Night Monster (1942)

In an isolated mansion surrounded by foggy swamps where a couple of mysterious murders have occurred, several "guests" including four doctors are staying the night when mysterious apparitions and several stranglings occur. Despite being top billed, horror veterans Bela Lugosi as a stodgy butler and Lionel Atwill (GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN) as a doctor have supporting roles. It's a middling Universal creature feature, heavy on atmosphere but light on the chills and with uninteresting romantic leads, Don Porter and Irene Hervey. Janet Shaw as a sassy no nonsense maid brings some needed spark to the proceedings so, of course, she's one of the first to get knocked off! If you're fond of "old dark house" movies, you may find enough to hold your interest but even at a brief 72 minutes, I found it rather tedious. Directed by Ford Beebe and with Leif Erickson, far creepier than anyone else in the film as a lecherous chauffeur, Fay Helm, Ralph Morgan, Nils Asther, Doris Lloyd and Cyril Delevanti.