When it comes to Halloween, no one does it like Dracula, Frankenstein or the Werewolf.
Sure, we have modern monsters and endless reboots, but if you ask me, the OG monsters are still the ultimate icon of Halloween horror.
I’m talking about the true classics – Bela Lugosi’s hypnotic Dracula, Boris Karloff’s unforgettable Frankenstein, Lon Chaney Jr.’s tortured werewolf.
These movies aren’t just scary, they’re terrifying. They were fascinated.
There’s a reason why I think Lugosi’s thick accent is better than any hip modern vampire – it’s the way he commands a scene and sends shivers down your spine with just his voice and presence.
When it comes to the werewolf, there’s so much tragedy in Lon Chaney Jr.’s performance that even as he transforms into a snarling feral creature, it still makes you feel for the man behind the beast.
not just monsters
But let’s not forget the other legends who complete Universal’s monster lineup.
The dragging horror of The Mummy brings a slow, inescapable creeping horror that evokes a haunted past that always seems to be chasing you.
Creature from the Black Lagoon inspires primal fears of the unknown lurking beneath the surface. And The Invisible Man brings a unique dose of sinister mayhem with his maniacal laughter and unseen presence.
Even when these monsters venture into comedy territory—like “Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy” or “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein”—they haven’t lost their edge.
Instead, they showed off their versatility and proved they still rule the screen, whether it’s horror or humor.
Together, these monsters laid the foundation for everything we associate with Halloween horror, setting the standard for atmosphere, mystery, and those spine-tingling moments that have us scrutinizing the shadows.
when tv pays tribute
There have been plenty of monster heavyweights on television, but none of them would be what they are without Universal’s Creature Squad paving the way.
Take “Supernatural Files,” for example, which built an entire universe through monster hunting and chilling lore.
However, it’s episodes like “The Monster Movie,” where they paid direct homage to Universal’s icons, that feel the most memorable.
Watching Sam and Dean face off against a black-and-white Dracula wearing a cape, a smoke machine, and an old-world accent is the show’s ultimate homage to the classic.
Interestingly, Dracula even ordered a pizza and signed the receipt “Dracula,” blending his timeless image with modern quirks.
Moments like this remind us that Universal Studios’ monsters don’t need to be reinvented – they just need a killer entrance and a bit of humor.
They deliver a timeless horror that doesn’t rely on jump scares or over-the-top gore, but on atmosphere, mystery and those iconic silhouettes emerging from the mist.
Bela Lugosi sets the standard for the sexy, seductive villain who can kill with just one look.
Without him, we probably wouldn’t see half the vampire bad boys on TV, from Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Damon in The Vampire Diaries and even What We Do in the Shadows of Laszlo.
Lugosi’s Dracula has a timeless charm that no other vampire can capture. He brings a complexity and mystery that makes Dracula both fascinating and terrifying.
Lugosi doesn’t need blood splatters or gruesome special effects – his voice alone makes you want to close the curtains and clutch the garlic.
He gave us a Dracula who was not just a monster but an elegant predator, a legacy that still reverberates through every charming vampire on screen.
Frankenstein’s Monster, on the other hand, set the stage for the tortured antiheroes we see today—characters wrestling with their own dark sides.
You can find echoes of his struggles in the You series, with its moral conflicts involving Joe Goldberg, or The Boys, in which characters struggle with their horrific impulses under the guise of heroes.
The original creature doesn’t just lumber around with arms outstretched; he struggles with rejection, loneliness, and his place in a world that fears him.
This tragic horror has become a staple of modern storytelling, whether it’s a conflicted antihero or a monster who just wants to be understood.
Universal’s version of Frankenstein isn’t just a hulking beast, it’s a monster. He was a reflection of human suffering, which is why he still resonates today.
Lon Chaney Jr.’s The Wolfman brings this classic story of struggle, loss and inner demons to life.
You can’t help but feel for him, even when he’s getting wild and uncontrollable. No modern monster captures this level of tragic horror in the same way.
His transformation scenes – which may seem primitive by today’s standards – convey the pain of losing control and becoming the thing you fear.
When you watch “The Wolf Man,” you’re not just seeing a monster story; You’re witnessing a man battling his inner beast, a recurring theme in horror.
It’s no coincidence that werewolves continue to be staples in television shows like Teen Wolf and The Originals , where the struggle to balance humanity and savagery remains a central conflict.
The foggy, shuffling image of the mummy captures the creepy atmosphere that is constantly present in TV horror films.
From “American Horror Story” to “Stranger Things,” today’s horror franchises draw on the old-school vibe perfected by Universal Pictures.
The mummy’s eerie silence and ancient curse evoke a fear that doesn’t rely on speed or gore, but on slow, inevitable doom.
These images exist because they have become part of our horror culture.
When you think of a haunted cemetery, a castle on a hill, or fog crawling across the ground, you’re borrowing from the visual language established by those early monster movies.
Halloween won’t be the same
So when you take part in your Halloween marathon, don’t forget the legend who started it all.
For me, Bella’s Dracula, Lon Chaney Jr.’s The Wolfman, and the weird, timeless monsters that define horror.
Whether you’re queuing up for countless rewatches of Supernatural or catching up on a classic monster movie, these original movies are what Halloween is all about.
Some things never go out of style, and universal monsters are right at the top of the list.
They not only set the stage, they built it, but they remain the protagonists, reminding us why Halloween just won’t be the same without them.
