H.P. Lovecraft was without a doubt one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. His creation of the Cthulhu Mythos, a shared universe of scary stories featuring insanity-inducing elder beings and unfortunate protagonists, revolutionized fiction, and the author’s formula for cosmic horror can still be seen in media to this very day.
Despite this, the list of satisfying adaptations of Lovecraft’s work is remarkably small, with most talented fans of the author preferring to borrow elements from his tales instead of adapting them entirely. Some noteworthy directors have attempted to bring the Mythos to the big screen, but the nihilistic nature of the author’s particular brand of cosmic horror doesn’t sit very well with studio executives.
While it’s likely that we’ll never see big budget adaptations like Guillermo Del Toro’s vision for At The Mountains of Madness, there are still a few worthy translations of some of Lovecraft’s best stories. This, coupled with the Cthulhu Mythos’ 100th anniversary, is why I’ve compiled a list of the Top Six Cthulhu Mythos adaptations.
Of course, this is my personal opinion, so I’d love to hear about your favorite Lovecraft adaptations in the comments below! However, I’ll only be listing direct adaptations of Cthulhu Mythos stories, so no Re-Animator or John Carpenter films for now…
6: Necronomicon: Book of the Dead
As is, unfortunately, the case with many anthology films, Necronomicon: Book of the Dead is a hit or miss venture. The glaringly inadequate budget and perplexing script are what keep this movie on the last spot of the list, though it’s an otherwise entertaining B-Movie romp if you can stomach the cheesy shortcomings.
A collaboration between Brian Yuzna, Christophe Gans and Shusuke Kaneko, the film adapts three Lovecraftian tales, with a wrap-around segment featuring the always-excellent Jeffrey Combs as H.P. Lovecraft himself.
There isn’t a lot of substance to this schlocky collection, but it’s definitely a worthy entry in the sadly all-too-short list of Cthulhu Mythos adaptations.
5: Masters of Horror: Dreams in the Witch-House
Stuart Gordon became a horror legend due to his nearly exclusive work on Lovecraftian movies like Re-Animator and From Beyond. Hell, even his worst films manage to be amusing, though he’s directed quite a few classics as well. Dreams in the Witch-House was one of his contributions to the excellent Masters of Horror series, being one of the show’s more enjoyable episodes.
Adapted from the eponymous short story, Dreams in the Witch-House is a modern-day take on the classic tale of a Miskatonic University student who moves into an unconventionally haunted house. Despite the limited runtime and production value, the episode is a surprisingly faithful and entertaining recreation of the creepy story.
4: Cthulhu
Despite the name, Dan Gildark’s seaside thriller is actually an adaptation of The Shadow Over Innsmouth (which is something of a running theme with these movies). Though it takes quite a few liberties with the source material, Cthulhu is an unexpectedly subtle and heartfelt translation of one of Lovecraft’s most famous stories.
Low production value once again sabotages what might have been one of the most dramatic depictions of the Mythos in film, though a compelling protagonist and flawless atmosphere make Cthulhu a must-watch for fans of Lovecraftian tales.
3: Dagon
A misnomer, Stuart Gordon’s Dagon is yet another adaptation of The Shadow Over Innsmouth. Despite the altered setting and schlocky tendencies, this is arguably the most faithful adaptation of the story yet, though the small budget once again leaves a lot to be desired. Even something as simple as better digital effects could have greatly improved the film (not to mention the final reveal of the titular monster).
Nevertheless, Dagon is a legitimately thrilling experience, with suspenseful chase sequences and amazing practical effects. Despite its flaws, this remains my personal favorite Cthulhu-Mythos-inspired film.
2: The Call of Cthulhu
A risky experiment by the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society, The Call of Cthulhu is without a doubt the most faithful of all Lovecraft adaptations, not to mention one of the best. Directed by Andrew Leman, this peculiar feature was produced in the style of 1920s silent films, complete with Expressionist influences and clever Claymation effects.
While Lovecraft’s multilayered tale of madness and dreaming gods obviously holds up, the film is a genius attempt at replicating what might have been if The Call of Cthulhu had received the big-budget treatment back when the author was still alive. It’s definitely not for everyone, but film and literary buffs alike will surely enjoy this retro outing.
1: Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
Admittedly, this entry isn’t a movie at all, but a first-person survival horror video game from 2005. Even so, the game is (in my personal opinion) the best Cthulhu Mythos adaptation to date. Taking elements from A Shadow Out Of Time, The Call of Cthulhu, Dagon and The Shadow Over Innsmouth, Dark Corners of the Earth is a grueling journey through Lovecraft’s twisted imagination.
Largely inspired by the eponymous Tabletop RPG, the game explores the mythos’ recurring themes of insanity and fear of the unknown better than any non-interactive adaptation so far. Featuring a haunting soundtrack, clever level design and scenes ripped straight from Lovecraft’s stories, there’s a lot to love about this disturbing experience.
While the Dark Corners of the Earth does have its fair share of issues (especially now that it’s over a decade old), there’s some solace to be had in the fact that there’s a new Call of Cthulhu game in the works, which is expected to drop later this year. Only time will tell if it can improve upon this terrifying vision of cosmic horror, but until then, this is a must-play for horror fanatics in general.