Cthulhu Art

When Cthulhu calls it is always 'Potential Spam' and he never leaves a voicemail message. 

 

Poster Art for FROM BEYOND (1986)

 

The Bloody Pit #213 - FROM BEYOND (1986)

Our second episode focused on the films of Stuart Gordon brings us to FROM BEYOND (1986). Troy Guinn joins John Hudson and I as we flip on the Resonator to see the unseen, squishy horrors hiding in the dark. The uncut version of the film has only been widely available since the 2007 DVD release and we discuss some of the things that were spit onto the cutting room floor.

 

The film sports a fantastic cast with Barbara Crampton and Jeffery Combs returning from REANIMATOR and with the addition of Ken Foree they form a crime investigation team that gets far more than sane people are ready to accept. We examine the film’s story structure and the clever scripting that allows for escalating weirdness without compromising the characters. The wild cinematography is discussed as is the use of colored lighting to represent the shift into visions of the hidden monsters all around us. We talk a little about the film’s production as well as our reactions to the movie across the years. Hold onto your pineal glands and step into the attic with us, won’t you!

If you have anything to say about this film or any others that we have covered thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We thank you for listening and we’ll be back soon. 

The Bloody Pit #204 - REANIMATOR (1985)

REANIMATOR (1985) was a pivotal moment in horror filmmaking for several reasons. First among them is that it announced the arrival of a major talent behind the camera – director Stuart Gordon. His screen career remains a wonder and with this episode we start a series in which we will examine the entirety of his directorial efforts. We might even take a look at the projects that he was involved with but were directed by others.

I am joined by John Hudson to talk about this amazing film. We touch on the original 1922 H.P. Lovecraft story ‘Herbert West – Reanimator’ and the creation of this adaptation starting as a possible television show to eventual big screen incarnation we now know. The cast is discussed with a general amazement at the near perfect choices made for each role. We note that even though this was Gordon’s first feature film, his years of stage experience seems to have allowed him to understand both actors and audience in ways that translate well to cinema. It would be difficult to find a more sure-footed first movie. We talk about the dark humor that permeates the story including what has been called the world’s first visual pun. Mostly we spend our time heaping praise on this one and explaining our love for it so be aware!

If you have any comments thebloodypit@gmail.com is where to send them. We’ll return to the films of Stuart Gordon as soon as possible. Thank you for listening! 

REANIMATOR (1985) Poster Art

We will be podcasting about this amazing film very soon!

 

Music Video - Red and Black by Landon Cube

This video is a slice of Lovecraft inspired awesome! As directed by Robert Tinnell it uses an excellent rock song to craft a two minute and forty second mini-movie that puts to shame a lot of work that mines the same creepy material. Check this out. 

What I Watched in February

After the complete mess of KING ARTHUR (2017) and the I-don't-give-a-crap-ness of a live-action version of Disney's ALADDIN (2019), it is wonderful to see Guy Ritchie back in the genre that he has a firm handle on  -  British gangsters. With THE GENTLEMEN (2020) he returns to modern-day London with various groups of serious criminals vying for smaller and larger slices of the crime pie. Richie's films of this type rise and fall on the strengths of their outrageous characters and the ability of the cast to embody these deadly villains in amusing fashion. In this case, he has hit one out of the park again. The cast is phenomenal, the twisty story is joyous in its clever reveals and the excitement level is always high. More like this please and less like King Arthur and Guy Ritchie can keep making these films for the rest of his life as far as I'm concerned.

Although I’m loath to admit it, I enjoy quite a lot of the film adaptations of H. P. Lovecraft’s horror fiction. Not all of what I enjoy are very good films but, in most cases, I’m pleased by the attempt to bring his often difficult work to the screen. So, when an actual good film based on HPL’s work gets made I’m overjoyed. Such is the case with Richard Stanley’s COLOR OUT OF SPACE (2020) which finds a way to both adapt and update to modern times one of the most interesting of his rural set tales. Taking the story as a solid base Stanley brings his own sensibilities and style to the tale letting it unfold naturally and, dare I say, colorfully. The film allows for deeper characters than on the page and the family relationships feel real as well adding a touch of humanity that Lovecraft usually seemed to view as superfluous. The horrors are well presented and I was happy to notice that a fair amount the dialog was lifted straight from the original tale. Well done! I look forward to the announced adaptation of The Dunwich Horror!

THE LIST 

DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE (2019) – 7

GOD FORGIVES, I DON’T (1967) – 6 (Spaghetti western – first teaming of Hill and Spencer)

THE SATANIST (1968) – 3 (silly, hour long soft-core porn)

TERROR IS A MAN (1959) – 7 (rewatch)

THE THING (1982) – 10 (rewatch)

HEART OF THE NORTH (1938) – 7 (Canadian Mountie film)

IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE (2016) – 8 (excellent western)

RODAN (1956) – 7 (the English dubbed version)

THE FALCON STRIKES BACK (1943) – 6 (rewatch)

THE IRISHMAN (2019) – 9 (brilliant if long gangster epic)

LOVE AND BULLETS (1979) – 6 (Bronson in a pretty good crime tale)

ERIK THE VIKING (1965) – 6 (interesting but overlong adventure)

ANON (2018) – 7 (sci-fi noir crime story)

THE BISHOP MURDER CASE (1929) – 6 (early talkie with Basil Rathbone as Philo Vance)

THE FALCON IN DANGER (1943) – 6

THE GENTLEMEN (2020) – 8

MEN IN BLACK INTERNATIONAL (2019) – 7 (shame this wasn’t a bigger hit)

COLOR OUT OF SPACE (2019) – 8

DOCTOR JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN (1973) – 8  (rewatch)

MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE (1932) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

Brief Thoughts - THE DUNWICH HORROR (1970)

I know that there is a sizable contingent of horror fandom that does not like THE DUNWICH HORROR (1970). I understand this. The first time I saw the film I was unimpressed and found it a rather mixed bag. There were elements I liked but the modern day setting and the use of odd editing choices to communicate some of the supernatural influences were off-putting. But the film stuck with me. Since my second viewing years ago I have come to really like the movie - not in spite of it's perceived flaws but because of those odder ingredients. It's those stranger choices that set the film apart from all but the more experimental Lovecraft adaptations. In trying to find a way to visualize the more uncanny parts of what HPL writes about the director went with something interesting but potentially irritating . Given how disliked the film is I suspect that, for most, it doesn't work. I know that these components were probably used to hide budgetary problems but that just makes them more interesting for me. I'm glad to say that - like an other-dimensional slime mold - it has grown on me.

Plus, Dean Stockwell's performance is slickly mesmerizing. Rarely has such a creepy character slithered across the screen so smoothly. I only wish his third act demise was more satisfying and not another example of a low budget effect.

Lovecraft Influenced 'Carol of the Old Ones' Video

Here's a lovely variation on a fine Christmas Classic! 

Bond Unknown! - James Bond vs the Cthulhu Mythos

OK. The existence of this book may be the thing that gets me to forever stop thinking I've already seen the strangest thing I'll ever see. 

Because my buddy Mark Maddox painted the spectacular cover for this book I learned of it - but only today. Small Canadian press April Moon Books has put together two separate novelettes that feature Ian Fleming's master spy in adventures that have him encountering elements of the wider world of Lovecraft's Elder Gods Mythos. If I hadn't studied the details of this mad idea I would have considered it a hoax. I suspect that most people reading this blog have never heard of this either so I'm going to provide links for my fellow curious fans of these very different fictional worlds to learn more as well. What a time in which we live! 

Needless to say, I've ordered my copy already. 

AUTHOR EDWARD M. ERDELAC's BLOG ENTRY

APRIL MOON PRESS' ORDER PAGE 

Escape From Midwich Valley - Short Film Directed by PH Debiès

Here's a great 8 minute long film based on H. P. Lovecraft's short story The Shadow Over Innsmouth. It's very effective and all the creepier because it tells it's story without any dialog. Well- almost. Check it out!

The Fantastic Films of Vincent Price #55 - The Haunted Palace

The latest in the series focuses on one of my favorite of the Roger Corman/Vincent Price collaborations. This is still one of the best adaptations of Lovecraft for the big screen.

The Bloody Pit #10 - Horror Radio!

As Fall weather creeps into Tennessee and October winds begin to blow leaves around the neighborhood my thoughts turn to all things scary and spooky.  Halloween is my favorite holiday and as much as I love watching horror and monster films or reading creepy stories I also enjoy listening to old radio horror shows. I usually listen to several each month during the rest of the year but in October I check out three or four a week on the old iPod!

I love sharing these very well written and well produced pieces of 'Theater of the Mind' and so with this episode of The Bloody Pit I have picked out two of my favorites for you to hear. Both are adaptations of classic horror tales - one from H. P. Lovecraft and the other from M. R. James- and both are fantastic! Casting the Runes was done in 1947 for the Escape program and The Dunwich Horror was recorded for Suspense in 1945 and you won't find finer radio shows no matter how long you search. So, settle in and listen to a couple of creepy tales of terror well calculated to keep you in...... suspense!

Please feel free to write to the podcast at thebloodypit@gmail.com to let me know you thoughts. The show can be downloaded below or gotten from iTunes. Thanks for listening! 

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iTunes LINK 

Santa image drop!

Is there nothing that jolly old elf won't get up to doing?

Monster Constellation Chart

If you have ever wondered about the connections between the various monsters in various the universes (universi?) from across the speculative fiction catalog this image might help. I am impressed wit the work but have already spotted some gaps. Where is the Skunkacabra, for one thing! And where is the Love for Lovecraft? Click to enlarge!

WHISPERER IN THE DARK (2011) trailer

This is exciting! Here is the trailer for the new movie from the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society. They are the fine folks that brought us the fantastic 45 minute silent film THE CALL OF CTHULU back in 2005. Their method is to carefully adapt H. P. Lovecraft stories in the style of the time period in which the story was originally published. That means that their second cinematic effort is being done with the same look and (I hope) feel of a 1930s Universal Studios horror tale. From what I can see in this short teaser they may have another winner. I can’t wait to see it!