Stitches

Something strange happened to me earlier this week.  I witnessed a monster weep.  

As if you couldn't tell by my last blog post, I'm more than a little obsessed with this guy... 

"Fire BAAAAD!!!"

Good ol' Boris Karloff, flat top and all.  AKA "Frankenstein's Monster,"  "The Monster", or simply "Frankenstein."  

Now I don't want to hear any of you nitpickers saying "HEY!  The DOCTOR'S name was Frankenstein, NOT the monster!"  True.  Sort of.  In Mary Shelley's original novel the monster has no name to speak of.  And in the classic starring Mr. Karloff he's just known as "the monster."  But in the SEQUEL, "Bride of Frankenstein",  a new mad doctor dubs him with his original creator's name.  So there.  Nerd debate over.  I was re-watching "Bride" when I saw something that I had never really noticed before, possibly one of the most touching moments in classic monster history.

In case you don't know the plot of "Bride of Frankenstein" (we'll call it BOF from now on), it goes like this.  It picks up almost immediately after the original.  The old windmill has been burned to the ground.  The Doctor survives and is returned home to his waiting fiance.  The monster is presumed dead.  But of course, as it is with any horror sequel, that's not gonna happen.  The monster rises from the ashes, burned, alone, and furious.  He escapes into the woods and continuously runs into the very villagers that had just tried to destroy him the night before.  He attempts to save one from drowning, only to be screamed at and chased off.  He comes across a group of them roasting meat over a fire and hungrily asks for some food, struggling to form words he has never used before.  As you can guess, more screaming ensues.  He is soon chased deeper into the woods, pursued by hunters.  Then he comes across a cabin in the woods.  To see how it plays out, watch it here.  

Fearing for his life, he dares not to enter.  But inside is a kind old blind man.  He begs the monster to come inside and keep him company.  The blind man reaches out and touches the monster's hands.  He is shocked to feel the scars and burns that cover his new friend.  And then the old man does something amazing...he prays for the monster.  He thanks God for this new friend and prays for blessing.  

And the monster weeps.  

Not only is it a great example of an actor being able to emote so strongly through pounds of makeup,  but it was a moment where I felt as if God was speaking directly to me.  

There are times where we all feel like monsters.  Past hurts, words that have cut us to the bone...they stick with us.  We take our broken selves and try to stitch ourselves back together without going crazy.  We walk around carrying this pain in a kind of living death.  We feel hurt, lost, and alone.  And that hurt translates into our actions.  We say things we don't mean, do things that in the end only bring us down.  And what's even worse is that other human beings look at our ugliness and can turn us away.  

I think I finally realize why I love Frankenstein so much.  For the longest time I felt like I too was a bit of an outcast, a misfit...a monster.  But I've been given new life, life that is worth living.  Daily my scars and hurts are cleaned and healed.  I do not feel like I'm a mistake, just spare parts stitched together.  I have a purpose.  In a movie all about creatures and death, I remembered to embrace life.  To anyone out there feeling as if they are hurt and lost, looking for safety and friendship...

You are not alone.  

Feeling inspired by this epiphany (along with the visual barrage of Halloween that's beginning to pop up everywhere) I whipped up this handsome, brooding fella.  

Like him?  Leave a comment below and he could be yours!  I'll announce the winner in the next post!  

That's all for now, kids.  Happy trails.  

P.S.  If you want to watch the blind man scene parodied HYSTERICALLY, click here.