James Whale’s witty sequel to Frankenstein is to the 1930s horror film what T. Rex, David Bowie, Jobriath, and other glitter types were to 1970s rock music: wacky, theatrical, extra British and way, way, way more gay. We thought The Monster died at the end of the first movie, but nope. He survived. Like Jason later would in the Friday the 13th movies. He’s also nicer this time. In the first film, Karloff was a violent killer around whom no one was safe. In this one, he’s revealed as a sensitive soul who only wants some peace. He also wants a friend, which is how he falls under the influence of the campy Dr. Pretorius (played by the flaming Ernest Thesiger, who steals every scene in he’s in), an insane scientist who wants to create a female mate for The Monster and, eventually, a whole race of monsters. It’s a must-see black comedy and, at times, a delicious parody of the first film.