Kreating Karloff

Ostensibly a promotional film to interest producers in a genuine feature biography of Karloff, but feeling more like an extended electronic press kit, KREATING KARLOFF (with its baffling spelling) is essentially a little movie about someone who wants to make a movie, an oddly circular concept. Timmis strikes me as enthusiastic, determined and talented, and probably better served in roles like one referenced in one of the interviews, as the naive young guy in COME BLOW YOUR HORN; his good looks and youthful face really are not suitable for the gaunt, mid-40s Karloff, despite the yeoman monster faces by Bryn, a veteran of Saturday Night Live and assorted soap operas. Scenes from FRANKENSTEIN, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY and TARGETS within the show will probably prevent KREATING KARLOFF from being available commercially because of the exorbitant cost of clearing the clip rights, so catch it at festivals or conventions if possible. It seems spiritually akin to American Movie and Trekkies, though without the self-awareness of either of those two documentaries. One man's obsession is another man's bargain-bin DVD. Everyone involved clearly gave everything they had.