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 Adapted from Jessie Douglas Kerruish's novel, The Undying Monster (1942) is another early picture about the myth that a man can become a werewolf and turn into a wolf late at night and stalk victims. The Hammond family lives in a gated English country estate. While all seems normal on the surface, the family has actually been dealing with suspected "ghosts" in the house and even worse, that there are rumors of werewolves in the family history.
 Hollywood's early black and white horror films were the best for conjuring up intrigue and fear. Fox's Horror Classics Collection is at the top of the list. Making their debut on DVD, the 3-disc collection includes The Lodger (1942), Hangover Square (1945) and The Undying Monster (1942). Interestingly, it was Vincent Price who narrated this tales on the radio before they were made into movies.
Director John Brahm, who made more than 36 films or television productions (many with Alfred Hitchcock) over 31 years, was superb at layering every scene with suspicion and red herrings. Most everyone seems a suspect, and even more are slightly off-kilter.
Credit for these chillers must also go to the cinematographers - in this case Lucien Ballard and Joseph LaShelle - who worked their craft exceptionally well using dark shadows and just the right lighting to create terror. Of course none of the films would have impact without the great cast members including Laird Cregar, George Sanders, Merle Oberon, Cedric Hardwicke, and Linda Darnell.
Heather Angel
The starlet of this film is Heather Angel who plays Helga Hammond. When late-night murders of victims being attached by something vicious increase, Scotland Yard inspector Robert Curtis (James Ellison) shows up to investigate. John Howard has the interesting but unsurprising role of Helga's brother Oliver.
James Ellison
The Werewolf, the first film about werewolves, was actually made in 1913, and the idea and plot contrivances spawned horror classics that have been redone more than 40 times. Probably the mostly well-known is Universal's The Wolf Man (1941) starring Claude Rains and Bella Lugosi.
Heather Thatcher & James Ellison
While The Undying Monster has some pluses, I must admit I wasn't wowed with this film. There are some plot holes, a major one in that the heroine/victim completely disappears before the end. Inspector Robert Curtis has a quirky sidekick (Heather Thatcher) whose one-liners seem more fitting for a Ma & Pa Kettle film. In addition she and Robert spend way to much time in scientific experiments that make little sense and feel included only to elongate the plot.
 Lucien Ballard handles the interior shots of the film well, offering a great feel of these gothic mansions that were cold, brooding and full of secret rooms. The large glass-paned window in the Hammond house with a statue in front of it, is a wonderful pivotal point for several conversations.
I was somewhat disappointed, however, with the exterior shots. They were too dark, felt staged and the few images of the werewolf running along the top of hill looked like a puppet on a plaster of paris sculpture.
While there is no mystery in The Undying Monster since everything is predictable, this is a great inclusion in this collection, and the DVD includes a few photo cards. Anyone interested in horror will enjoy the segment on director John Brham in the bonus features.
Special Features
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John Brahm
Concertos Macabre: The Films of John Brahm - Author/editor Stephen Jones, Dr. Drew Casper, Professor USC School of Cinematic Arts, screenwriter Christopher Wicking and screenwriter Steve Haberman and others talk about how Brahm used visual arts such as music and painting to influence his films; his style of shadows and fogs; his life of having to escape from Germany and his films.
• Restoration Comparison
• Trailer
• Still Gallery
• Advertising Gallery
Directors: John Brahm
Cast: James Ellison, Heather Angel, John Howard, Heather Thatcher
Writers: screenplay - Lillie Hayward and Michael Jacoby, novel - Jessie Douglas Kerruish
Rating: Not Rated (subject matter okay for 13 and older)
DVD Release Date: 10/09/2007
Classic Movie Guide Rating: 3 our of 5 stars
Run Time: 63 minutes
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Format: Full - Black & White
Photos © Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
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