Steven Kostanski and Jeremy Gillespie’s Lovecraftian horror film The Void hit theaters and VOD this weekend. Boasting genuinely creepy physical effects that eschew the CGI tricks of modern horror, The Void creates something disturbing and visceral that the horror fiction icon would be proud of. Here are ten more Lovecraftian films for your viewing displeasure, in no particular order.
10. The Haunted Palace
Lovecraft from “King of the Bs” Roger Corman, starring two titans from classic horror cinema, Vincent Price and Lon Chaney Jr.
9. The Beyond
H.P. Lovecraft and Clark Ashton Smith with a dose of Italian gore and Lucio Fulci surrealism.
8. The Call of Cthulhu
A black-and-white, silent adaptation of Lovecraft’s short story of the same name that evokes German Expressionism and was distributed by the H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society — so you know it’s legit.
7. The Thing
John Carpenter sets Lovecraft in the Arctic tundra, casting suspicion on every character trapped inside a research station.
6. Re-Animator
Stuart Gordon has possibly directed more Lovecraft adaptations than any other director. Here, he casts Jeffrey Combs as Herbert West, a scientist who invents a solution that re-animates dead bodies. Scream queen Barbara Crampton adds a level of nuance to a film that straddles the line between good and bad taste.
5. The Evil Dead
Sam Raimi blends black humor, gross-out gore, and a cabin-in-the-woods story in his wild spin on Lovecraft’s Book of the Dead.
4. Alien
The creature designs of H. R. Giger make us wonder if Giger was Lovecraft reincarnated.
3. Possession
Four words: Lovecraftian metaphysical sex monster.
2. Spring
Boy travels to find himself. Boy meets girl. Girl has tentacles and isn’t sure if she wants to fall in love or remain immortal. You know, Lovecraft stuff.
1. The Last Wave
Shades of Lovecraft if you count the ritual murder, ominous ancient power, and subterranean scares.