Lovecraft

I think I prefer the top one.  Mmmm.

 

I just saw two different Lovecarft adaptations: Call of Cthulhu and Dreams in the Witch House.  One was a fairly big-budget, modern version done for Showtime by an experienced directior.  The other was a no-budget black and white silent flm.  What?  Yes, to keep with the period of the Lovecraft stories, the film is set in 1926 and shot in black and white and with a non-sync score.  Both are good, but I really enjoyed Call of Cthulhu.  These guys did a great job with almost no money, but keepng the film black and white and silent.  Let this be a lesson to you aspiring low-budget filmakers, if you have no cash... go black and white.  Maybe even 8mm.  It hides all flaws! The extra features that detail how the special effects were accomplished are well worth your time, and the disc is well worth the $20 for any Lovecraft fan.  Please see http://www.cthulhulives.org/cocmovie/index.html for more information.  These guys deserve our support and money.  Maybe they will make another film as good as this one.

 The Showtime produced series, Masters of Horror features a number of noteable directors, including John Carpenter, and Takashi Mike.  The first one I saw was by Stuart Gordon, who has adapted Lovecraft before in Re-Animator.  This one wasn't bad.  A little blood a little TnA.  And of course the protagonist ends up in an asylum.  The only problem I had was the rat with a human face.  It didn't work for me.  It looked a bit silly, like a character from Narnia.  The should have just made the rat's face a bit human in expression and had it speak.  It's wrth a rent though and is better than most LoveCraft films.

 

Comics have done a far better job of adapting Lovecraft.  Seek out Skull issues 4 and 5 for more details.