Lovecraftian Cinema

[Ozymandias]

I must see "The Call of Cthulhu" but I can't find it anywhere!

[j. d. worthington]

Ozymandias, here's a link to Lurker Films, which have not only that one, but several others worth checking out...

http://www.lurkerfilms.com/

They're apparently updating their website, as they've got several new things in the works, and they just held the 2006 Portland festival, but you can still access their info and find out about this one.

[judge_mel]

Out of mind:the Stories of HP Lovecraft(1998) is a remarkable 1hr gem featuring Hp Lovecraft as a character, and is part of a DVD set. I highly recommend it, as well as Dagon.

[j. d. worthington]

Ah, yes... that one is one of the best of the Lovecraft-related films. Very nice indeed. Was a bit nervous about it when I first got it -- I'd heard such good things about it that I was afraid I'd be disappointed... oh, was I wrong!

By the way... have you got the latest of their releases, the new disc with the various versions of "Pickman's Model" on it (including Chilean Gothic)? I hadn't thought it was out yet, but I've run into one or two things that indicate it may be.....

And I'd be interested to hear what you thought of Rough Magick as well... I rather liked the subtle touches with some parts of that one, and the way they played with some of his ideas.... As I said elsewhere, the best work -- or most of it -- being done with HPL when it comes to film is through the smaller producers/directors and such; though Dagon is definitely a film that has grown on me tremendously over several viewings... much more to that film than first meets the eye.....

[mogora]

I enjoyed In the Mouth of Madness. While it's not based on any particular HPL story it does have many Lovecraftian elements and homages. There's a protagonist telling his story from an insane asylum while proclaiming his sanity, dangerous books of forbidden knowledge, and nasty things with tentacles trying to return to and rule our world. I found it to be great fun, but I gather it's a bit of love or hate...

I liked Rough Magick and wish it were on DVD.

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by mogora

I enjoyed In the Mouth of Madness. While it's not based on any particular HPL story it does have many Lovecraftian elements and homages. There's a protagonist telling his story from an insane asylum while proclaiming his sanity, dangerous books of forbidden knowledge, and nasty things with tentacles trying to return to and rule our world. I found it to be great fun, but I gather it's a bit of love or hate...

I liked Rough Magick and wish it were on DVD.

It is:

Arkham Bazaar, The Bazaar of the Bizarre ... Lovecraft, Cthulhu, Poe, Movies, DVDs

Vol. II of the HPL Collection.

And yes, I quite like In the Mouth of Madness myself. I don't think it holds up quite as well on repeated viewings, but it remains a fun film, and some elements of it do manage to keep their eeriness and bizzarrerie over time; so I'd add my recommendation to that.

And... hello and welcome to the Chronicles! Glad to see another Lovecraft fan here... very soon now, the stars will be right!

[The Wanderer]

Originally Posted by Stuart Jaffe

Well, how can we not mention Re-Animator. For all its flaws (which are numerous), it is still one of the most entertaining, gross-outs I've ever seen. In some ways, of course, it borders on mocking Lovecraft, but I think the makers of the film had a deep bond for the source material and just added in their own twisted viewpoint.

Just seen it, crazy film, as for it's problems, yes it's acting is B-movie level, but it's compellingly off the wall

compare it with the stalk and slash silliness of modern horror outings

[The Wanderer]

I enjoyed In the Mouth of Madness

I couldn't help feeling sad watching the film, I felt it was another step in the decline of one of the great Genre Film-makers of the last 40 years

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by The Wanderer

I couldn't help feeling sad watching the film, I felt it was another step in the decline of one of the great Genre Film-makers of the last 40 years

I'm rather curious: would you care to expand on that one? While I would agree the film has some grave flaws, I felt it handled several of the concepts quite well, and Carpenter's homage to HPL was done more imginatively than I would have expected (for the most part -- occasionally it got a bit heavy-handed).

So... would you be willing to explain what it was about the film that caused that reaction?

[Foxbat]

A heads up for all you Lovecraftian types: Lurkerfilms have Volume 4 of the HP Lovecraft Collection available on DVD.

Mine is on its way

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

A heads up for all you Lovecraftian types: Lurkerfilms have Volume 4 of the HP Lovecraft Collection available on DVD.

Mine is on its way

Oh, I am so tempted to blow the money on this one..... Especially as one of the versions of Pickman's Model was filmed here....

By the way... anyone here have a copy of Vol. 1 of the Weird Tales Collection, with The Yellow Sign? I'd love to hear some feedback on that one...

[The Wanderer]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

I'm rather curious: would you care to expand on that one? While I would agree the film has some grave flaws, I felt it handled several of the concepts quite well, and Carpenter's homage to HPL was done more imginatively than I would have expected (for the most part -- occasionally it got a bit heavy-handed).

So... would you be willing to explain what it was about the film that caused that reaction?

I could be predjudiced of course, bu Carpenter used to make films in a particular style, The Fog, Halloween, The Thing, Assault on Precinct 13 - all superbly crafted suspence thrillers, I liked his late 80's work, They Live, Prince of Darkness,

then the rot set in, Memoirs of an Invisable Man, Village of Damned were failures

I'll have to re-view it though as a film he made a year later I've gone back to, and I rather like it, 'Escape from LA'

I found myself laughing at strange moments in the film the painting scene
etc,

As I said I'll have to re-view it, also intersting that Carpenter regards as as part of a Trilogy of Horror with 'The Thing', 'Prince of Darkness' etc

I'm sure Hobbs end of something to do with Satan or Hell

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by The Wanderer

then the rot set in, Memoirs of an Invisable Man, Village of Damned were failures

Must admit, I've not seen either of those... never have cared to, particularly. Have only seen parts of Escape from LA...

I found myself laughing at strange moments in the film the painting scene
etc,

As I said I'll have to re-view it, also intersting that Carpenter regards as as part of a Trilogy of Horror with 'The Thing', 'Prince of Darkness' etc

I'm sure Hobbs end of something to do with Satan or Hell

Well, the Hob's End would also, I'd think, be a reference to Quatermass and the Pit, part of which has such a setting (though not a town, but a setting with that name). I wasn't aware that he thought of this as part of a trilogy, and I must say I don't see the connection between this and The Thing at all; I'd like to hear more of his thoughts on that one.

Some of it is intended as humorous -- the scene with the painting is, I think, meant to be both grotesque and humorous, as well as disturbing because it's humorous -- a bit of Bierce there, perhaps. It's also a reference to Richard Upton Pickman, from HPL's "Pickman's Model" ... the whole film is an homage to HPL, varying between being full of references and in-jokes, and also with Carpenter's own take on some Lovecraftian themes (the blurring of boundaries between reality/dream/insanity, for example).

I think I find it interesting for those reasons. It's a flawed film and, as I said, I don't think it holds up as well on repeated viewings (for me)... but it still has an air to it that I quite like.....

[The Wanderer]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

Must admit, I've not seen either of those... never have cared to, particularly. Have only seen parts of Escape from LA...



Well, the Hob's End would also, I'd think, be a reference to Quatermass and the Pit, part of which has such a setting (though not a town, but a setting with that name). I wasn't aware that he thought of this as part of a trilogy, and I must say I don't see the connection between this and The Thing at all; I'd like to hear more of his thoughts on that one.

Some of it is intended as humorous -- the scene with the painting is, I think, meant to be both grotesque and humorous, as well as disturbing because it's humorous -- a bit of Bierce there, perhaps. It's also a reference to Richard Upton Pickman, from HPL's "Pickman's Model" ... the whole film is an homage to HPL, varying between being full of references and in-jokes, and also with Carpenter's own take on some Lovecraftian themes (the blurring of boundaries between reality/dream/insanity, for example).

I think I find it interesting for those reasons. It's a flawed film and, as I said, I don't think it holds up as well on repeated viewings (for me)... but it still has an air to it that I quite like.....

From Wikipedia

The film is the third installment in what Carpenter calls his "Apocalypse Trilogy". It is preceded by The Thing and Prince of Darkness.

[TK-421]

It seems everywhere I look, there's another Lovecraft thread.

As I reported in other threads, there is a strong speculation that the new movie by JJ Abrams (creator of Lost) coming out in January 2008, Cloverfield, is about the Cthulhu.

See the really cool trailer and Wiki article:

Apple - Trailers - 01-18-08 - Large

Cloverfield - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia