Frankenstein

Decades after its release, this classic monster movie remains just as eerie today thanks to the chilling presence of Boris Karloff as the monster. When he first appears on-screen -- a hulking, lumbering, vacant-eyed creature -- the moment is pure black-and-white horror. But Karloff also invites sympathy with his portrayal of a tragic and misunderstood being with the body and strength of an ogre but the mind and innocence of a child. Sure, the movie occasionally feels dated, and viewers might find some incidents more slapstick than scary. But overall, it holds up admirably.

Those familiar with the more famous scenes will be surprised to discover some comic relief in the character of Henry's father, a crusty old baron. Although the baron's final lines, which end the movie, may seem abrupt by today's standards, they still convey the sad, strange irony of an old man's wish for a grandson and his son's "fathering" of a kind of monster-child. This classic remains the most iconic film adaptation of the novel, even though it does stray from Shelley's original plot.