Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster

With the exception of Stephen King, no other name is as synonymous with horror as Boris Karloff. Younger folks may not know him, but to generations Karloff was a beloved bogeyman. Despite the menacing roles that typified his career, me and a million other horror lovers only felt affection toward him.

There have been countless books written about Boris Karloff. While there have been various mini-documentaries on the man, there hasn't really been a definitive look at the life and work of William Henry Pratt, known to all of us as the one and only Boris Karloff. Until now.

Karloff is renowned as the man in the creature suit and makeup in the original Frankenstein movies. Even more, perhaps, know his voice as the one behind the classic animated Grinch TV show. He did so much more, and the new documentary, Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster, examines his career.

In the trailer for the splendid Sparks Brothers documentary, Russell Mael bemoans the fact that most documentaries are filled with dry talking heads. Well, that's basically what Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster is. Anecdotes and observations by those who knew the man and those who have been inspired by him, interspersed with footage from his films.

One of the foremost interviewees is, unsurprisingly, Sara Karloff. She and Ron Chaney and Pat Hitchcock have made the rounds in the convention circuit and have appeared on numerous studies of their famous fathers. I was never really impressed with any of them.

You get Guillermo del Toro explaining his near-religious admiration for Karloff. Joe Dante is as affable and knowledgeable as ever. John Landis speaks with alacrity, and horror historian David J. Skal is urbane and erudite. Ron Perlman, who knows a thing or two about portraying monsters, puts in his two cents.

Then there's Gregory Mank, who appears to be coming off a two-week drunk. Leonard Maltin looks decidedly uncomfortable, as if he is sitting on a twelve-inch steely dan.

Roger Corman, now ninety-five years old, looks his age, but his mind seems to be as sharp as ever. There is posthumous footage of Dick Miller, Orson Bean (!), and Christopher Plummer.

Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster is an eye-opening portrayal of Hollywood's grandest horror star. I learned things about him, I was reminded of details of his life I had forgotten about, and the film made me wish to fill in the blanks of my viewing of his movies. You really couldn't ask for anything better.

Written by Mark Sieber