The Core Universal Monster Movies Ranked Worst To Best

“Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright.”

The Wolf Man was actually Universal's second attempt at a culturally significant werewolf movie following the decent, but slightly underwhelming, Werewolf of London in 1935. Werewolf of London was the prototype of werewolf movies, establishing most of the werewolf lore that we have come to recognise today (involuntary full moon transformations; spreading the curse through a bite). Even if The Wolf Man isn't as creative or as pioneering as some of the other films on this list, it's still a strong contender for the best of the bunch.

One great thing about these early Universal horror talkies is that they're short and sweet: they do everything that they set out to do, show you everything you need to see, and rarely give in to the temptation to add unnecessary padding. Of all of these films, The Wolf Man is the one that arguably could've done with a bit more meat. It's wonderful as it is, but there was definitely a missed opportunity to have a touch more fun with the werewolf lore. Considering how much had already been achieved by its predecessor, perhaps The Wolf Man should've have put a bit more of its own unique stamp on the lore of the monster.

As for the film's take on lycanthropy, Larry Talbot's transformation sequence is still impressive. One criticism, however, is that it is quite anticlimactic and confusing to see the werewolf strangling his victims. Yes, yes, I know, the censors... But still.

Of course, the fantastic cast needs mentioning. Lon Chaney Jr., who naturally found himself typecast after this movie, nails it. The studio saw so much potential in Chaney that he is now credited as being the only actor to have portrayed four classic Universal monsters. Favourites Claude Raines and Bela Lugosi star, too, although both are criminally underused. Evelyn Ankers is a fantastic leading lady, and is far more likeable than some of the other bland leading ladies of the time.