Welcome to the first Arcane Visions review. Like other types of article reviews on this site, it will likely be a short-lived feature, but we’ll see how it goes. Bloodborne fans might be able to pick up on the inspiration, but it also plays off the definitions of the words. Arcane Visions is meant to indicate that this will be a review series for me to write about different media and entertainment that is a little off the beaten path.

Like any other blog about different types of entertainment, I try to touch on some of the popular and well-known shows, movies, etc. But I also know there are plenty of things I’ve written about over the years that may not be as recognized, like the films Uzumaki, Deadcon, or Dark Angel. To kick things off, I wanted to talk about a movie that many of my friends didn’t know even existed: Son of Kong from 1933.

Yes indeed, there is a sequel to the incredible timeless classic King Kong from 1933. That is, indeed, not a typo. The direct sequel was actually released in the same year. Before King Kong fought Godzilla, before he was remade in 1976, and remade again in 2005, there was another movie in the franchise. This isn’t just a spiritual successor, this is a direct sequel with a continuation of the story.

If you never knew this film existed or have never seen it, you are definitely not alone. I didn’t know about it until only about 10 years ago, and I only was finally able to see it for myself just recently. Now that there was a recent announcement of the upcoming remake, a much larger population may finally become aware of its existence.

I don’t want to oversell it up front. Son of Kong is not even as remotely as timeless or incredible as the original King Kong. However, I do think that it is worth a watch, especially if you have never seen it, and if you really consider the challenges the filmmakers faced in making this movie.

Production Challenges

The primary challenge was, of course, time. Son of Kong was not already in the works when King Kong was released. It was only after the film came out that a sequel project was started. When King Kong was released and a success, the production company RKO agreed to fund the project with a strict condition: It had to be released within the year so the general public wouldn’t forget the events of the original movie.

Since there was no easy way to rewatch films that were out of theaters back then, it was a decision that perhaps made a bit more sense. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the filmmakers had less than 10 months to make another movie. Even with only that short amount of time, and even though Son of Kong was a box-office failure, it is an impressive example of film-making in the 1930’s.

Willis O’Brien returned as the head of the animation for the project, though this would be one of his least favorite projects for a variety of reasons. He was able to reuse many of the models he had left over from King Kong for the stop motion, however, the point in the film at which you finally see the fruits of his labor is not until past the half-way point. Even then, it wasn’t all O’Brien. While he had full control over the animation of the original King Kong, the producers became far more involved in the process this time around. This displeased O’Brien to the point that he barely showed up to the studio and it was up to the assistant animator to pick up the slack. In addition to all of this, tragedy struck O’Brien’s life when his wife fatally shot his two sons and nearly took her own life during the production of Son of Kong. This project was a nightmare for him, but it didn’t cause the animation to suffer in any significant or obvious way.

Plot & Thoughts

After Kong wreaked havoc in New York and fell from the Empire State Building, someone had to take responsibility for the damages caused. Naturally, the fault would lie with Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) and Captain Englehorn (Frank Reicher), the men who went to Skull Island and brought Kong to the US. The two of them are now facing indictments from the government and lawsuits for the damages that Kong caused. With little hope of being able to pay any of that money back, or escape jail time, both decide to leave the US and travel abroad on Englehorn’s ship. This brings them to several island colonies where they drink away their woes and interact with the locals. When they run into the man who was responsible for giving Denham the map to Skull Island, Nils Helstrom (John Marston), they learn that there might be a treasure on Skull Island worth enough to settle their debts. A young girl named Hilda (Helen Mack) also holds Helstrom responsible for her father’s death, so she stows aboard Englehorn’s ship and joins the adventure. Unfortunately for all of them, they end up stranded on Skull Island and have to survive the horrors of the place once more while also interacting with the younger Kong.

While it takes a while for everyone to end up on Skull Island, Son of Kong is still a compelling story. Seeing several of the main characters from the first film reprise their roles and continue the storyline is quite satisfying. What’s even better, though, is that there is a bigger focus on character development. The original film is more of a spectacle and adventure. Son of Kong, due probably to the film’s restrictions and challenges, has to focus more on the characters to carry the story and experience. The acting is not always great from the whole cast, but the story is interesting nonetheless. Denham’s transition as a character, from the excited entrepreneur willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants to the sympathetic protagonist who feels guilt over taking Kong away from his home and the destruction he caused, is compelling.

Despite the downsides, challenges, and distinct differences from the original King Kong, Son of Kong still manages to be a fun adventure. It has some moments of comedy that aren’t necessarily hilarious, but are charming. When you finally do get to see the titular young ape, he doesn’t disappoint. There’s a significant amount of movement and animation to his body and face. Likewise, seeing the actors interact with him and the other creatures on the island is impressive in its own right. Many of the techniques used in making it all work in the original film and this have been lost to time. So, if anything, Son of Kong is worth a watch for anyone who has an interest in filmmaking and the evolution of special effects in the film industry.

TL;DR

Pros

Short film
Key characters are engaging
A fun adventure film with some goofy comedy
Special effects are still impressive for their time

Cons

Special effects don’t really come into the movie until past the half-way point
Acting is pretty hit or miss
Not much is resolved

Worth A Watch?

As someone who enjoys the old and even mysterious special effects techniques that were used back then, Son of Kong feels like a mandatory viewing. It’s only about an hour in length, so it’s not like it’s a bother to do so. The effects, while not as good as the original film, are still impressive. When you consider all the challenges that the filmmakers faced during the early days of the film industry, Son of Kong is a huge accomplishment. Even with all these caveats, and even though this film was a box office failure in its time, I thoroughly enjoyed the charm and the adventure.

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