Boris Karloff as Frankenstein’s Creature

The special effects industry for films was still in its infancy when Boris Karloff took on the role of Frankenstein’s Creature, and Karloff’s dedication to the role became the stuff of Hollywood legend. During this time, special effects often involved some sort of painful apparatus to contort the physical body. However, Karloff went even further for what would become one of his most iconic roles and had several teeth extracted by a dentist to create the “sunken cheek” look of the Creature. This decision permanently altered Karloff’s features but cemented the look of Mary Shelley’s “Modern Prometheus” in the minds and hearts of film and television producers, artists, designers, and the public for years to come.

Challenge: Iconic Monsters - Week 2: Haunted October Nights