Bride of the Monster (Edward D. Wood Jr., 1955)
This Science-fiction meets horror meets Monster flick extravaganza by the infamously worst director of all time, Ed Wood, tells the story of a mad scientist, played by the always frightening Bela Lugosi, who lives in a dark manor with a stupid assistant, Tor Johnsson, and a “monster”. The so-called monster is a giant octopus living in the swamp near the manor. This is also the story of a policeman who wants to find the truth about the many disappearances around the swamp and a stand-up woman on the same trail.
This film reveals a lot about how Wood worked and how he perceived Cinema and the society. The work of Ed Wood has often been criticized for his amateurism and flaws. Always perceived as the worst director of all-time, which by the way I think Michael Bay or Brett Ratner could easily hold that dishonour, Wood deserves some kind of respect because he made films the way he liked them and in his own very particular way. Like them or not he has left a name behind him and his films will stay.
First, you have the presence of the strong woman who wants to clear the mystery around the monster of the swamp. Wood emphasized those characters of stand-up women that wanted to participate in the action of the film instead of being relegated to the supporting props they are typically casted. It reminds me of how the great Howard Hawks used to cast upfront and bright women. He was one the first directors to actually use feminine characters in a very affirmative way especially when you look at His Girl Friday.
Let’s get back to Bride of the Monster, the world of Wood is very strange and some aspects of his vision are simplistic and even stereotyped. Especially the scenes with the policemen who look like stupid investigators, reading papers and bird lovers... Those characters are one dimensional. The professor is also a simple version of every professor or scientist found in our childhood perception of life. This perception of life by Wood is clearly influenced by comic books for his “mise en scène” and the kind of plot he worked with.
However, Bride of the Monster isn’t a turkey or a complete failure, within the genre it’s almost a comedy, you have action, jokes and very hilarious dialogues. Ed Wood’s film is a lot of fun and even if it’s not deep and meaningful as The Day the Earth Stood Still or The Thing From Another World it has this retro/kitsch signature of a good old Monster movie.
First, you have the presence of the strong woman who wants to clear the mystery around the monster of the swamp. Wood emphasized those characters of stand-up women that wanted to participate in the action of the film instead of being relegated to the supporting props they are typically casted. It reminds me of how the great Howard Hawks used to cast upfront and bright women. He was one the first directors to actually use feminine characters in a very affirmative way especially when you look at His Girl Friday.
Let’s get back to Bride of the Monster, the world of Wood is very strange and some aspects of his vision are simplistic and even stereotyped. Especially the scenes with the policemen who look like stupid investigators, reading papers and bird lovers... Those characters are one dimensional. The professor is also a simple version of every professor or scientist found in our childhood perception of life. This perception of life by Wood is clearly influenced by comic books for his “mise en scène” and the kind of plot he worked with.
However, Bride of the Monster isn’t a turkey or a complete failure, within the genre it’s almost a comedy, you have action, jokes and very hilarious dialogues. Ed Wood’s film is a lot of fun and even if it’s not deep and meaningful as The Day the Earth Stood Still or The Thing From Another World it has this retro/kitsch signature of a good old Monster movie.
