"The Dunwich Horror" DVD / Movie Review (MGM 2001 Issue)

"The Dunwich Horror" DVD / Movie Review (MGM 2001 Issue)

2001 DVD Cover Art.

PREFACE:

This is the tenth installment of DVD / Movie reviews of adaptations of the stories of H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937). 

BASIS:

"The Dunwich Horror" by H.P. Lovecraft written in 1928. 

PRODUCTION:

Originally released in January of 1970, this was a pretty close adaptation of the source materials. Directed by Daniel Haller for American International Pictures from a screenplay by writers Curtis Hanson, Henry Rosenbaum & Ronald Silkosk. Horror fans might take note that legendary Roger Corman was the Executive Producer on this film.

There were two sound stages were used for Sandra Dee's nude scenes to prevent someone trying to get a sneak peek of the actress!

THE STORY:

Wilbur Whateley (Dean Stockwell) is on a quest to obtain the Necronomicon which he needs to unleash "The Old Ones" back into this world. Whateley attends a lecture by Dr. Henry Armitage (Ed Begley) where he meets student Nancy Wagner (Sandra Dee). 

A pretty self-explanatory here..really.

Wilbur Whateley (Dean Stockwell).

Nancy Wagner (Sandra Dee).

Whateley intends to seduce Wagner to obtain the Necronomicon and use her in a ritual that would bring back "Yog-Shothoth".

Old "Wizard Whateley" (Sam Jaffe)

Dr. Henry Armitage (Ed Begley) confronts Whateley.

Meanwhile, locked upstairs is Wilburs brother...a monstrous product of Whateley's mother and a "Old One"...tentacled, abhorrent and pretty pissed.

Wilburs brother..."looked a lot more like his father than Wilbur did!"

THE DVD:

The film is a good resolution and is presented in 16x9 / 1.85:1 for enhanced TV's. Rated R. Region 1 Coding. Running Time: 1 hr 28 minutes.

Special Features:

Original Theatrical Trailer

Sound: Mono 

I'm glad MGM went all out on the special features. Really? That's it? Come on, dipshits, we need more than that!

 This wasn't the first attempt at a big budget Lovecraft adaptation, as we saw "The Haunted Palace" from American International in 1963 starring Vincent Price. However, "The Haunted Palace" is adapted in spectacular form from Lovecrafts "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward", but given a Poe title!

This movie though is a psychadelic acid trip into the Cthulhu Mythos - complete with an insane animated opening credits sequence. 

There was a remake in 2009 starring Lovecraft veteran Jeffrey Combs, but that's another blog for another time.

Meanwhile, this 10th installment will be all FOR NOW regarding Lovecraft movies. Next post will begin a new series of blood-splattered rippers starting with "The Deadly Spawn"!!