Horror and comedy can make a very potent mix. 'Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein' is the undisputed masterpiece of this genre because it delivers on both concepts equally. I think this is something that poor imitators fail to realize. For a horror comedy to work there has to be both concepts. 'Meet Frankenstein' can still sort of work as a horror film. The monsters still have great dignity and pose a real peril to Bud and Lou. It's a great film and in my opinion the best the boys ever were. No wonder a semi-sequel was made. 'Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff' has none of the charm it's predecessor had. It's hard not to like an Abbott and Costello film but this one has a rough time balancing it's themes.
For starters the film doesn't feel like Abbott and Costello were meant to be in it. It feels and plays like a real bottom of the barrel thriller that was hastily rewritten with Bud and Lou. Bud and Lou are not the focus here. In all honesty the film gets kind of boring because it spends long stretches fleshing out it's far fetched murder mystery. No one really goes into a murder mystery caring about the actual clues or detective work. This film actually thinks people pay attention to this stuff and so Bud and Lou spend a fair amount of time talking about evidence and police work. To be fair it sets up a sort of funny morbid gag where the boys transport a body across the hotel but the gag overstays it's welcome. It is repeated several times and each time it is done so with a reminder about leaving evidence. Since when did Bud and Lou feel the need to explain a joke to such degrees? I get the feeling that they were less than comfortable with the material here. Good comedy needs no intricate explanation and this is the only Abbott and Costello film that really does this. The cast is also way too crowded and convoluted. I don't really care about anyone but Bud and Lou. The film can't have it both ways. If it cares enough about it's murder mystery to devote detail to it than it has to set up distinct suspects. When the killer is revealed I just kind of shrugged and said where did he come from.
Like I said earlier I think the film has trouble bending it's darker ideas with comedy. There is some macabre stuff here. People are being killed. I compare this film to 'Meets Frankenstein' in that Lou while being funny does generally look terrified. Here it feels as though there is a certain lack of sincerity in how the horrors are dealt with. A big aspect to this is that the most daring and macabre gag is repeated multiple times and thus loses all it's impact. The film does however reach a highpoint when Lou confronts the killer in the caverns. It is funny and yet we fear for Lou because we know there is danger to be had.
For those looking for Karloff, don't bother. He has a funny scene with Lou but he doesn't look like he likes being here. I imagine he wasn't on the set very long as his presence is little more than a glorified cameo. They don't even take the time to develop him into a proper red herring because they put his name in the title. Lugosi would have been so much better in this role.
It's hard to dislike an 'Abbott and Costello' film too much because they are so funny and deliver so much into their comedy. This film however is distinctly lesser than a lot of their efforts. It's funny enough if you want their comedy but keep in mind you do have to sit through a murder mystery and some really awkward genre bending. 'Meet Frankenstein' does everything this film tries to do so much better.
For starters the film doesn't feel like Abbott and Costello were meant to be in it. It feels and plays like a real bottom of the barrel thriller that was hastily rewritten with Bud and Lou. Bud and Lou are not the focus here. In all honesty the film gets kind of boring because it spends long stretches fleshing out it's far fetched murder mystery. No one really goes into a murder mystery caring about the actual clues or detective work. This film actually thinks people pay attention to this stuff and so Bud and Lou spend a fair amount of time talking about evidence and police work. To be fair it sets up a sort of funny morbid gag where the boys transport a body across the hotel but the gag overstays it's welcome. It is repeated several times and each time it is done so with a reminder about leaving evidence. Since when did Bud and Lou feel the need to explain a joke to such degrees? I get the feeling that they were less than comfortable with the material here. Good comedy needs no intricate explanation and this is the only Abbott and Costello film that really does this. The cast is also way too crowded and convoluted. I don't really care about anyone but Bud and Lou. The film can't have it both ways. If it cares enough about it's murder mystery to devote detail to it than it has to set up distinct suspects. When the killer is revealed I just kind of shrugged and said where did he come from.
Like I said earlier I think the film has trouble bending it's darker ideas with comedy. There is some macabre stuff here. People are being killed. I compare this film to 'Meets Frankenstein' in that Lou while being funny does generally look terrified. Here it feels as though there is a certain lack of sincerity in how the horrors are dealt with. A big aspect to this is that the most daring and macabre gag is repeated multiple times and thus loses all it's impact. The film does however reach a highpoint when Lou confronts the killer in the caverns. It is funny and yet we fear for Lou because we know there is danger to be had.
For those looking for Karloff, don't bother. He has a funny scene with Lou but he doesn't look like he likes being here. I imagine he wasn't on the set very long as his presence is little more than a glorified cameo. They don't even take the time to develop him into a proper red herring because they put his name in the title. Lugosi would have been so much better in this role.
It's hard to dislike an 'Abbott and Costello' film too much because they are so funny and deliver so much into their comedy. This film however is distinctly lesser than a lot of their efforts. It's funny enough if you want their comedy but keep in mind you do have to sit through a murder mystery and some really awkward genre bending. 'Meet Frankenstein' does everything this film tries to do so much better.