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Man-Made Monster

Man-Made Monster is a 1941 American black-and-white science fiction-horror film produced by Jack Bernhard for Universal Pictures and directed by George Waggner, who also wrote the screenplay based on the story "The Electric Man" by H.J. Essex, Sid Schwartz, and Len Golos. The film stars Lon Chaney Jr. as Dan McCormick, a carnival performer and the sole survivor of a bus accident who becomes the subject of unethical experiments by mad scientist Dr. Paul Rigas, played by Lionel Atwill, turning him into an electrically charged human capable of conducting massive voltages without harm.^[1]^[2] Supporting roles include Anne Nagel as June Lawrence, the doctor's niece and love interest, and Frank Albertson as reporter Mark Adams.^[1] With a runtime of 60 minutes, the film explores themes of scientific hubris and human experimentation, as Dr. Rigas seeks to create an army of remotely controlled electrically charged men for destructive purposes, using McCormick as his prototype who glows with electricity and requires a rubber suit for containment.^[2] Originally conceived as a vehicle for Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, production shifted to feature Lon Chaney Jr. in his debut Universal horror lead role, marking an early entry in the studio's cycle of low-budget monster films during the 1940s.^[1] Released on March 28, 1941, it received mixed contemporary reception for its inventive premise but simplistic effects, influencing later sci-fi horror tropes involving human augmentation and mad science.^[2]

Narrative and Characters

Plot

The film begins with a bus crashing into high-voltage power lines during a storm, killing all passengers except Dan McCormick, a carnival performer known for his electrical stunts and nicknamed "Dynamo Dan" due to his apparent immunity to electricity.^[1] McCormick is invited to a scientific research institute, where he becomes the subject of scientific study by Dr. John Lawrence, who seeks to understand his immunity for benevolent research purposes, and Dr. Paul Rigas, whose true motives involve harnessing electricity to create controllable superhumans.^[1] As experiments progress, Rigas secretly administers injections and exposes McCormick to escalating electrical charges, gradually transforming him into an electrobiological being whose body glows and who becomes addicted to electricity, ultimately losing his free will and falling under Rigas's remote control through radio waves.^[1] Under this influence, McCormick unwittingly kills Dr. Lawrence and other colleagues, leading to his arrest and conviction for murder.^[1] Sentenced to the electric chair, McCormick survives the execution unscathed—his immunity now amplified—allowing him to escape and turn against Rigas in a climactic confrontation at the institute.^[1] He rescues June Lawrence, Dr. Lawrence's niece, before fleeing into the countryside, where pursuit by authorities culminates in his death when his protective suit ruptures on barbed wire, causing a fatal electrical overload.^[1] Lon Chaney Jr. portrays McCormick as a resilient everyman whose transformation evokes sympathy as he grapples with his loss of autonomy.^[1] The narrative explores the perils of scientific hubris, as Rigas's unchecked ambition overrides ethical boundaries in pursuit of power, mirroring broader anxieties about technology's dehumanizing potential in the early atomic age.^[3] It underscores the loss of humanity through McCormick's arc, from independent performer to mindless puppet, highlighting how innovation can strip away individual agency and identity.^[3] Ultimately, the story warns of the catastrophic consequences when science prioritizes control over compassion, resulting in tragedy for both creator and creation.^[3]

Cast

The principal cast of Man-Made Monster (1941) features Lon Chaney Jr. in his debut leading role in a horror film as Dan McCormick, a carnival electrician who survives a bus crash that kills the other passengers and subsequently becomes the subject of unethical experiments, transforming him into a zombie-like, electrically charged figure under the control of a mad scientist.^[4] Chaney's portrayal emphasizes McCormick's initial affability and simplicity, evolving into a tragic, sympathetic monster whose physical glow and lumbering movements heighten the film's eerie, suspenseful tone, marking a pivotal performance that showcased his potential for such roles.^[3] Lionel Atwill plays the antagonist Dr. Paul Rigas, a deranged scientist obsessed with creating controllable human "ray" slaves through electrical manipulation, drawing on Atwill's established typecasting in villainous mad scientist characters from earlier films like Doctor X (1932).^[5] His gleeful embrace of madness, including overt admissions of insanity, injects a calculating malevolence that contrasts sharply with Chaney's vulnerability, amplifying the horror through Rigas's unrepentant ambition.^[3] Anne Nagel portrays June Lawrence, McCormick's love interest and the niece of Dr. John Lawrence, a key victim of Rigas's experiments, offering emotional depth and grounding amid the scientific terror as she navigates grief and attempts to reach the altered McCormick.^[5] Nagel's performance provides a humanizing counterpoint, underscoring themes of loss and redemption without overshadowing the central conflict.^[3] In supporting roles, Frank Albertson appears as Mark Adams, a reporter who investigates the institute's activities and ultimately aids in preventing further misuse of Rigas's research, adding layers of moral resolve outside the scientific team.^[5] Samuel S. Hinds plays Dr. John Lawrence, the ethical head of the research institute and June's uncle, whose opposition to Rigas's methods leads to his demise and intensifies the stakes.^[4] William B. Davidson is cast as the District Attorney, representing legal scrutiny over the institute's activities, while Ivan Miller portrays the warden, contributing to the film's institutional authority figures.^[5] The casting choices, particularly Chaney's selection for the monster lead, influenced the film's blend of pathos and pulp horror, propelling him from supporting parts to Universal's go-to performer for iconic monsters, as seen in his immediate follow-up role in The Wolf Man (1941).^[6] Atwill's reliable villainy further solidified the mad scientist archetype, enhancing the production's B-movie intensity without requiring elaborate effects.^[3]

Production

Development

The origins of Man-Made Monster trace back to the unpublished short story "The Electric Man" by H. J. Essex, Sid Schwartz, and Len Golos, which Universal Pictures purchased in August 1935 for $3,300.^[7] Initially developed as a project titled The Man in the Cab, the story was intended to serve as a vehicle for Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, but the production was abandoned and shelved for several years, reportedly due to thematic overlaps with Universal's The Invisible Ray (1936).^[5] Working titles during this early phase included The Mysterious Dr. R, The Mysterious Dr. X, The Electric Man, and The Human Robot, reflecting conceptual shifts toward themes of electrical experimentation and human transformation.^[7] The project saw revival in late 1940 amid Universal's renewed interest in horror following the success of Son of Frankenstein (1939), marking the studio's first original horror film in five years after a mid-1930s genre hiatus prompted by public backlash and the sale of the Laemmle family's controlling interest.^[5] Producer Jack Bernhard oversaw the effort, with George Waggner adapting the story into a screenplay under the pseudonym Joseph West while making his directorial debut on a feature film.^[7] Principal photography began on December 9, 1940, under the working title The Mysterious Dr. R.^[5] Budget limitations confined the production to $86,000, typical for Universal's B-movies, with a runtime capped at around 60 minutes to fit double-bill programmers.^[7] This economical approach aligned with broader 1930s sci-fi trends emphasizing mad science and electro-horror motifs, such as human enhancement through electricity, positioning Man-Made Monster as an early precursor to Frankenstein-inspired narratives in Universal's output.^[5] The film's development also introduced Lon Chaney Jr. as Universal's newest horror lead, capitalizing on his rising profile ahead of The Wolf Man (1941).^[7] The film was later reissued in 1953 as The Atomic Monster.^[7]

Filming

Principal photography for Man-Made Monster occurred over a three-week schedule from late November to mid-December 1940, beginning on December 9, at Universal Studios backlots and soundstages in Universal City, California.^[7]^[8] The production was completed on a modest budget of $86,000, making it the cheapest feature film Universal produced that year.^[8]^[7] The film employed innovative special effects supervised by John P. Fulton to depict the protagonist's transformation, including techniques that rendered Lon Chaney Jr.'s character with a glowing, "electrified" appearance during key scenes.^[9] Early practical effects were also used in the electric chair sequence to simulate shocks and electrical discharge.^[10] These elements highlighted the low-budget constraints while enhancing the horror visuals, with Fulton's work drawing on his prior expertise in optical effects for Universal productions.^[9] Director George Waggner focused on efficiency to manage the tight timeline and limited resources, utilizing minimal sets primarily representing the institute laboratory and prison interiors.^[3] This approach allowed for streamlined shooting on soundstages, emphasizing narrative momentum over elaborate production design. Waggner's choices capitalized on Chaney Jr.'s physical build for the transformation sequences, where the actor's imposing presence amplified the monster's menacing quality without relying on extensive makeup alterations.^[8] The compressed schedule presented logistical challenges, necessitating rapid execution of scenes to meet the release deadline, though the production avoided major delays.^[8] Safety protocols were implemented for scenes involving electrical props to simulate shocks, ensuring no incidents occurred during the handling of these practical elements.^[11] Cinematographer Elwood Bredell captured the film in black-and-white, employing shadowy lighting and atmospheric compositions to evoke a sense of dread and confinement in the horror setting.^[1] His work contributed to the film's moody tone, using high-contrast shadows to underscore the psychological and physical torment of the characters.^[12]

Release and Distribution

Theatrical Release

Man-Made Monster premiered in the United States on March 28, 1941, distributed by Universal Pictures as a B-movie double feature, often paired with films like Horror Island.^[13]^[14] The film was marketed as a science fiction horror entry, with promotional posters and taglines highlighting the central plot hook of a man transformed into a monster through electricity, such as "Death-Dealing Dynamo!" and "The most amazing monster the world has ever known."^[15]^[16] In 1953, Realart Pictures re-released the film under the title The Atomic Monster, on a double bill with The Flying Saucer (1950), capitalizing on post-World War II anxieties surrounding atomic energy and radiation.^[17] The original 1941 release achieved modest box office success, recouping its low budget of approximately $86,000 and bolstering Universal's lineup of profitable horror films during the era.^[13] International distribution was limited, with screenings primarily in U.S. and U.K. theaters throughout the 1940s.^[14]

Home Media

Due to its public domain status resulting from lapsed copyrights, Man-Made Monster saw widespread availability on VHS tapes starting in the 1980s through various budget labels, including releases under the alternate title The Atomic Monster.^[18] Official VHS editions followed in the 1990s, with MCA/Universal Home Video issuing a version on September 16, 1997, as part of their classic horror lineup.^[19] The film's DVD debut occurred later, with Universal Studios releasing a single-disc edition on October 16, 2014, via their Vault Series, offering a standard-definition transfer sourced from archival materials.^[20] A significant upgrade came with the Blu-ray release on December 17, 2019, included in Scream Factory's Universal Horror Collection: Volume 3 box set alongside The Tower of London (1939), The Black Cat (1941), and Horror Island (1941).^[21] This edition features a newly scanned 2K restoration from the best available 35mm elements, improving clarity and reducing artifacts from the original print's age-related degradation, along with an audio commentary track by film historian Tom Weaver, original theatrical trailers, and a featurette on Universal's B-horror era.^[22] Preservation efforts in the 2010s focused on digitizing and cleaning surviving prints for these home media formats, addressing issues like scratches, flicker, and contrast loss inherent to 1940s-era film stock.^[23] As of 2025, Man-Made Monster remains accessible via free streaming on ad-supported platforms like Tubi and Amazon Prime Video, where public domain versions predominate without the enhancements of official restorations.^[24]

Reception and Legacy

Critical Response

Upon its release in 1941, Man-Made Monster received mixed reviews from contemporary critics, who praised Lon Chaney Jr.'s sympathetic performance as the tragic protagonist and the film's innovative special effects involving electricity, while faulting its predictable storyline and reliance on the familiar mad scientist trope. Variety noted its appeal as solid entertainment for horror fans, highlighting Chaney's performance as the human guinea pig despite its low-budget origins. In contrast, Bosley Crowther of The New York Times grouped it with other films as a "juvenile exaggeration of the comically grotesque," aimed at viewers seeking uncomplicated thrills rather than intellectual engagement.^[25] As a low-budget B-film produced for approximately $84,000, Man-Made Monster achieved modest commercial success at the box office, performing adequately for Universal's second-feature slate but garnering no Academy Award nominations or other major accolades. In modern retrospectives from the 2000s onward, the film has been reevaluated more favorably as an early entry in sci-fi horror, valued for its prescient exploration of human augmentation through electricity and its efficient blend of horror and science fiction elements. Rotten Tomatoes reports an audience approval rating of 35% based on over 100 ratings as of November 2025; the Tomatometer is not yet established with only 3 critic reviews.^[2] Film historians, including Tom Weaver in his seminal analysis of Universal's output, position it as a transitional work bridging the studio's classic Gothic monster era—exemplified by Frankenstein (1931)—with the postwar atomic-age sci-fi cycle, evident in its themes of scientific hubris and energy manipulation. Recurring critiques across both eras highlight the film's 60-minute runtime, which constrained narrative depth and character development, and Lionel Atwill's bombastic portrayal of the villainous Dr. Rigas, often seen as excessively theatrical even for the genre.^[26]

Cultural Impact

Man-Made Monster served as a pivotal launchpad for Lon Chaney Jr.'s career at Universal Pictures, marking his debut in a leading monster role and securing his long-term contract with the studio. This performance directly led to his iconic portrayal of Larry Talbot in The Wolf Man later that same year, as well as subsequent appearances in the Frankenstein series, including The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) and Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943).^[27]^[28] The film exerted influence on the emerging electro-horror subgenre within science fiction cinema, prefiguring narratives of scientific experimentation gone awry, as seen in follow-ups to The Invisible Ray (1936) and the 1950s wave of atomic monster movies such as The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953). Its depiction of electricity as a transformative and destructive force anticipated the radiation-induced mutations central to post-war creature features.^[3]^[29] In the early 1950s, Man-Made Monster was re-released under the title The Atomic Monster to capitalize on the era's nuclear anxiety following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, aligning it with the broader sci-fi boom that explored themes of technological peril amid the Cold War. This re-titling reflected how the film's original premise of human alteration through energy was repurposed to resonate with contemporary fears of atomic power.^[3]^[30] The movie has been preserved within horror fandom through its inclusion in retrospectives of Universal's classic monster era, often highlighted for its role in bridging early sci-fi horror with later monster cycles. Its entry into the public domain has further enabled fan-driven analyses, edits, and restorations, fostering ongoing discussions among enthusiasts of vintage genre cinema.^[31]^[32] Thematically, Man-Made Monster warned of the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition and loss of human autonomy, motifs that echo in modern cyberpunk narratives exploring corporate control and technological overreach. These concerns about technology's potential to dehumanize have parallels in contemporary debates on AI ethics, where fears of artificial systems overriding human agency mirror the film's electrically controlled protagonist.^[3]^[33]

References

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Man Made Monster / 1941 - video Dailymotion
Jan 16, 2018 · Man-Made Monster is a 1941 black-and-white science fiction-horror film from Universal Pictures, produced by Jack Bernhard, directed by George Waggner, that ...
[2]
Man Made Monster (1941) - IMDb
Rating 6.1/10 (2,076) Man Made Monster is directed by George Waggner and stars Lionel Atwill, Lon Chaney Jr & Anne Nagel. It's adapted from an original story titled "The Electric Man ...
[3]
Man-Made Monster - Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 35% (20) In fact, though the film's premise comes from his eventual turning into an electrical monster, most of Chaney's screen time revolves around simple human scenes.
[4]
Man Made Monster (1941) - Moria Reviews
Nov 9, 2016 · Man Made Monster is a modestly made B movie. Both Lionel Atwill and Lon Chaney, Jr. are on fine form. Atwill plays at his most demented ...
[5]
Retrospective: Man-Made Monster (1941) - Surgeons of Horror
Jul 17, 2020 · ... Man-Made Monster marks a significant point in horror film history as it marked the Prince of Pain, Lon Chaney Jr's first lead role in the genre.
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https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/man_made_monster
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SFE: Man Made Monster - SF Encyclopedia
Sep 6, 2019 · This modest film won Chaney the title role in the monster film The Wolfman (1941) and perhaps influenced the creation of the Marvel Comics ...
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The world's most comprehensive Film database - AFI|Catalog
Man Made Monster (1941). 59 or 68 mins | Horror | 28 March 1941. Cast: Lionel Atwill, Lon Chaney Jr., Anne Nagel [ More ]. Director: George Waggner. Writers ...
[9]
(PDF) 'Hot Profits Out of Cold Shivers!': Horror, the First Run Market ...
... budget Universal projects, to say nothing of projects at Columbia or the Poverty Row Studios. For example, Man Made Monster is estimated to have cost $84,000 ...
[10]
AFI|Catalog - American Film Institute
HR stated in Mar 1941 that Universal signed director George Waggner to a seven-year contract because of his work on this film and Man-Made Monster (See Entry).
[11]
Man Made Monster (1941) : Classic Movie Hub (CMH)
Man Made Monster Overview: Man Made Monster (1941) was a Drama - Horror Film directed by George Waggner and produced by Jack Bernhard.
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Before The Wolf Man: Man Made Monster (1941) - Ryan Harvey
Oct 27, 2020 · A minor film taken on its own, Man Made Monster introduced movie audiences to two of the major stars of the 1940s Universal horror movie ...Missing: plot summary - -
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Dynamo Dan gets the chair - Dr Hermes Retro-Scans
MAN MADE MONSTER benefits from makeup by Jack Pierce and special effects from John P. Fulton, who swing the title character from a glowing zombie to a worn ...Missing: practical | Show results with:practical
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MAN MADE MONSTER (1941) - The History of Horror Cinema
Jan 30, 2017 · Shot in only three weeks, Man Made Monster was indicative of Universal putting little weight of expectation behind it at a relatively very low ...
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Man-Made Monster (1941) – Review - Mike's Movie Cave
Mar 14, 2024 · In conclusion, Man-Made Monster may have some bizarre story elements but with its atmospheric visuals, Lon Chaney Jr.'s engaging performance, ...Missing: cast | Show results with:cast
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Man Made Monster (1941) - Turner Classic Movies - TCM
Man Made Monster. 1h 8m 1941. Man Made Monster. Overview; Synopsis; Credits; Film Details; Articles & Reviews; Notes ... Frank Albertson. Mark Adams · Samuel S.
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Man Made Monster (1941) - Release info - IMDb
... Man. Release info. Man Made Monster. Jump to. Release date (12), Also known as (AKA) (20). Edit. Release date. United States. March 28, 1941. Mexico. June 13, ...<|separator|>
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Man Made Monster - The Grindhouse Cinema Database
Man Made Monster. From The Grindhouse Cinema Database. Man Made Monster ... The Electric Man" by Harry Essex (as H.J. Essex), Sid Schwartz and Len Golos ...
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Man-Made Monster (1941) directed by George Waggner - Letterboxd
Rating 2.9 (1,798) The most amazing monster the world has ever known. Mad scientist turns a man into an electrically-controlled monster to do his bidding. Remove Ads.
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ATOMIC MONSTER, Original Man Made Monster Movie Poster ...
Jan 14, 2023 · Directed by George Waggner in 1941 this movie was retitled Atomic Monster when it was re-released in 1953. A man is immune to electricity ...
[21]
Man Made Monster directed by George Waggner - Alibris
Buy Man Made Monster directed by George Waggner online at Alibris. We have new and used copies available on VHS, DVD - starting at $14.95. Shop now.
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Man Made Monster | Headhunter's Holosuite Wiki - Fandom
The film is known for being the cheapest movie Universal Pictures produced in 1941. It had a budget of $86,000. Man Made Monster was released theatrically in ...Missing: direction low
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Man Made Monster DVD (Universal Vault Series) - Blu-ray.com
730-day returnsMan Made Monster DVD Release Date October 16, 2014 (Universal Vault Series). DVD reviews, news, specs, ratings, screenshots. Cheap DVD movies and deals.
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Universal Horror Collection: Volume 3 Blu-ray
Rating 7/10 · Review by Brian OrndorfUniversal Horror Collection: Volume 3 Blu-ray Release Date December 17, 2019 (Tower of London, Man-Made Monster, Horror Island, The Black Cat).
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Universal Horror Collection: Volume 3 (Blu-ray Review)
Feb 11, 2020 · The story of Man Made Monster, at least in concept, is not much different than many other run-of-the-mill monster movies from the 1940s all the ...
[26]
Universal Horror Collection: Volume 3 (Blu-ray Review)
Dec 15, 2019 · Dynamics: Man Made Monster comes with a solid man made mono track (Pats self on back). It features a pretty solid blend of the effects, vocals ...
[27]
MAN MADE MONSTER Reviews of Lionel Atwill, Lon Chaney Jr horror
Rating 2.6 (26) Sep 12, 2019 · Man Made Monster is a 1941 American science fiction horror film about a mad scientist who turns a man into an electrically-controlled ...Missing: summary - - | Show results with:summary - -
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TOO MUCH PRESSURE; A Discovery of the Popliteal Region ...
"Las Vegas Nights" was a slipshod and completely unfunny musical show with Tommy Dorsey's band the only solid thing in it. Both of the "monster" pictures were ...
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"Two Ways of Looking": The Critical Reception of 1940s Horror - jstor
of Man Made Monster (George Waggner, 194 1),forexample, Crowther clearly poured scorn on the plot, in which Lon Chaney, Jr.plays Dan, "a fellow with a ...
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Man Made Monster - Scifist.
Sep 20, 2019 · A quick Universal cheapo from 1941, this was the first of Lon Chaney Jr.'s monster movies, and one of his best. Lionel Atwill shines as the ...Missing: summary - | Show results with:summary -
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Lon Chaney Jr - Classic Monsters
Chaney Jr played other monsters too, and was in fact the only actor to ever portray the four great Universal monsters, playing Frankenstein's Monster in The ...
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Atomic Monsters Archives - Moria Reviews
Atomic Monsters. The Atomic Monster was a series of Monster Movies made during the 1950s in which the explanation for their existence was due to atomic ...
[33]
Man Made Monster (1941) - Cody's Film, TV, and Video Game Blog
Oct 11, 2023 · Other than a plot synopsis, the knowledge that it featured Lionel Atwill as a scientist who turns Chaney into a monster, and that it was ...Missing: summary - - | Show results with:summary - -
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Man Made Monster | Universal Monsters Wiki - Fandom
The film stars Lon Chaney Jr. in his horror debut. Man-Made Monster was re ... Universal Monsters Wiki is a Fandom Movies Community. View Full Site.Missing: summary - | Show results with:summary -
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https://publicdomainshop.com/blogs/news/universal-monsters-in-the-public-domain-classic-horror-icons-you-can-freely-enjoy
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What Frankenstein's creature can really tell us about AI | Aeon Essays
Oct 3, 2018 · In his new role as the bogeyman of artificial intelligence (AI), 'the monster' made by Victor Frankenstein is all over the internet. The ...