There are select filmmakers considered Masters of Horror in the realm of feature films over the last fifty years, including John Carpenter, Wes Craven, and George A. Romero; however, is Dan Curtis someone else worth mentioning? The answer is a resonating yes. A true Master of Horror, Dan Curtis is the creator of the iconic Dark Shadows television series, leading to a prolific career as a dominant force in Horror films for television. Bigger than any other, he made several notable made-for-TV horror films such as 1973’s The Picture of Dorian Gray (as an ABC Movie of the Week), 1975’s Trilogy of Terror (also a ABC Movie of the Week), and 1977’s Dead of Night (Made for NBC), among many others.
A master of his craft, Curtis excelled at creating plausible gothic atompsheres while developing characters in a very human manner. Speaking of which, some of the most striking adaptations for television would have to be The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (in 1968 for ABC), Frankenstein (in 1973 for ABC), and Dracula (in 1974 for CBS). Passionate about classic liteature, Curtis’ adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a faithful retelling of the 1886 original. Acting as producer, while Charles Jarrott handled direction, it was a haunting television film, galvanized by a powerful performance by Jack Palance as Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde.
Meanwhile, 1973’s Frankenstein (where Curtis was once again the producer, and also co-writer, while Glenn Jordan directed) was also incredibly true to Mary Shelley’s legendary 1818 story. With Robert Foxworth as Dr. Victor Frankenstein and Bo Svenson as the monster, Curtis’ production is arguably one of the best cinematic interpretations ever of Frankenstein.
Lastly, but certainly not least, Curtis really knocked it out of the park in 1974 with his take on Dracula. Once again, employing Jack Palance (this time as the pivotal Count Dracula), Curtis (this time both the director and producer), and regular writing collaborator Richard Matheson, create a version of Dracula that many still turn to decades later.
In fact, Curtis’ Dracula was the first ever to portray the vampire as someone motivated by love rather than ravenous evil and hunger. Interestingly, this was the same story used by Francis Ford Coppola for his blockbuster 1992 feature film of the same title.
Some fascinating history that should make everyone respect Dan Curtis and his work a bit more, Kino Lorber has coupled these big three made-for-TV films in a 2-disc Blu-ray set called Classic Monsters for 2025. Released as part of Kino Lorber’s Kino Cult series (as number 39), it arrived on October 28, 2025. Fittingly, directly before Halloween, while this is not the first time any of these Curtis films have been brought to Blu-ray, it is the first time they are brought together in one neat little package.
Presented in upgraded imagery, each film still retains its graininess and fogginess, making it all the more haunting. Also featuring outstanding audio quality, these transfers give you a fantastic oppruinity to see these three films back to back with fittingly high quality. Also featuring new film introductions and archival interviews with both Dan Curtis and Jack Palanace, it is a stellar set for any true Horror lover.
Lastly, featuring a cool illustration by Tom Hodges as the cover art, which is inspired by a classic painting vibe, Halloween might be over, but it was just Christmas, so it makes a great gift. This is why Cryptic Rock urges you to get a copy, as well as the recently released Dan Curtis’ Gothic Tales Blu-ray set, and give the Classic Monsters Blu-ray 5 out of 5 stars.
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