Rating of
2.5/4
Unearth this treasure at some risk
kcvidkid - wrote on 07/03/08
Fu Manchu movies are neraly always categorized as "horror", so I finally gave one a try, especially since this one starred Boris Karloff. While it certainly had some horrific elements in Fu's inclination towards sadistic methods of torture, the tone of the movie was more along the lines of an Indiana Jones with it's quest for buried treasure and struggle between good and evil.
But I'm splitting hairs in trying to classify it. Was it any good? Yes and no. For 1932, I suppose it provides some mild thrills. Karloff is a hoot to watch, but is not onscreen enough to keep things lively. Ultimately, it drags. Perhaps I snoozed near the end (and it was only and hour and 15 minutes long), but I could not tell you how it wrapped things up.
"The Mask of Fu Manchu" was sort of fun, I guess. And I'd say it's a must-see for fans of classic "horror", in whatever form it may take. Otherwise, you'd probably find it to be an oddity.
