Many have sought to bring H.P. Lovecraft’s novels to life in film, but not everyone has succeeded, ranging from failed ventures to B movies. Here is a selection of Lovecraft films that you might love. Don’t miss Lovecraft in Film: Lovecraft Movies – Part 1!
In the Mouth of Madness (1995)
Sam Neill, Julie Carmen, Jürgen Prochnow, David Warner, and Charlton Heston star in In the Mouth of Madness. John Carpenter composed the music, while Michael De Luca wrote the script. It’s the third installment in John Carpenter’s “Apocalypse Trilogy.” The Thing and Prince of Darkness come before it. With many references to H.P. Lovecraft’s writings and ideas, The Mouth of Madness feels like a tribute to his work. The film’s title is a reference to H.P. Lovecraft’s tale “At the Mountains of Madness.” The Old Ones of the Cthulhu Mythos are even mentioned in the film. So, how about you? Have you read Sutter Cane?
The Thing (1982)
The Thing is a horror film directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell. It was written by Bill Lancaster and directed by John Carpenter. John Carpenter’s Apocalypse Trilogy begins with this film. The Thing makes the list because anyone who has watched the film will attest that the creature in the film might easily be mistaken for a Shoggoth – the type of monsters that feature in H.P. Lovecraft’s world. Even after more than 30 years, the film still looks magnificent, especially considering when it was released.
Re-Animator (1985)
The horror comedy Re-Animator, also known as H.P. Lovecraft’s Re-Animator, is largely based on the novella “Herbert West-Renanimator” by H.P. Lovecraft. Stuart Gordon directed the picture, which is the first in the Re-Animator series. Jeffrey Combs, a veteran of Lovecraft films at this stage, also appears in the film. Since its release, the film has become a cult classic in its own right.
H.P. Lovecraft’s Dreams in the Witch-House (2005)
Dreams in the Witch-House, directed by H.P. Lovecraft, is a made-for-television horror film that aired as part of the TV series Masters of Horror. It is based on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “The Dreams in the Witch House.” Stuart Gordon helmed the film’s direction. Walter Gilman, played by Ezra Godden, is a Miskatonic University student who begins to doubt his own sanity after he rents a room from an old boarding house that was once home to a 17th century witch.
From Beyond (1986)
From Beyond, directed by Steward Gordon and starring Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Ken Foree, and Ted Sorel, is partly based on the same story by H.P. Lovecraft. The plot revolves around a pair of scientists who use a gadget known as The Resonator to stimulate the pineal gland. The experiment gives the head scientist the power to sense entities from another dimension, who then drag him into their realm.
