When graverobbers break into the Talbot family tomb, they mistakenly awaken the deceased Larry Talbot. Reborn by a ray of moonlight, Talbot's curse once again awakens him as the terrible Wolfman. Talbot seeks out a Dr. Frankenstein to see if he can assist him in ending his living nightmare. Talbot does not find Dr. Frankenstein, but his niece Elsa. While trying to find the secret to his own death, Talbot and Elsa stumble across Frankenstein's secret for life in the form of his monster. Now in the laboratory of Dr. Frankenstein the Wolfman and the Monster will battle to the death.

Universal Studios decides to let the creatures loose in their first crossover battle and the fans are the winners. The film starts off quick and eerie, as once again the Universal sets are dark yet beautiful, the film drags a bit towards the second half but the impending showdown more than make up for the pace, as the Wolfman and Frankenstein have a true go at each other.

Lon Chaney Jr. is once again the forever-cursed Talbot and he does a great job of making you feel his tormented pain. But in a truly huge surprise Bela Lugosi leaves the cape behind and picks up the bolts and head gear and plays the Frankenstein Monster this time around. Not as good as Karloff, but Lugosi does a good job in filling the massive set of shoes of his predecessor.

A fairly decent flick and a great showdown for any fans of the Universal Monsters, and way before Freddy VS Jason.

6/10

Trivia
This was the film where Frankenstein's Monster got his signature walk (with arms outstretched before him). This was because the monster was blind in the screenplay and original version. The movie was originally filmed with the monster speaking, Lugosi's dialog was later deleted because of his accent, and it was no longer possible to understand that the monster was blind, and it just seemed he walked funny with his arms sticking up.