While this might not be a direct adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft story, it is absolutely one for the modern day. Plus various references to Pickman and Old Ones and the stygian abyss? Yeah. Given my penchant for that old-timey gothic horror of a cosmic bent, I’ve dug this movie since its release. Revisited it many times over the years. And while I may have a few minor qualms with it, I still dig it a lot upon this latest revisiting. Solidly horrific from start to finish. A story that is off-kilter right from the start, it keeps you wondering and creeped out until the end. Then, well, the madness just washes over.
Nothing like starting your story at an insane asylum. A usual trope in the Lovecraft world, fitting though. Fraud Investigator John Trent (Sam Neill) just doing the job, finding the grift. There’s a missing writer. The biggest writer, even if he does the horror genre thing. The publishing house needs to find him to get their contracted book. Peoples are getting restless. Then more than restless. Mad Axeman kinda restless. So Trent goes to find out if it’s a scheme, a marketing ploy, a con that it usually is. He finds author Sutter Cane. And wishes he hadn’t.
The premise is intriguing, as the books by the author Cane literally drives people mad. What if more people believe that mythology more than reality? Does that make it the new reality? Scary thing, when a narrative like that makes people go Full Deranged Mode. Great primary role by Sam Neill, Jurgen Prochnow is fantastic as the author, and even a decent little role by Charlton Heston. There’s a line about why the concern, who reads anymore? The movie comes out next month. We are all doomed. DOOMED.
