8. The Black Cat (1934) / The Raven (1935) Monster Madness 2009 review

[Omegalucario98]

Does anybody know if they made a movie about the orangutan with a razor?

[MultiBOZA]

WTF?!

E.A. Po don't have anything with the movies.

[garganrose]

are these movies in a dvd double feature set? because if not they should be.

[MaggieLovesJimmy]

@garganrose Not on DVD that I've seen, but Amazon has them in a double feature on VHS.

[pewsterbaby]

@MaggieLovesJimmy They're both on the Bela Lugosi Collection single dvd from Universal, along with Murders In The Rue Morgue, The Invisible Ray, & Black Friday.

[ultimatesharpzilla]

BIT BY BIT!

[anarcangelpi]

niiice! just this halloween my math/science teacher played both of these in class it was sweet.

[KelanDWood]

"He's gonna take you back to the past to watch horror films that are bad-ass,he commentates on Norman Bates,He's gonna rip a new asshole to Twilight and M.Night Shymalan who is a troll. He's the awesomest film buff you ever heard,he's the awesome horror movie nerd,he's the bad-ass Legosi,Karloff nerd,he's awesome horror movie nerds"

[Sporezilla3000]

Why does Karloff remind me of G-Man?

[skinwalkerxxx]

There's nothing better than Black Cat. You have two fascinating characters with a dark side going at it, until one of them decide to turn good and has to torture the other one to prove it.

[WafflezDay]

Shit-eating grin. I LOL'D xD

[MrWesdotcom]

I can't ever watch one of these two films without watching the other. They go so great together. Glad you reviewed them at the same time

[Operation361]

haha... "unpussified". That's a great word.

[NickCrafty09]

Karloff vs Lugosi = Godzilla vs King Kong.



[Yemmuh4444]

Unpussified!

[sadlobster1]

I just watched The Black Cat here on Youtube and it was awesome. I loved Karloff and Lugosi's performances; Karloff's especially because he seemed so unbelievably creepy.

It was nice to see Lugosi play somewhat of a good guy for a change. As apposed to some of his other films where he's practically type-cast as the villain

[cha5]

@RdVirus777 And the flaying alive of Karloff by Lugosi is for me still pretty damn riveting even though it's kept at a minimum for the most part and left to your imagination, I just love those pre Hays Code horror films and what they could get away with.

[RdVirus777]

@cha5 I love when movies make you think and use your imagination. I wish more newer horror films would do this. I have nothing against movies that are overly violent as long as they're well done like Antichrist and Eden Lake but a lot of these newer horror films just rely on torture and that's the only thing going for them. If you would ask these newer horror directors why there characters are one dimensional they wouldn't understand what your asking them.

[Vdogg2496]

How come this came out on 28/9/09 where it should of came out 8/10/09?

[ingsoc3125]

Bateman? Is Patrick Bateman from American Psycho inspired by this?

[DwighttFrye]

Probably my two favorite horror movies ever.Tend to give the edge to The Raven,cause I think Bela is just a little bit better playing the real lunatic of the movie,and Boris a little better as the sympathetic character.And I love that one scene,as the pendulum is descending upon the judge,where Bela asks him "Do you mind if I smoke?".

[FountainRealm]

@Cinemassacre James, wasn't this scene in your movie "The Curse of the Cat Lovers Grave?" 2:50

[tigerexslayer]

yay begining like in luigis mansion :)

[SystemFan20]

You just made me want to see both of these... And much more Lugosi films!

[arisnapeforever]

I haven't seen either of these movies yet, but they look so spectacular. Lugosi and Karloff forever!!!

[Bawb1]

Nice review-- thanks!

[Leatherbubba]

I liked the Black Cat, but I felt it was a litle too short. I would have liked more time for character development.

[Xeivous]

DUDE, Murders in the rue Morgue. Beast movie, and an AMAZING song by Iron Maiden, why didn't you do that too? XD

[avpkid345]

....there's no 6:11 ....wtf?

[venomfan3412]

SM3 was longer than this combined.

[kelvinac20]

this is the guy to go to when you want to learn about old movies

[femoman]

@kelvinac20 Yep. I have him to thank for all the old horror classics I've been watching recently. I just stuck the Hammer Dracula films on my Lovefilm list.

[batistarulez9797]

The swinging axe was also inspired in the beginning of Saw V.

[starterk10]

i love the raven one of my fav pomes but where can i find the moive

[nbtful]

@starterk10 megavideodotcom/?d=L21HVJXX. thats the link for the original 1935 movie.

[ZBshorts]

I know edgar alen Poe's Great Great Great Great Great Grandaughter my friend ex girlfrien d and her name i s cathrin

[psychokinrazalon]

@ZBshorts Speaking of which, my ex-girlfriend's name happens to be Raven. The irony is that she's a hardcore christian and isn't allowed to watch horror movies. 0_0

[ZBshorts]

@psychokinrazalon we dont need your sas

[psychokinrazalon]

@ZBshorts Dude, I was just telling my own ex-girlfriend story because it relates loosely to the video. ;(

[zombajn1]

The Black Cat (1934) / The Raven (1935) are Universal horror masterpieces!!!

not to mention the greats of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi in them!!!

[TheJokerman888]

uh eah uh ah ah

[Finnstudios]

the black cat, has nothin to do with poes version, the black cat movie is about 2 guys who hate eachother, the sotry is about a drunk who kills his cat, and is haunted by antoher cat, then kills his wife.

[aewd1980]

there will never be any films like this again. the likes of boris karloff and bela lugosi are irreplacable. long may their legacies continue.

[gameygamey90]

theres that sh*t eating grin again

[deltaruin]

James reviews movies, his character AVGN does games only. Only once has he reviewed a movie as the Nerd character and thats Ricky 1 from a challenge. Leave the avgn vs. irategamer bullshit for other threads.

[ssaykcul]

Is it me or is James, "obsessed", with Bela Lugosi?

[TheRetartidMunkee]

Whatever happened to the artistic value behind film making? Everything now seems to be after your money, and the one to show the most explosions or sex scenes,wins. This reminds me of Fahrenheit 451, where everything is based on brainless entertainment. Being born in 1994, I have to pick culture out of anything I can

[WRXJoey1]

this was released on my birthday :)

[CultureClasher]

The Raven is one of the classic examples of how Lugosi can really upstage Karloff.

[aewd1980]

@CultureClasher - the raven film was about the only time lugosi upstaged karloff as in their other films together, karloff was firmly the centre of attention.

[IMZEECATMAN]

i like to think of these movies as "Lugosi VS Karloff"

[MyAssInYourFace100]

Lugosi's badass

[skrew255]

unpussyfied :D

[9981679]

edgar allen poe is THE best dark story writer ever

[dime363]

@9981679 allan

[NodDisciple1]

@9981679 What about H.P. Lovecraft? :?

[joelexwilson]

Great review, totally agree with what you said about the raven being Lugosi's best performance. "Torture" I love the way he say's Torture its brilliant Lugosi's the man

[MovieDemon]

Both of these movies kick ass. Two of my faves.

[GiantTurtleWave]

Thats what im going to do to you know, insert my penis into your butthole, bit by bit...

[ScaryReviews]

Watching Lugosi and Karloff in the same movie is like watching Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in the same Hammer horror film. It's like two peas in the same pod, there's something about it that feels perfect and it's something that has a powerful effect on horror fans of all ages!

[DraculaGal31]

I saw David Manners in The Black Cat as one of the honeymooners!

[Isaiahaya]

anything with bela lugosi rules!

[TOHOFIEND54]

That's a lot of toccata and fugue.

[simonwizzle91]

i love how the moon from the title sequence merges with the universal planet

[vincent6445]

"He's gonna take you back to the past. To review horror films that kicked ass!"

[joachimarmster1]

@vincent6445

There should be an opening song based on your comment.

[WafflezDay]

@vincent6445 Meh, doesn't really fit the tune, but good try lol

[kwedarand]

I've watched many black and white movies, and they were of the Drama Genre.. But the black and white movies you review, they are all fuckin awesome!!! I guess the horror genre in the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and on,, are just the best..

[smurfman95]

Karloff was a bit before his time here in The Raven, Hes rockin a total 50s greaser hair style and its only mid thirties.....god damn

[smurfman95]

@smurfman95 meant The Black Cat,,,sry

[TenderTrap86]

Both of these movies also have some well timed comedic relief.

[jonasbjarki]

i have both of these films on VHS, part of the Universal Classic Horror series I collected in my youth. I thought they were both great films. I love 'the black cat' because it is so eerie and sorta sets the mood i look for when watching classic horror films. thanks for your review! cheers!

[JoshVlogs]

There's no way Karloff and Lugosi could have "hated" each other. How else would they be able to act so well on screen together?

[TheM9Beretta]

@JoshVlogs its called professionalism

[JoshVlogs]

@TheM9Beretta It's called "on-screen" rivalry, not actual rivalry. Karloff was quoted saying that Lugosi was a terrific actor.

[aewd1980]

@JoshVlogs - the rivalry between karloff and lugosi had always been played up by the press. i'm not so sure if they actually hated each other but i don't think they would have had a lot to say in conversation as they were completely different people and therefore, nothing in common.

[JoshVlogs]

@aewd1980 I know, but not a real rivalry. I again say that Karloff was quoted saying that Lugosi was a "terrific actor".

[aewd1980]

@JoshVlogs - i see what you mean. i reckon a rivalry in popularity would be natural enough as they were at one time both appearing in horror films for the same studio. it's just a pity that lugosi wasn't taken as seriously as karloff was. i read that, about karloff saying he thought was a terrific actor. well, i thought lugosi's style was a bit old-fashioned but he certainly did add something to the screen.

[JoshVlogs]

@aewd1980 Karloff was quoted saying that on video, shortly before his death.

[angeldemonjosh]

omg these movies were the bomb back then too and i also love the black cat more than the raven but the raven is still good

[mvbeckril]

Love your reviews James. Extremely entertaining.

[GXM121]

James did the movie The Black Cat inspire you to have a black cat like the one you have? it just seems ironic.

[MrNerdfan1]

lugosi is better than karloff

[DrKaiju2000]

Bela Lugosi and Boris Karlof FTW!!!

[TenderTrap86]

These two films are actually quite disturbing, and that's not even a comparison to the sick shit that passes for entertainment today. The fact that these guys love to torture and maim and kill is very unsettling. In other words, Lugosi and Karloff earn their paycheck.

[rvdrocksalot]

Bateman?I guess Ellis was a fan.

[ntakaka]

you split the movie reviews in exactly 3:06 each. nice :)

[halloweenfan92]

1:53 from how bela didnt like karlof according to ed wood that was probably not skirtpted lol

[thedarksoul789]

legosi is in every horror movie back then

[MrGamer2000]

I watched The Black Cat rather recently and I found it very good. Like you said in the review, Lugosi and Karloff are excellent. good story, good acting from the other actors and of course Karloffs shit eating grin. def a must watch

[Rubberman202]

I remember you mentioning these two movies last year, and I remember the part where Lugosi said "POE! You are AVENGED!", then started laughing while shaking his gun in his hand. I don't know why, but I always found that part hilarious.

[wham13456]

got borth the black cat and the revan there the nol horror movies from the 30s

[stogel3]

quoth the raven, "Nevermore"

[ThePixieEater]

PAUSE @ 0:14 WHAT MOVIE IS THAT FROM??

[gojirajin]

Robot monster! The one right before it is Rodan!

[xxxIzekeIxxx]

i tear torture out of myself by torturing youuu lol

[BandyinaBasket]

This review really made me want to watch both of these movies. These actors are really amazing, from what I saw in these clips. I've never thought about looking at older movies such as these, but the stories and acting seem excellent. Thanks for the reviews!

[TheGhostbusterfan]

James what is your favorite horror movie mine has to be the Friday the 13th. Love your work with the nerd

[MattTheSushi]

A black cat as the Symbol of Evil?[It's making me think I have to shoot my cat Salem with a Remmington shotgun.]

[SchlossRitter]

Nice, a double feature, in the spirit of how movies were shown in those days.

And, holy crap, I forgot all about seeing The Raven when I was a kid. Now I know where that memory of seeing the pendulum comes from.

[MrHorrorFan]

The Black Cat is one of the greatest horror films ever produced. It's seriously fucked up, even by today's standards. Fast fact: during the "black mass" scene, the man playing the organ is none other than John Carradine, himself a horror icon from the 40s throuhg the 80s.

[AcTNBumpChannel]

The black cat was one of the fricking scariest stories ever!

I can't wait to look up these movies!

[husnain404]

nerd, why do you kick so much ass?

[brutalistlegend]

@husnain404 he drinks kool-aid

[BackUpClover]

@husnain404 As he is the angry one.

[PGskizzEs]

@husnain404 The irate gamer.

[juventinorocks]

@husnain404 this is AVGN lol its cinemassacre

[juventinorocks]

@husnain404 i meant isnt

[Bagheadman]

@husnain404

Good question!

Better one; Nerd, why do you kick so mure more ass than the IG?

(Who kicks none. Obviously.)

[husnain404]

@Bagheadman yeah, irate gamer is pretty bad

[yummycupcake443]

Whats does two men fighting have to do with a black cat

[RandomGamerNumber01]

@husnain404 he's not the nerd here. here, he's james

[omgbillymaysissexy]

I love The Black Cat, but have yet to see The Raven though.

[greed099]

It's like Dracula vs. Frankenstein only it has two of the greatest actors of the 30's.

[HeadphonesUK]

Borris Karlov, possibly the biggest British man to have an impact on American cultre

[Tclay43]

3:50

do you expect me to talk

No Mr. Bond I expect you to DIE!!!

[ForwardN2Unknown]

My favorite "unknown" B&W horror movies are The Black Cat, Mad Love and Doctor X.

[ForwardN2Unknown]

Hjalmarr!!

[xFL1PPYx]

Just saw The Raven, it was really fantastic. The one thing I didn't like too much about it was the ending. Seriously like 10 seconds after the whole "battle", we get some kind of joke and then it ends. Aside from that I really enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing these reviews James!

[AragornIsStrider]

Wow, those look like amazing movies. I gotta see 'em.

I'm not a horror buff by any means, but I love old movies, especially any around Halloween and October. Anyone else with me on that? Ah, Netflix.

[darkservantofheaven]

Im right there with you, older films are so classic, these new films cant touch them. I mean I love the 1950s science fiction films, I love the 1930s films, I hate to say it but, the 1980s "almost" fucked everything to hell,

[MikeMarino]

double feature!!!

[knightphillip]

Thanks for another great video James.

I like old movies and you have made me want to watch 'The Black Cat' and some other true horror movies now. :)

[RyvernRaigon]

I saw The Raven and i really enjoy it!,it was thanks to that movie that i started to like Lugosi and old movies,Lugosi is such a badass and legend actor.

[nintendoforever1995]

the only reason why you cant see his videos is because he sets them to private then unprivates them in a certain day

[ECWNET]

The Black Cat looks damn good!

[TolaMacarino]

There is no difference between an evil man and a frustrated psychopath.

[SonicFan2005]

Thanks for uploading this.

There was a peice of ass adverisment, preventing me from going on your website; James.

[Superbeast1954]

HEY! DOES ANYONE ELSE have problems with their subscriptions? I subscribed to this guy, butI dont recieve any videos! Anyone know whats wrong?

[Supermario678]

happens to me too :(

[Superbeast1954]

I wonder if he has somthing set up where you dont get his videos even if you do subscribe........

[Supermario678]

I think it's youtube

[animATEer]

he uploaded all his videos september 28, but he set them as private and unprivates them at will. that is why they dont show up in the sub box.

[SlavicDemon]

Me to.

[oiramldx]

these videos where posted in september

he keeps them as privates until a certain day

thats why it doesnt appear

[Superbeast1954]

I dont see how that has anything to do with it.........

[MallRat666]

Well 10 more minites till midnight & the new Monster Madnees video

[powerpup97]

You should have made mention of the scene in "Ed Wood" where Leugosi talks about the bad times he had working alongside Karloff.

[CallumJStewart]

"The Black Cat" is maybe my favorite Universal horror - and a rare chance to see Lugosi playing a good guy. Well, a good guy who's as nuts as the bad guy, but a good guy none the less.

[tico8007]

lugosi looked like Deniro

[culwin]

awesome as always

[metalgearman242]

Strangly, in 8th grade, my teacher just wanted to show us a movie so she could grade papers... it was The Raven... I enjoyed it.

[bheemabachus]

That's cool, I really wish I had the money to buy all those movies you've mentioned. I have the highlights though, like the Frankenstein, Dracula and Creature From the Black Lagoon Legacy Collections, King Kong, Nosferautu, The Phantom of the Opera, Hunchback of Notre Dame (yeah, I love oldies a lot more then new ones, but there still cool) All the Godzilla movies, and so on.

[supperanter5000]

100th rateing

[caseyjoe503]

you should do "mystery of the wax museaum".

[Hotpur]

I'm loving this Monster Madness, however there's something that im not getting.

Why the reviews of the Raven, Black Cat, The Body Snatcher and The man they could not hang?! Those arent monster movies like Frankenstein or King Kong. I mean, it about people mentally deceased, not monsters.

This was just a thought, good work :)

[70AWB70]

Well hes focusinng not only on monster flicks but on the horror genre, and its sub-genres, and we could think of a mentally ill person as a monster. Well thats what i think. You should check out the other monster madness series to get a much better view of what they stand for.

[Bossness123]

amazing review! loved it, and will sertanly be favourating it! :)

[DaddyWalrusguy]

I want to see those two :D

[Rubberman202]

They look awesome! I remember that scene from The Raven mentioned two years ago, where Bela Lugosi goes "POE! You are AVENGED!" Then starts shaking his hands wildedly, it was so funny!

[StephenTearle]

Great work wondering if you could do one of these specials on vincant price the man with the most evil laugh in history

[FSinWCR]

We;re getting closer to Vincent Price territory, so don't worry.

[kingman1245]

I love those beer drinking skeletons

[RockOut446]

is this just me or is this not showing in my sub box

[f16134]

It's not only you :/

[HarryPartridge]

Me neither....

[Bloodyquill]

It's unfortunate that horror movies these days don't seem to be even comparable in shock value like these were in the 1930's.

[Schwarzer0Ritter]

That is because rarely directors have the balls to try something new. They just make the same movies over and over again.

[desotowright]

The two great horror icons together on screen, now that is freaking awesome!

[Bamdude1989]

I've seen both of these movies before and I enjoy them both. I would recommend them if you are a fan of Lugosi, like me, or a fan of Karloff.

[kriitikko]

Poelzig in The Black Cat is one of Karloff's best villain roles. I hope you'll review The Body Snatcher's (1945) also, another great villain role from Karloff and the last film with both him and Lugosi together.

[pcdude2010]

Good Video... You hear that Sylvester Stallone is trying to make a movie on the life of edgar allen Poe.

[Movie06]

I know that he's not starring it. I'm curious about how he'll pull off a movie like that actually.

[MarxPennsWrite]

Awesome stuff!