How to Make a Monster

How to Make a Monster

Year: 1958

Runtime: 73 mins

Language: English

Director: Herbert L. Strock

HorrorScience FictionHorror the undead and monster classicsSci-fi horror creatures and aliensChilling experiments and classic monster horror

After new executives sack veteran special‑effects artist Pete Dumond from American International Studios, the disgruntled makeup master unleashes the grotesque, brightly painted monsters he created. With his terrifying ghouls blazing in vivid color, Dumond embarks on a bloody campaign of revenge against his former employers.

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Timeline & Setting – How to Make a Monster (1958)

Explore the full timeline and setting of How to Make a Monster (1958). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1950s

Set in the late 1950s Hollywood film industry, the story unfolds amid studio backlots, stage numbers, and the era's makeup artistry. The period features classic studio security, stage performances, and the pre-digital era of film production. The events take place on a bustling studio lot, reflecting the era's power dynamics between artists and management.

Location

American International Studios, Pete's House (Monster Museum)

The action centers on a Hollywood studio lot where Pete Dumond works as a veteran makeup artist, and on his home, a museum-like residence housing his life-sized monsters. The studio is the hub of production, backstage intrigue, and fatal decisions, with a projection room and makeup rooms as key settings. Pete's house doubles as the grim showcase for the creatures he created over his 25-year career.

🎬 Studio 🧪 Makeup 🏠 Monster museum 🔪 Murder

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:37

Main Characters – How to Make a Monster (1958)

Meet the key characters of How to Make a Monster (1958), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Pete Dumond (Robert H. Harris)

A veteran makeup artist who is fired after the studio changes hands. He engineers a scheme to control actors using a numbing cream and drives his revenge by turning his monster creations into tools of murder. His obsession culminates in a grim home-museum where the 'children' of his craft are kept.

🎭 Villain 🧪 Makeup genius 🏠 Monster obsession

Larry Drake (Gary Clarke)

A teenage actor wearing werewolf makeup, he is coerced by Pete into killing Nixon. Under mental manipulation, he becomes a pawn in Pete's plot, illustrating how the monster personas are weaponized.

🐺 Monster actor 🧠 Easily manipulated 🔪 Killer within the plot

Tony Mantell (Gary Conway)

A teenage Frankenstein actor who falls under Pete's control. He is commanded to attack and choke Jeffrey Clayton, becoming part of the chain of murders driven by Pete's scheme.

👹 Monster actor 🧠 Controlled 🔪 Killer side

Jeffrey Clayton (Paul Maxwell)

A studio figure who becomes a target in Pete's murder plot. He is killed in the sequence of events that reveal Pete's power over the studio and its people.

💼 Studio figure 🧠 Targeted 🔪 Murder victim

Rivero (Paul Brinegar)

Pete's make-up assistant who assists in his schemes. He becomes entangled in Pete's plans and is drawn deeper into the dangerous manipulation of the studio.

🧰 Make-up helper 🧠 Complicit 🔗 Trusted ally

Monahan (Dennis Cross)

Studio security guard and amateur detective who learns too much about Pete's past. He is murdered by Pete in a confrontation in the studio, contributing to the sense of danger on set.

🔒 Security 🕵️ Investigation ⚔️ Murder

Millie - the Pedestrian (Paulene Myers)

A maid who describes Frankenstein's monster during the investigation, providing an eyewitness link to the crime scene and hinting at the monstrous implications of Pete's plan.

🧹 Witness 👁️ Eyewitness 🧪 Monster reference

Detective Jones (John Phillips)

A police detective who investigates the Clayton murder and unravels the clues pointing to Pete's involvement. He represents the official pursuit of justice within the film's studio world.

🕵️ Detective 🔎 Investigation ⚖️ Justice

Detective Thompson (Walter Reed)

A second detective who partners with Jones to piece together the evidence of Pete's orchestration of the murders and the link to the numb-ing makeup.

🧭 Detective 🔎 Investigation 🧪 Forensic clue

John Nixon (Eddie Marr)

The studio figure targeted for murder by Pete's scheme after the new owners' rejection of his work. Nixon's death underscores the human cost of Pete's vendetta.

💥 Murder victim 🧠 Manipulation 🔪 Target

Captain Hancock (Morris Ankrum)

The police captain who oversees the investigation into the murders on the studio lot, representing authority and order amid Pete's chaotic plan.

🛡️ Authority 🔎 Investigation 👮 Police

Director Martin Brace (Thomas Browne Henry)

Director of the in-film feature Werewolf Meets Frankenstein, a figure nested within the studio’s production world who exists as a backdrop to the monster-themed plot.

🎬 Director 🧵 Film industry 🧪 Monster crossover

John Ashley (Himself)

A cameo appearance featuring John Ashley performing on stage during a rock musical number, reflecting the studio’s entertainment environment.

🎤 Cameo 🪩 Stage performance 🎬 Film industry

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:37

Major Themes – How to Make a Monster (1958)

Explore the central themes of How to Make a Monster (1958), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚡ Revenge

Pete Dumond's firing and rejection by the new owners triggers a vengeful plot to erase them. He weaponizes his makeup skills and control over others to undermine the studio's leadership. The murky pursuit of revenge drives the main action, culminating in deadly confrontations.

🎨 Art as Weapon

The story casts makeup artistry as a dangerous tool rather than mere craft. Pete's living museum and the numb-ing cream demonstrate how artistic talent can be misused to manipulate, disable willpower, and coerce others into murder. The monsters, once creations, become weapons in his vendetta.

🔐 Security & Suspicion

The film presents a tight web of pursuit where guards, detectives, and security routines are weaponized against a killer inside the studio. Clues surface in the nail makeup and the killer's museum-loft, exposing the fragility of safety on a film lot. The investigation intensifies as bodies accumulate and trust erodes.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:37

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How to Make a Monster Summary

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How to Make a Monster Timeline

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