Movies

Invisible Man Broke a Record That Still SHOCKS Horror Fans!

BBG News

During the 1930s, Universal Studios launched its series of monster movies, some of which went on to be recognized as the most legendary monsters in film history. Although Universal owned the rights for Dracula, The Wolf Man, and Frankenstein’s Monster, The Invisible Man managed to establish a horror milestone that lasted for quite some time. Unlike the other iconic horrors from the Universal Monsters collection, The Invisible Man achieved something none of its more renowned peers ever did.

As a cinema enthusiast, let me tell you, The Invisible Man is an unmatched terror from the past, even surpassing the infamous slashers of the ’70s and ’80s. In the ’30s, monstrosities like the Wolf-Man and Dracula left a trail of bodies behind them. Frankenstein’s Monster, although pitiable, was no saint with blood on his hands. Then came Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees in the ’80s, wreaking havoc across multiple films. Yet, The Invisible Man claimed more lives in his debut than any horror movie villain had for over 80 years.

The Invisible Man’s Kill Count Is Surprisingly Higher Than A Lot Of Slasher Movies

The Invisible Man Killed Well Over 100 People In One Movie

Compared to The Invisible Man, a few horror movies have a higher body count. But what sets these films apart is that multiple characters were involved in the killings. For instance, the Purge series has a larger death toll, but it was more of a group effort. From Dusk Till Dawn and Dawn of the Dead feature numerous characters killing both vampires and humans, as well as legions of zombies respectively. It wasn’t until 2019 when Brightburn came out that a single horror movie antagonist surpassed the kill count of The Invisible Man’s villain.

The 1933 Universal Horror film centers around Dr. Jack Griffin, a chemist who stumbles upon the elusive formula for invisibility. Unfortunately, one of the components in the concoction leads to a dangerous side effect – madness. Throughout the movie, Griffin personally murders four individuals: a police detective, whom he eliminates early on; two unfortunate souls he pushes off a steep precipice; and a fellow doctor whom he binds inside a vehicle before sending it plummeting from the same cliffside.

In addition to a significant event surpassing most terrifying slayings in horror film lore, The Invisible Man alone accounted for 104 fatalities due to a catastrophic train accident. Beyond these deaths, he was responsible for an additional 19 murders, though the circumstances leading to these deaths remained largely undisclosed, including 18 search party volunteers who perished during the train derailment.

Deaths By The Invisible Man:

Name Cause Of Death Time
Chief Detective Strangled & Hit In Head 36 min
2 Search Party Men Thrown Off Cliff 55 min.
100 People On Train Derailment 55 min
Dr. Arthur Kemp Crashed Off Cliff 1 hr 4 min
Man On Train Hit With Lantern N/A
18 Search Party Volunteers Unknown N/A

Characters like Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees have accumulated higher body counts over numerous films compared to The Invisible Man. However, it was not until the release of Unbreakable that a single character, Mr. Glass, exceeded this tally with more than 1,000 deaths. Although only the train wreck he orchestrated was depicted on screen in the movie, it surpassed the death toll caused by Dr. Griffin. For quite some time, The Invisible Man held the title for most fatalities in a single film until Mr. Glass’s appearance.

The Invisible Man Came Just Before The Hays Code Crackdown In 1934

The Hays Code Made Big Kill Counts Almost Impossible

This remarkable kill count is even more impressive given that it occurred during the 1930s, a time marked by the initiation of stricter film regulations under the Hays Code. Essentially, this was a set of standards established by the movie industry itself to limit explicit content, such as profanity, nudity, graphic violence, sexual innuendo, and rape. Additionally, it enforced strict guidelines regarding crime depiction and consequences for criminals. This code was active from 1934 until 1968.

The Hays Code disapproved of scenes involving firearms, intense or graphic violence, portraying criminals in a positive light, and any form of cruelty towards children or animals. As a result, horror films for a long time had to steer clear of these topics, explaining why some classic horror productions may have fewer deaths than one would anticipate. The Invisible Man became Universal Studios’ film with the highest number of kills due to the Hays Code restrictions, and it maintained this status.

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2025-06-03 20:49

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