B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping Lovecraft adaptations into the ol’ VCR. 

H.P. Lovecraft was one of the most influential sci-fi/horror writers of all time. 

He gave us Cthulhu and the infamous Miskatonic University.  

He introduced us all to the Necronomicon. 

He took eldritch horror to the next level. 

However, he was also a terrible person. 

H.P. Lovecraft was openly racist, sexist, you name it. 

Sometimes, these absolutely ignorant opinions were subtext, but, for the most part, he made it pretty gd obvious. 

Hell, H.P. Lovecraft was even considered racist in his time, and this man lived from 1890-1937. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about this because we should talk about it. 

Did H.P. Lovecraft write good literature? Yes. 

Was he also awful? Also yes. 

I just didn’t want to throw out the Lovecraft film adaptations I enjoy without giving Lovecraft the criticism and dragging that he absolutely deserves. 

Moving on. 

We also can’t talk about Lovecraft adaptations without talking about four key players: Barbara Crampton, Jeffrey Combs, Stuart Gordon, and Dennis Paoli. We also have to give Brian Yuzna his flowers because he’s a sick little freak, and his practical effects are some of the best. 

These four (and sometimes five) are responsible for some of the best Lovecraft adaptations of all time. Additionally, the theme to Re-Animator is one of my favorite original horror scores ever. 

We also have to talk about how Misha Green’s Lovecraft Country is a giant middle finger to H.P. Lovecraft’s racist bullshit. 

So, TL;DR – H.P. Lovecraft was an influential piece of shit, and these peeps took his work and transformed it into something bigger and better. 

Alrighty, that should do us for introductions. 

Without further ado, here are six of my favorite Lovecraft adaptations: 

• Castle Freak 
• Re-Animator 
• From Beyond 
• Suitable Flesh 
• Lovecraft Country 
• Color Out of Space