Van Helsing

In the 1930s, horror films were a staple of Universal Picture Studios. Universal produced movies in the 1940s including House of Frankenstein which Van Helsing is loosely based off of. In the 2004 horror film, Van Helsing, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale, Mary Shelley’s version of Frankenstein's monster was perpetuated, but also added other monsters such as Dracula, Mr. Hyde, and werewolves. Frankenstein’s monster in the movie is said to be a modernized version of the Karloff design from the 1931 film. They both have a square head, with gruesome scars covering their bodies.

Personality wise, in comparison to Mary Shelley’s original novel, Van Helsing may have depicted the monster in a few ways that don’t match up, such as the monster being able to speak instead of grunt and moan. However, multiple qualities of the monster are parallel to Shelley’s. Both monsters want to exist in the world, but are treated as an outcast. Due to humans treating the monsters in a hostile fashion, they both view humans as the true monsters and feel paranoid around them, making them susceptible to bursts of anger in order to defend themselves.

Besides the similarities of the two monsters, Van Helsing also held onto other similarities such as the legendary scene of Dr. Frankenstein getting carried into a windmill by the monster while angry civilians swarm them and burn it down. Van Helsing is a modern edition of the well-loved story of Frankenstein and by including the monster in the film, it made the Frankenstein story accessible to the younger generation. Van Helsing made Frankenstein alive again in the 21st century!