Lacking the philosophical and theological complexity of its two predecessors, Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein, Son of Frankenstein has the visual power reminiscent of German Expressionistic films such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. It also bares some similarity to that story with a show stopping performance by Bela Lugosi, who is the real focal point, not the monster. Karloff is only used as a tool, not a real character, for the majority of the film. There is an interesting character, Inspector Krogh, which seems like an influence for Inspector Gadget except not goofy. Major criticism: repeated exclamation of “He’s alive.” Enough.