Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster

Released Sep 17, 2021

1h 30m

Documentary

List

92%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

Drawing from dozens of interviews including Guillermo del Toro, John Landis, Roger Corman, Ron Perlman, Sara Karloff, Peter Bogdanovich, Christopher Plummer, Stefanie Powers, Lee Grant, Sir Christopher Frayling, and Kevin Brownlow, 'Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster' takes us to the heart of the man, with a gripping, intimate portrait of Karloff and the genre he helped define.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Watch Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster with a subscription on Prime Video, rent on Fandango at Home, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Apple TV.

John Anderson

Wall Street Journal

In Thomas Hamilton's not-quite-adoring but hugely affectionate biographical documentary, Karloff emerges as a very decent man, whose job was to terrify millions. And whose often-startling filmography is worth a revisit.

Jan 28, 2022

Full Review

Leslie Felperin

Guardian

Altogether this is one huge knowledge bomb, and given the depth of research and rich store of archive material, it's a shame that the original parts of the documentary are so shonky...

Rated: 3/5

Jan 26, 2022

Full Review

Rex Reed

Observer

This movie honors both requirements of any documentary you can call memorable. It educates and entertains at the same time.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 17, 2021

Full Review

Sarah Vincent

Cambridge Day

this documentary is a paean to Karloff’s artistry and understated advocacy for actors’ rights with fellow horror icon Bela Lugosi.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 16, 2023

Full Review

Jessica Scott

We Who Walk Here

Taking such a rote approach to such a remarkable man feels like a wasted opportunity, especially given the incredible access that the filmmakers had.

Dec 17, 2022

Full Review

Cheryl Eddy

io9.com

As you might suspect, watching Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster will inspire a very strong urge to watch as many Karloff films as possible...

Sep 14, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Thomas Hamilton

Director

Sara Karloff

Self

Guillermo del Toro

Self

Ron Perlman

Self

Stefanie Powers

Self

Christopher Plummer

Self

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Forman vs. Forman

100%

%

Forman vs. Forman

Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind

74%

67%

Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind

What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael

89%

55%

What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael

Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir

92%

75%

Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir

Love, Cecil

83%

76%

Love, Cecil

TRAILER

for Love, Cecil

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Drawing from dozens of interviews including Guillermo del Toro, John Landis, Roger Corman, Ron Perlman, Sara Karloff, Peter Bogdanovich, Christopher Plummer, Stefanie Powers, Lee Grant, Sir Christopher Frayling, and Kevin Brownlow, 'Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster' takes us to the heart of the man, with a gripping, intimate portrait of Karloff and the genre he helped define.

Director: Thomas Hamilton
Producer: Thomas Hamilton, Ron MacCloskey
Screenwriter: Ron MacCloskey, Thomas Hamilton
Distributor: Abramorama
Production Co: Repo Films, Voltage Pictures
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 17, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 26, 2021
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now