on a family curse and a sympathetic monster, sharing similar themes of fate and transformation.
• Young Frankenstein (1974): Mel Brooks’ loving parody of the Frankenstein films, which draws heavily from ‘Son of Frankenstein’ for its characters and plot points.
• The Mummy (1932): Another classic Universal monster film from the same era, focusing on a resurrected being and the horror it unleashes.

🛒 Son of Frankenstein Related Products

• Frankenstein: The Legacy Collection [Blu-ray]: Complete your classic monster movie collection with this Blu-ray set, featuring Son of Frankenstein alongside other iconic films. Experience these timeless tales in high definition with enhanced audio.
• Universal Monsters Frankenstein Monster Mask: Transform into the iconic Monster with this high-quality latex mask. Perfect for Halloween, cosplay, or displaying as part of your horror memorabilia collection. Officially licensed Universal Monsters product.
• Frankenstein Movie Poster Set: Decorate your home theater with this set of classic Frankenstein movie posters, including Son of Frankenstein. These high-quality reproductions capture the original artwork and vintage feel.
• Bela Lugosi as Ygor Action Figure: A detailed action figure of Bela Lugosi as Ygor from Son of Frankenstein. A prized possession for fans of the classic Universal Monsters series.

🎧 Soundtrack

Son of Frankenstein features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title” – performed by Frank Skinner
• “Ygor’s Theme” – performed by Frank Skinner
• “Sailing, Sailing, Over the Bounding Main” – performed by Donnie Dunagan (uncredited)

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Evolution Of Frankenstein’s Monster (ANIMATED – Universal Franchise)

Ever wondered how Frankenstein’s monster changed over the years? This awesome animated video breaks down the entire Universal franchise evolution! It’s super informative and visually engaging – a must-watch for any Frankenstein fan!

Boris Karloff ~ Frankenstein strangles makeup artist Jack Pierce

Check out this rare footage of Boris Karloff goofing around with makeup artist Jack Pierce! It’s a super cool, candid look at the set of ‘Son of Frankenstein’ and gives you a real sense of the fun they were having making a classic film.

Karloff Scream Used in Two “FRANKENSTEIN” Movies

Did you know they reused a scream from ‘Son of Frankenstein’ in another movie? This video points out this cool movie detail, and I think it is a great way to explore the low-budget secrets that filmmakers used to use.

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