The Introverted Obelisk

Obie Knox
  • 4.0 (1)
  • Film Reviews

The Introverted Obelisk is a sardonic stroll through the graveyard of classic horror cinema, where monsters are rubber, dialogue is stilted, and logic is optional. Join us as we unravel the plots (and seams) of horror films from the 1930s to the 1960s — the golden age of fog machines, mad scientists, and questionable acting choices. Each episode serves up a dry-witted recap, thematic commentary, and trivia morsels about the strange, charming, and sometimes laughably earnest world of vintage horror. It’s film history with a smirk — perfect for fans of cult classics, spooky nostalgia, and undead absurdity. 

  1. 7h ago

    It's Alive. Now It Wants a Date

    Send us Fan Mail Four years after Frankenstein helped define the Universal horror movie, James Whale returned to prove that apparently one trip into the laboratory wasn’t enough. Bride of Frankenstein picks up where the original left off, with Boris Karloff’s Monster surviving the burning windmill and Henry Frankenstein attempting to leave his experiments behind. That plan lasts until the wonderfully unsettling Dr. Pretorius arrives with an offer Henry can’t easily refuse: if creating one artificial human was possible, why not make another? In this episode of The Introverted Obelisk, we look at the sequel that took everything strange, tragic, and darkly funny about the original and pushed it even further. We’ll explore Karloff’s increasingly sympathetic Monster, Ernest Thesiger’s unforgettable performance as Pretorius, the film’s unusual humor, the Monster’s touching friendship with a blind hermit, and Elsa Lanchester’s brief but legendary appearance as the Bride. We’ll also look at how James Whale turned a monster sequel into something far more ambitious, mixing Gothic horror, comedy, religious imagery, and genuine tragedy. So get the laboratory ready. Frankenstein is creating life again, and this time even the Monster thinks he deserves a little companionship. Support the show

    It's Alive. Now It Wants a Date

  2. 1d ago

    It's Alive. Now What?

    Send us Fan Mail James Whale’s Frankenstein didn’t invent the mad scientist, the laboratory full of questionable equipment, or the idea of creating life where nature probably intended otherwise, but it brought them together so perfectly that horror movies have been borrowing from it ever since. Released by Universal in 1931, Frankenstein stars Colin Clive as Henry Frankenstein, a young scientist determined to discover the secret of life, and Boris Karloff in the role that transformed both his career and the image of Frankenstein’s Monster forever. What begins as a scientific triumph quickly becomes a tragedy as Henry realizes that creating life is considerably easier than taking responsibility for it. In this episode of The Introverted Obelisk, we look at how James Whale turned Mary Shelley’s story into one of the defining films of American horror, from Jack Pierce’s iconic Monster makeup and Karloff’s remarkably sympathetic performance to the unforgettable laboratory sequence and the film’s surprisingly emotional treatment of its creature. More than ninety years later, Frankenstein remains funny, unsettling, tragic, and enormously influential. So fire up the laboratory, check the weather for thunderstorms, and join Obie Knox as we return to the movie that taught Hollywood exactly what a monster could be. Support the show

    It's Alive. Now What?

  3. Oct 16

    The Diagnosis Is Werewolf

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Introverted Obelisk, Obie Knox digs into 1941’s The Wolf Man, one of Universal’s defining monster movies and one of the most influential werewolf films ever made. After an encounter with a mysterious wolf leaves Larry wounded and Bela the fortune teller dead, Larry begins to fear that the old legends are true and that he has become a werewolf. We look at Lon Chaney Jr.’s sympathetic performance as the doomed Larry Talbot, Claude Rains as his father Sir John, Bela Lugosi’s memorable appearance as Bela, Maria Ouspenskaya as Maleva, and Jack Pierce’s iconic monster makeup. Along the way, we explore the film’s werewolf mythology, its wonderfully foggy atmosphere, and the tragedy that makes Larry different from many of Universal’s other monsters. The Wolf Man isn’t really about a man becoming evil. It’s about a decent man realizing that something terrible is happening to him and being completely unable to stop it. Support the show

    The Diagnosis Is Werewolf

  4. Oct 9

    The Monster Was Fine Until We Showed Up

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Introverted Obelisk, we venture into the Amazon to revisit Universal's 1954 classic, Creature from the Black Lagoon. After exploring the fascinating history behind the creation of the Gill-man—including Milicent Patrick's long-overlooked contribution to the creature's iconic design—we dive into the film itself, following an expedition that discovers far more than a fossilized claw. As scientists push deeper into the mysterious Black Lagoon in search of answers about evolution, they awaken a prehistoric creature that has every reason to resent unexpected visitors. Along the way, we examine the Gill-man's status as Universal's final great classic monster and why he remains one of the studio's most sympathetic creations. We also discuss Ricou Browning's remarkable underwater performance, the film's surprisingly authentic scientific touches, and the growing conflict between curiosity and conquest as the expedition descends into chaos. With plenty of dry humor, sardonic observations, and an appreciation for classic monster cinema, we follow the Gill-man's tragic struggle to defend his home against a group of scientists who consistently make the worst possible decisions. It's a look back at one of horror's most enduring creatures and a reminder that, sometimes, the real monsters are the people who refuse to leave well enough alone. Support the show

    The Monster Was Fine Until We Showed Up

  5. Oct 2

    The Consequences of Reading Out Loud

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Introverted Obelisk, Obie Knox journeys back to 1932 to explore one of the films that helped define classic horror: The Mummy. Long before shambling bandaged monsters became Halloween staples, Universal introduced audiences to a far more unsettling vision of the undead—an ancient Egyptian priest whose greatest weapon isn't brute strength, but patience. The story begins when an archaeological expedition uncovers the tomb of Imhotep, an ancient priest buried alive for committing the ultimate sacrilege. Alongside the tomb lies the legendary Scroll of Thoth, complete with the sort of warning that sensible people would probably treat as a reason to stop reading. Naturally, someone ignores it, and centuries of careful planning come unraveled in a matter of moments as Imhotep returns to the world of the living. Years later, the resurrected priest walks among modern society disguised as the mysterious Ardath Bey, quietly searching for the reincarnation of his long-lost love, Princess Anck-es-en-Amon. As his supernatural powers grow, those who uncovered his secret find themselves drawn into a deadly struggle against an evil that has had thousands of years to perfect its revenge. Unlike many of Universal's other monsters, The Mummy relies less on spectacle and more on atmosphere, building its horror through mystery, obsession, and the unsettling idea that the past is never truly buried. The episode explores how Boris Karloff transformed Imhotep into one of horror's most memorable villains, the film's lasting influence on the genre, and the production decisions that helped create one of Universal's most enduring classics. Filled with ancient curses, forbidden knowledge, and the timeless lesson that some scrolls are best left unread, The Mummy remains a cornerstone of classic horror. Nearly a century later, its haunting atmosphere and unforgettable performance continue to prove that sometimes the oldest monsters are still the most fascinating. Support the show

    The Consequences of Reading Out Loud

  6. Sep 25

    She Died Angry and Things Have Not Improved

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Introverted Obelisk, Obie Knox travels to 17th-century Moldavia for Mario Bava’s Black Sunday (1960), a gorgeous Gothic nightmare that begins with one of the more memorable executions in horror history. Barbara Steele stars as Princess Asa Vajda, a witch condemned to death by her own brother and fitted with a particularly unpleasant spiked mask before promising revenge on his descendants. Two centuries later, an unfortunate encounter with her tomb sets that revenge in motion, placing the innocent Katia Vajda—also played by Steele—directly in Asa’s path. Obie digs into Bava’s remarkable feature directorial debut, from its shadowy black-and-white photography and decaying castles to the eerie atmosphere that helped establish him as one of Italian horror’s defining filmmakers. Along the way, we look at Steele’s unforgettable dual performance, Asa’s impressively long commitment to holding a grudge, and a story filled with crypts, vampires, family curses, forbidden tombs, and people who really should learn to leave ancient corpses alone. It’s beautiful, macabre, atmospheric, and unmistakably Bava. After two hundred years underground, Asa is back—and death has done absolutely nothing to improve her disposition. Support the show

    She Died Angry and Things Have Not Improved

  7. Sep 18

    Whitewood: Come for the Research, Stay Because You’ve Been Sacrificed

    Send us Fan Mail A college student looking for material on witchcraft probably shouldn't begin by checking into an isolated New England town permanently buried under fog, but The City of the Dead has other plans. In this episode of The Introverted Obelisk, Obie Knox heads to Whitewood, Massachusetts, where Nan Barlow's innocent research trip leads her straight into a town with a very long memory and an extremely active interest in the occult. We'll take a look at this wonderfully atmospheric 1960 British horror film, from its fog-drenched streets and suspiciously convenient inn to Patricia Jessel's sinister Elizabeth Selwyn and Christopher Lee doing what Christopher Lee does best: making perfectly ordinary academic advice sound like it may eventually require an exorcism. Along the way, we'll talk about the film's terrific gothic atmosphere, its surprisingly bold story choices, and why Whitewood may have the worst tourism board in New England. So grab your research notes, keep an eye on the calendar, and remember that when the locals start discussing witchcraft as though they're speaking from personal experience, perhaps it's time to abandon the thesis and go home. This week, we're checking into Whitewood for The City of the Dead—where the history is fascinating, the fog never lifts, and checkout may be more complicated than advertised. Support the show

    Whitewood: Come for the Research, Stay Because You’ve Been Sacrificed

  8. Sep 11

    So Your Friend Decided To Joined a Satanic Cult

    Send us Fan Mail Christopher Lee trades the fangs for a pentagram as The Introverted Obelisk enters the world of Hammer horror with 1968’s The Devil Rides Out. Lee stars as the Duc de Richleau, a man who discovers that his young friend Simon has fallen under the influence of the charming but sinister Mocata and his circle of occult followers. What begins as an uncomfortable social call quickly escalates into black magic, hypnotism, demonic apparitions, and one very important lesson about staying inside the protective circle. In this episode, Obie Knox takes a look at one of Hammer’s most celebrated supernatural thrillers, including Christopher Lee’s rare opportunity to play the hero, Charles Gray’s quietly menacing performance as Mocata, and the film’s wonderfully serious approach to a story filled with satanic rituals and supernatural threats. We’ll follow de Richleau’s increasingly desperate attempts to pull Simon and Tanith away from Mocata’s influence, spend an extremely unpleasant evening waiting for something demonic to cross a chalk line, and discuss why the film works precisely because nobody involved seems interested in winking at the audience. So check the pentagram, lock the doors, and whatever happens after dark, do not leave the circle Support the show

    So Your Friend Decided To Joined a Satanic Cult
See All (67)

About

The Introverted Obelisk is a sardonic stroll through the graveyard of classic horror cinema, where monsters are rubber, dialogue is stilted, and logic is optional. Join us as we unravel the plots (and seams) of horror films from the 1930s to the 1960s — the golden age of fog machines, mad scientists, and questionable acting choices. Each episode serves up a dry-witted recap, thematic commentary, and trivia morsels about the strange, charming, and sometimes laughably earnest world of vintage horror. It’s film history with a smirk — perfect for fans of cult classics, spooky nostalgia, and undead absurdity. 

Information

  • Creator
    Obie Knox
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Introverted Obelisk
  • Show Website
    The Introverted Obelisk