And just like that, my time with the Universal Monsters comes to an end. The final film to round out my viewing was The Creature Walks Among Us. Unlike some of the other Universal Monster movies this one actually works as a sequel to the previous films, picking up the narrative thread from Revenge of the Creature.

The Gill-Man (played by Ricou Browning in the water, and Don Megowan on land) has escaped back to the Florida everglades. An abusive doctor, Barton (Jeff Morrow) is going after him. He’s hired a boat, recruited another scientist, Morgan (Rex Reason) and others to hunt the Creature down, he has his own plan for it.

Joining them is Barton’s wife, Marcia (Leigh Snowden), who rebuffs the advances from a number of men on the expedition, which makes Barton increasingly paranoid, and possibly more abusive to his wife.

When they track down the Creature Barton begins his work, a little genetic manipulation so that the Creature can survive on land and breathe air. The Gill-Man begins to change, some of his webbing disappears and he becomes a little more human looking, but longs to return the ocean.

Barton doesn’t care about that, he wants what he wants, and he’s determined to control those around him. When his jealousy and paranoia over those flirting with his wife explodes, he commits murder, but figures the Gill-Man can take the fall for him.

Leading to a rampaging climax as the Creature makes one last run for deep water.

I didn’t hate this one, but there’s so much glossed over in an attempt to make a short run time. Character are truncated, no exploration of the science, or even the motivations of the Gill-Man beyond wanting to get back to the water.

Like the other films the underwater photography is nice, and the creature design remains impressive, but for me, it was lacking. The ideas are so fascinating, but none of them get their due. I think that can be said about most of the Universal Monster films, and that may be another reason why they endure. They fire the imagination, and cause people to wonder and imagine more, and of course, younger viewers had no things to fear .

They remain wonderful films, even if they aren’t all great, They are fun, and they helped to build modern horror. And when I get some free time, I just know I’m going to revisit every single one of these films.