Universal Classic Monsters Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		0.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Universal Classic Monsters Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker February 16, 2024

Universal brings their eight (nine counting the Spanish version of 'Dracula') classic horror films back to life with the 'Universal Classic Monsters: Limited Edition Collection'. The eight previously released 4K discs for 'Dracula", 'Frankenstein', 'The Mummy', 'The Invisible Man', 'The Bride of Frankenstein', 'The Wolf Man', 'Phantom of the Opera', and 'Creature From the Black Lagoon' comprise the setlist for this release. In addition to the films themselves, the discs contain all of the previous legacy features and clock in at over 12 hours of further viewing. The oversized 38-page book is packed with information about the films, those who made them, and an assortment of stills, publicity photos, and posters. A Digital Code is also included. This packaging is limited to 5,000 units.

For an in-depth discussion of the films themselves, please follow the links below.

"Dracula"

"Frankenstein"

"The Mummy"

"The Invisible Man"

"The Bride of Frankenstein"

"The Wolf Man"

"Phantom of the Opera"

"Creature From the Black Lagoon"

Please note that since this is a collection of the 4K presentations of these films, the 3D Blu-ray of Creature From the Black Lagoon is not included here. Collectors who wish to own the 3D presentation will need to obtain that set separately.

Universal Classic Monsters Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For a detailed discussion of the 4K presentations, please follow the links above.

Universal Classic Monsters Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For a detailed discussion of the audio presentations, please follow the links above.

Universal Classic Monsters Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The book-style packaging for the Universal Classic Monsters: Limited Edition Collection is truly massive. Measuring approximately 14.5" by 10.5", the book is quite impressive. From the soft-touch finish of the covers which feature art from Tristan Eaton, to the thick glossy stock of the interior pages and the disc storage solution, it's a quality product. The primary thing I was concerned about with this release was how the discs would be housed. I'll admit, I was nervous. All too often with these book-style releases, discs are slid in and out of cardboard pockets or sleeves, which while attractive, space-saving, and more durable than the clear plastic hubs found in digibook packaging, can result in scratched discs. This is especially the case with 4K discs which seem extremely fragile. Happily, in this set the discs are stored on more pliable black plastic hubs mounted in special gloss-coated recesses on two thick cardboard pages (please refer to screencaps 4 and 13 to get a sense of them). They effectively secure the discs while preventing any damage associated with removing and replacing them.

The 38-page book itself will look familiar to those who already own the Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30 Film Collection as it contains all of the same text, photos, and posters as the 48-page "The Original House of Horror: Universal and a Monster Legacy" book included in that release, with one small exception. What makes this iteration of the book unique and, in my opinion, preferred, is its size. This book is dramatically larger than its predecessor which not only enlarges the size of the font but also significantly increases the size of most of the art. (Please refer to screenshot 14 to see exactly how much larger this book is. The 48-page "The Original House of Horror: Universal and a Monster Legacy" book is not included with this release and is depicted purely for purposes of providing scale.) Honestly, it's a treat to sift through the pages. The page layout here is not identical to the previous smaller book. Paragraphs are combined in some instances and photos and other art are switched around as well with some different pieces being showcased in this new edition. The only content not brought forward into this version of the book is the section entitled "A Monster Legacy" which was simply a timeline of all of Universal's monster movies along with six images of movie posters from some of the sequels. As the bulk of those films are not included in the set, it makes sense, to some degree, that it would be excluded here in order to make room for the sole new addition to this tome - a page with biographical information on Tristan Eaton, the artist who created the eye-catching cover image.

For a full accounting of the special features included on each 4K disc, please follow the links above.

Universal Classic Monsters Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Bringing together the most iconic, influential, and beloved of their classic monster movies, the 'Universal Classic Monsters: Limited Edition Collection is sure to please fans who have yet to add the 4K discs to their collections or who are looking to upgrade to a more unique and impressive product. Eaton's front cover is striking and colorful, capturing elements from each included film and bringing them together into a cohesive single image rather than simply being the more typical collage of "floating heads". The book and its accompanying images are a delight to peruse due in large part to its overall size, and the disc storage solution is simple, effective, and efficient. Any fan of these classic films should not hesitate to add this release to their collection. Highly recommended.