--- title: "Bride of Frankenstein: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/bride-of-frankenstein/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/bride-of-frankenstein" critics_score: 86 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Bride of Frankenstein (1935): what the critics said Critics' score 86 from 14 reviews: 14 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. The consensus is firmly positive: all fourteen reviews praise James Whale’s sequel, and several judge it an improvement on the original Frankenstein. Praise centres on Whale’s handling of horror, macabre humour and sympathy for the creature, supported by Gothic sets, expressive photography and inventive art direction. Boris Karloff’s emotional depth draws repeated admiration, while Ernest Thesiger’s flamboyant Pretorius and Elsa Lanchester’s performance give the critics plenty to enjoy beyond the monster himself. The differences are chiefly in enthusiasm and emphasis, rather than substantial objections. Some reviews concentrate on satire, camp and subversion; others stress the creature’s humanity and the story’s moral complexity. Variety supplies the clearest reservation, wishing the Bride had more screen time despite admiring Lanchester’s work. The praise ranges from warm approval to much stronger enthusiasm, but there is no negative dissent among these reviews. ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 5/5. James Whale's extravagantly produced sequel ranks as one of horrordom's greatest achievements, with wittily eccentric direction, Elsa Lanchester's electric hairdo, Ernest Thesiger's ingenious Dr Pretorius and Boris Karloff's poignant yet pushy monster. Some scenes, like the unveiling of the bride, are of emphatic classic status. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-n6d0ks/bride-of-frankenstein/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 8 November 2025. The critic ranks Bride of Frankenstein as the top Frankenstein film overall, highlighting its exciting and haunting take on the mythos with rich story, queer subtext, pathos, hysteria and a classic feast for the senses in its climactic scene. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/best-frankenstein-movies.html) ## Empire — Simon Braund Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic calls it one of the most beguiling American films ever made, outstripping the original Frankenstein in invention, visual splendour, humour, subversion and subtle characterisations. They single out the performances of Karloff, Lanchester and Thesiger, along with the art direction, cinematography and Whale's deft direction blending horror, satire and whimsy. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/empire-essay-bride-frankenstein-review/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 3 January 1999. Ebert praises it as the best of the Frankenstein films, a sly subversive masterpiece of art direction that blends satire, excitement and humor while allowing the Monster more depth and speech. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-bride-of-frankenstein) ## The AV Club Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 28 October 2024. The critic ranks Bride of Frankenstein as the best in the Frankenstein series for being stranger, funnier and more beautiful than its predecessor, praising its oddball touches like the Mary Shelley framing device and the melancholy ending. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/frankenstein-run-the-series) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 11 May 1935. The review calls it a first-rate horror film with excellent direction by Whale, strong performances especially from Karloff as the Monster, and effective settings, photography and makeup. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1935/05/11/archives/at-the-roxy.html) ## Time Out — GA Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 25 July 2012. The critic calls it a tremendous sequel with a clever prologue, macabre humour and sense of parody. Strong on atmosphere, Gothic sets and expressionist camerawork, it is one of Whale's most perfectly realised movies and a delight from start to finish. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/bride-of-frankenstein) ## Los Angeles Times — Susan King Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 1999. King describes the film as one of the rare cases where the sequel is even better than the original, highlighting its entertaining blend of horror and humor along with strong documentary extras on the DVD. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-oct-21-ca-24508-story.html) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 October 2010. The piece presents the film as a wild ride that mixes classical and gutter elements with camp and serious tones. It highlights Karloff's returning monster with dialogue, Clive's hysterical doctor, Thesiger's flamboyant Pretorius, and Lanchester's iconic bride. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/22/bride-frankenstein) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1934. The review finds it a romp with Karloff investing the Monster with real emotion and touching moments, Thesiger diabolically effective as Pretorius, and Lanchester impressive in her dual roles, though more time could have been spent on the Bride. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1934/film/reviews/bride-of-frankenstein-1200411087/) ## Den of Geek — Tim George Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 7 July 2016. The film is an improvement over its predecessor in every respect, with a more complex story, more dynamic direction, and a colourful cast. Karloff’s Monster and Thesiger’s Pretorius stand out as highlights in one of the darkest, funniest, and most unique horror films ever made. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/revisiting-universal-s-frankenstein-movies/) ## Paste — Jim Vorel Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 8 August 2019. The critic calls Bride of Frankenstein one of the greatest horror sequels ever made and James Whale’s magnum opus, a more polished and ambitious film than the original with dynamic direction and iconic imagery. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/horror-movies/best-horror-movie-of-1935-bride-of-frankenstein-karloff) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2025. Festival review. The critic highlights the film's exploration of clashing Gothic themes and praises Elsa Lanchester's stunning performance as the Bride for her nuanced gestures and agency. It commends the iconic costuming, production design, and score while noting the moral complexity and sympathetic portrayal of the creature. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/bride-of-frankenstein-1935-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) ## Film Stories — Sarah Cook Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 5 March 2024. The piece celebrates the sequel's deeper dive into morality and the creation of the Bride, singling out Elsa Lanchester's memorable performance and the film's iconic imagery and effects as reshaping horror cinema. It views both films as enduring classics with powerful contrasts between terror and humanity. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/features/frankenstein-and-the-bride-of-frankenstein-two-of-the-horror-genres-most-durable-iconic-stories/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/bride-of-frankenstein.md