This portion of the alt.horror.cthulhu FAQ was brought to you by Donovan K. Loucks (webmaster@hplovecraft.com).

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• Q: What Lovecraftian movies have been made?
  
  A: The following list shows you movies that fall under any of the following categories:
  
  
  1. Screenplay based upon an existing Lovecraft (or Lovecraft-related) story.
  2. Original Screenplay, using the names/places/tomes/monsters found in Lovecraft (et al) fiction.
  3. Original Screenplay, making vague references to Lovecraft (et al) or their mythos-related fiction.
  
  Movies with a “Lovecraftian” tone, but which make no actual mention of Lovecraft (et al) nor his fiction/mythos, are not included (because their inclusion can be both questionable, and the list could grow out of proportion). In addition, there are rumors about “Shadow over Innsmouth” and “Mountains of Madness,” but they are only rumors. Definitive info would be appreciated. Note that the following list of films is alphabetical, rather than chronological.
  
  
  • Army of Darkness (1993)
    
    

    Director:	Sam Raimi
    Producer:	Robert G. Tapert and Bruce Campbell
    Screenplay:	Sam and Ivan Raimi
    Music:	Danny Elfman and Joseph LoDuca
    Time:	85 minutes
    Cast:	Bruce Campbell (Ash), Embeth Davidtz (Sheila), Marcus Gilbert (Arthur), Ian Abercrombie (Wiseman), Richard Grove (Duke Henry), Michael Earl Reid (Gold Tooth), Timothy Patrick Quill (Blacksmith), Bridget Fonda (Linda), Patricia Tallman (Possessed Witch), Theodore Raimi (Cowardly Warrior), Ivan Raimi (“Fake Shemp”)

    
    
    • See comments for Evil Dead 2
    • Roger Ebert: 2/4; Leonard Maltin: 2/4; Internet Movie Database: 8.3/10.
      
      
  • Bride of Re-Animator (1990)
    
    

    Director:	Brian Yuzna
    Producer:	Brian Yuzna
    Company:	Re-Animator II Productions, Inc.
    Time:	99 minutes
    Cast:	Jeffrey Combs (Herbert West), Bruce Abbott (Dan Cain), Claude Earl Jones (Lt. Leslie Chapman), Fabiana Udenio (Francesca Danelli), David Gale (Doctor Carl Hill), Kathleen Kinmont (Gloria, the bride), Mel Stewart (Dr. Graves)

    
    
    • Billed as “H.P. Lovecraft’s Bride of Re-Animator” even though no such story exists. Later in the credits they say “based upon the story Herbert West: Re-Animator,” which rectifies the error
    • This film, once again, falls under the controversy which seems to surround Lovecraft films. Some say “great” some say “awful.” Basically, this flick seems to re-introduce some of the good elements of the original, but is really cheesy in a lot of places. I’d recommend this only to die-hard Re-Animator fans.
    • Leonard Maltin: 2/4; Internet Movie Database: 6.2/10.
      
      
  • Cast A Deadly Spell (1991)
    
    

    Director:	Martin Campbell
    Producer:	Gale Anne Hurd
    Company:	HBO
    Time:	96 minutes
    Cast:	Fred Ward (Detective Harry Philip Lovecraft), David Warner (Amos Hackshaw), Julianne Moore (Connie), Clancy Brown (Bordon), Alexandra Powers (Olivia Hackshaw), Charles Hallahan (Detective Bradbury)

    
    
    • The opening header sets the mood: “Los Angeles, 1948... everybody used magic.” The flick surrounds a detective named H. Phillip Lovecraft, who is caught up in an investigation concerning magic, the old ones, etc.... Basically, the guest monster at the end of the flick makes it all come together nicely!
    • Many consider this to be one of the best Lovecraft films ever made, despite the fact that it isn’t based on any Mythos stories nor is very faithful to the concepts of the Mythos, instead merely dropping names.
    • Internet Movie Database: 7.5/10.
      
      
  • The Crimson Cult (1968)
    
    

    Director:	Vernon Sewell
    Company:	Tigon Films (UK)
    Cast:	Mark Eden (Robert Manning), Virginia Weatherell (Eve), Christopher Lee (Morley), Boris Karloff (Professor March), Michael Gough (Elder), Barbara Steele (Lavinia)

    
    
    • “Ostensibly it was based on Dreams of the Witch House, but Tigon Films of England made the HPL elements almost unrecognizable. Karloff plays an occult expert called in to investigate strange goings-on at an English countryside mansion. It’s just not very good.” - Rory Millard
    • This was Boris Karloff’s final film.
    • The original British titles are “Curse of the Crimson Altar” and “The Crimson Altar.”
    • Leonard Maltin: 2/4.
      
      
  • Cthulhu Mansion (1990)
    
    

    Director:	J. P. Simon
    Producer:	Jose G. Maesso & J. P. Simon
    Screenplay:	Juan Piquer Simon
    Company:	Filmagic / Golden Pictures / Republic Pictures
    ISBN:	1-55526-898-6
    Time:	92 minutes
    Cast:	Frank Finlay, Marcia Layton, Brad Fisher, Melanie Shatner, Luis Fernando Alves, Kaethe Cherney, Paul Birchard, Frank Brana, Emil Linder

    
    
    • Although the opening credits say “inspired by the work of HP Lovecraft,” this film is a cheap rip off of the big guy’s name in the title. Essentially this film has no connection to the Mythos at all. The only mention is a book titled “Cthulhu,” but that is more of a demonic text than an obscure mythos tome.
    • Here’s an example of how far off the mark this movie is, from the back of the box: “Feeding on fear, the satanic, primal forces of Cthulhu, the Devil’s footsoldiers, now stalk the hallways in search of vengeance.”
    • For those die-hard occultists out there, you’ll hate the confusing symbols of Black and White magic (a goat head superimposed over an up-pointing pentagram? with an inverted burning cross over that?)
    • I’ve had as-of-yet unsubstantiated reports that this film was retitled “Horror Mansion” and “Black Magic Mansion.”
    • Internet Movie Database: 3.5/10.
      
      
  • The Curse (1987)
    
    

    Director:	David Keith
    Producer:	Ovidio G. Assonitis
    Company:	Trans World Entertainment
    Time:	92 minutes
    Cast:	Wil Wheaton (Zachary Hayes), Claude Akins (Nathan Hayes), Cooper Huckabee (Doctor Alan Forbes), John Schneider (John Willis), Amy Wheaton (Alice Hayes), Malcolm Danare (Cyrus)

    
    
    • Based on Lovecraft’s “The Colour Out of Space.”
    • Well, I had been watching “Star Trek: The Next Generation” when I first saw this, so hated seeing that little “Crusher” kid in the movie, but after watching it again, I really did like it. Few folks hate this one, though it has been referred to as “a chore to sit through.”
    • Also released under the name “The Farm.”
    • So far, this film has three sequels, “The Curse II,” “The Curse III: Blood Sacrifice,” and “The Curse IV.” As far as I know, none of them are Lovecraftian.
    • Leonard Maltin: 2.5/4; Internet Movie Database: 4.3/10.
      
      
  • Die, Monster, Die! (1965)
    
    

    Director:	Daniel Haller
    Company:	American-International (US) / Hammer Films (UK)
    Cast:	Boris Karloff (Nahum Witley), Nick Adams (Stephen Reinhart), Freda Jackson (Letitia Witley), Suzan Farmer (Susan Witley), Terence de Marney (Merwyn), Patrick Magee (Dr. Henderson)

    
    
    • Based on Lovecraft’s “The Colour Out of Space.”
    • Also released as “The House at the End of the World” and in the U.K. as “Monster of Terror.”
    • “..brought to screen for the first time the work of H.P. Lovecraft....” This quote is from Peter Haining’s ‘The Ghouls’ (see lower in the FAQ) and is obviously wrong, as “The Haunted Palace” is first.
    • “Synopsis: The film was based on one of Lovecraft’s favorites, ‘The Colour Out of Space.’ Unfortunately HPL’s carefully constructed tale concerning the loss of humanity, family decay, and other-worldly colors was mostly discarded by rookie director Daniel Haller. In the rewritten plot, Adams rescues his girlfriend from the sinister Karloff and the elder statesman’s prone wife, who are succumbing to madness induced by an unearthed meteorite kept in their greenhouse, where the space stone compels outrageous plant growth. The film degenerates into a monster-on-the-loose fiasco, when Karloff rages out of control after receiving an overdose of radiation.” - Rory Millard
    • Leonard Maltin: 2/4.
      
      
  • The Dunwich Horror (1970)
    
    

    Director:	Daniel Haller
    Producer:	James H. Nicholson & Samuel Z. Arkoff
    Company:	American International
    Cast:	Sandra Dee, Dean Stockwell (Wilbur), Ed Begley (Armitage), Sam Jaffe (Old Whateley), Lloyd Bochner (Dr. Cory), Joanne Moore Jordan (Lavinia), Talia Coppola (Cora)

    
    
    • A poor adaptation of the original story. Although some of the elements of the movie (mood, music) are highly Lovecraftian, the plot is slow and plodding. One viewing is usually enough; the second time around this becomes a real snoozer.
    • Leonard Maltin: 2.5/4; Internet Movie Database: 5.2/10.
      
      
  • The Evil Dead (1983)
    
    

    Director:	Sam Raimi
    Time:	85 minutes
    Cast:	Bruce Campbell (Ashley J. “Ash” Williams), Ellen Sandweiss (Cheryl), Betsy Baker (Linda), Hal Delrich (Scotty), Sarah York (Shelly)

    
    
    • Leonard Maltin: 2.5/4; Internet Movie Database: 8.1/10.
      
      
  • Evil Dead II (1987)
    
    

    Director:	Sam Raimi
    Company:	Rosebud Releasing Corp.
    Time:	85 minutes
    Cast:	Bruce Campbell (Ash), Sarah Berry (Annie Knowby), Dan Hicks (Jake), Kassie Wesley (Bobby Joe), Theodore Raimi (Possessed Henrietta), Denise Bixler (Linda), Richard Domeier (Ed Getley)

    
    
    • Controversy surrounds this movie (as well as it’s predecessor Evil Dead, and it’s sequel Army of Darkness) as to whether or not it ‘belongs’ on this list.
    • On one hand I’ve had people say “take them off the list” without any consideration.
    • Others say Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness have the Necronomicon as such a central role in them, that they definitely belong in this list.
    • For now, they stay. Their future status remains in question.
    • Leonard Maltin: 2/4; Internet Movie Database: 8.2/10
      
      
  • From Beyond (1986)
    
    

    Director:	Stuart Gordon
    Producer:	Brian Yuzna
    Company:	Taryn Productions / Empire Pictures
    Adaptation:	Stuart Gordon, Brian Yuzna and Dennis Paoli
    Screenplay:	Dennis Paoli
    Music:	Richard Band
    Time:	85 minutes
    ISBN:	0-8051-0323-6
    Cast:	Jeffrey Combs (Crawford Tillinghast), Barbara Crampton (Dr. Katherine McMichaels), Ted Sorel (Dr. Edward Pretorius), Ken Foree (Bubba Brownlee), Carolyn Purdy-Gordon (Dr. Bloch), Bunny Summers (Neighbor Lady), Bruce McGuire (Jordan Fields)

    
    
    • This screenplay, while fairly Lovecraftian in it’s tone, bears only mediocre resemblance to the original story (of about 8 pages). Again, controversy rages over whether this film is “good,” “Lovecraftian,” etc...
    • Leonard Maltin: 2.5/4; Internet Movie Database: 6.9/10
      
      
  • The Haunted Palace (1963)
    
    

    Director:	Roger Corman
    Producer:	James H. Nicholson & Samuel Z. Arkoff
    Company:	American-International
    Screenplay:	Charles Beaumont
    Cast:	Vincent Price (Charles Dexter Ward/Joseph Curwen), Debra Paget, Lon Chaney Jr. (Simon Orne), Frank Maxwell, Leo Gordon, Elisha Cook Jr., John Dierkes, Milton Parsons (Jabez Hutchinson)

    
    
    • Based on “The Case of Charles Dexter Ward,” not the Poe poem.
    • Quite possibly the first Lovecraft movie made. Anyone know of an earlier one?
    • Originally realeased as “Edgar Allen Poe’s Haunted Palace.”
    • “I’ve seen it. It’s one of a number of movies Corman and Price made in the 60s, most of them based on Edgar Allen Poe stories; this one, though, kept nothing from Poe’s poem of the same title (although some lines from the poem are quoted), and was based on Lovecraft’s The Case of Charles Dexter Ward instead. Actually, ‘based on’ is too strong a term; it’s recognisably inspired by TCoCDW, but there isn’t much similarity in plot (less than there is between, say, Lovecraft’s ‘Herbert West, Re-Animator’ and that movie). However, given that it’s ‘inspired by’ rather than ‘based on’, it’s a pretty good movie on its own merits—most of the Corman/Price/Poe series were good, and this is one of the better ones.” - Ross Smith
    • “Synopsis: Price plays the dual roles of Charles Dexter Ward and Joseph Curwen. In an 18th Century prologue, Curwen and his assistant (Lon Chaney Jr.) are attacked by angry villagers who are tired of having their women abducted and bred with the Great Old Ones. The sorcerer is burned at the stake, although not before uttering the standard curse, which dooms the future generations of Arkham. When Ward and his wife (Debra Paget) come to Arkham 200 years later, Ward is promptly enslaved by his ancestor’s pernicious spirit, and before you can say ‘Yog-Sothoth’ he is quoting from the Necronomicon, opening foul pits, and just behaving abominably in general. Though hardly faithful to its true source. Haunted Palace does incorporate many Lovecraftian elements.” - Rory Millard
    • Leonard Maltin: 2.5/4, Internet Movie Database: 6.2/10.
      
      
  • In the Mouth of Madness (1995)
    
    

    Director:	John Carpenter
    Company:	New Line Cinema
    Screenplay:	Michael DeLuca
    Music:	John Carpenter and Jim Lang
    Time:	95 minutes
    Cast:	Sam Neill (John Trent), Julie Carmen (Linda Styles), Jurgen Prochnow (Sutter Cane), David Warner (Dr. Wrenn), John Glover (Saperstein), Bernie Casey (Robinson), Peter Jason (Paul), Charlton Heston (Jackson Harglow), Francis Bay (Mrs. Pickman)

    
    
    • Although it contains several nods to Lovecraft, it is not based on any Lovecraft tales nor contains any explicit references to any of his creatures. Nonetheless, the tone is rather Lovecraftian.
    • The film has a Mrs. Pickman character, and at one point (and only one point) mentions the “Old Ones.”
    • The titles of Sutter Cane’s books include: “In the Mouth of Madness,” “The Hobb’s End Horror,” “The Feeding,” “The Breathing Tunnel,” “The Thing in the Basement,” “The Whisperer of the Dark,” and “(?) Out of Time” (the first word is unclear).
    • Noticed in the credits at the end of the film: “Human interaction was monitored by the Inter Planetary Psychiatric Association. The body count was high, the casualties are heavy.”
    • Internet Movie Database: 7.5/10
      
      
  • The Lurking Fear (1994)
    
    

    Director:	C. Courtney Joyner
    Company:	Full Moon Entertainment
    Time:	76 minutes
    Cast:	Jon Finch (Bennett), Blake Bailey (John Martense), Ashley Laurence (Cathryn Farrell), Jeffrey Combs (Dr. Haggis), Vincent Schiavelli (Knaggs)

    
    
    • Based very loosely on Lovecraft’s “The Lurking Fear.”
    • This film is only marginally better than “Cthulhu Mansion.” Even the presence of Jeffrey Combs can’t pull this one out of the dumpster.
    • Internet Movie Database: 4.6/10.
      
      
  • Necronomicon (1993)
    
    

    Director:	Brian Yuzna (wrapper and Part 3), Christophe Gans (Part 1), Shusuke Kaneko (Part 2)
    Producer:	Samuel Hadida and Brian Yuzna
    Company:	August Entertainment
    Cast:	David Warner (Dr. Madden), Richard Lynch (Jethro De La Pore), Bruce Payne (Edward De La Pore), Belinda Bauer (Nancy Gallmore), Maria Ford (Clara), Don Calfa (Mr. Benedict), Signy Coleman (Sarah), Jeffrey Combs (H.P. Lovecraft)

    
    
    • This film was originally released overseas and it took several years before it made it to the United States. The producers wanted it to be released in the theatres rather than going direct-to-video. It was finally released in the U.S. in October 1996.
    • The names of the stories, within the movie are: The Drowned, The Cold, and Whispers.
    • The full name of the film, as printed on the box, is H.P. Lovecraft’s Necronomicon: Book of the Dead.
    • “Synopsis: Apparently there are three shorts one each from Japan (Shusuke Kaneko), France (Christophe Gans) and Yuzna’s from the USA. They are reportedly taken from Lovecraft’s ‘Cool Air,’ ‘Rats in the Walls’ and ‘The Whisperer in Darkness’.” - Rory Millard
    • Internet Movie Database: 6.6/10
      
      
  • Re-Animator (1985)
    
    

    Director:	Stuart Gordon
    Producer:	Brian Yuzna
    Company:	Re-animator Productions / Empire Pictures
    Time:	86 minutes
    Cast:	Jeffrey Combs (Herbert West), Bruce Abbott (Dan Cain), Barbara Crampton (Megan Halsey), David Gale (Dr. Carl Hill), Robert Sampson (Dean Halsey), Gerry Black (Mace), Carolyn Purdy-Gordon (Dr. Harrod)

    
    
    • Based on Lovecraft’s “Herbert West—Reanimator.”
    • There seems to be some controversy about whether or not this story bears much resemblance to the original. Apparantly, some parts do, while others have been made for the screen version only.
    • There exists 2 video versions of this film. One has been cut significantly to remove the gore/sex scenes. The other is intact.
    • Whether or not you agree with the screenplay’s closeness to the original story, there is little doubt that the gruesome end of Herbert West and the head of Dr. Hill both should prevent them from appearing in a sequel, which (unfortunately) they do.
    • Note that the music that opens the film is identical to that which opens Hitchcock’s “Psycho” by Bernard Herrmann.
    • Leonard Maltin: 3/4; Roger Ebert: 3/4; Internet Movie Database: 7.2/10.
      
      
  • The Resurrected (1992)
    
    

    Director:	Dan O’Bannon
    Time:	108 minutes
    Cast:	Chris Sarandon (Charles Dexter Ward/Joseph Curwen), John Terry (John March), Jane Sibbett (Claire Ward)

    
    
    • Based on Lovecraft’s “The Case of Charles Dexter Ward.”
    • This made-for-tv film has had above average ratings, not only being a fairly good film, but also being perhaps the most faithful Lovecraft film yet to date, despite being updated to 1990s Massachusetts.
    • Cheesy special effects, but good atmosphere is still maintained.
    • Opening shot, narrator talks of Providence and the Providence River but the actual scene is (if you know the area) Hartford and the Connecticut river.
    • “Synopsis: Although their version is far more true to Lovecraft than the Haunted Palace, the film seems to bear out Brian Yuzna’s contention that ‘very true adaptions can miss the whole damn point.’ The film suffers from a total lack of atmosphere due to indifferent location shooting. The real problem is the plot itself. Despite being relatively faithful to the events of the novella, the film is utterly banal when stripped of the cosmic menace underlying Lovecraft’s tale. Without the Cthulhu Mythos we are left with a simple bogey story about a private eye chasing after a necromancer.” - Rory Millard
    • Internet Movie Database: 7.7/10.
      
      
  • The Shuttered Room (1967)
    
    

    Director:	David Greene
    Cast:	Gig Young (Mike Kelton), Carol Lynley, Oliver Reed (Ethan), Flora Robson

    
    
    • Based on August Derleth’s “The Shuttered Room,” with mixings of “The Dunwich Horror.”
    • Some suspense.
    • From Leonard Maltin’s Book: “Young couple inherit old house in New England, threatened by local toughs and unseen presence. Good cast deserves better material; even revelation is tame. Based on an H.P. Lovecraft story.”
    • “Blood Island” is the video version of “The Shuttered Room.”
    • Leonard Maltin: 2.5/4; Internet Movie Database: 7.0/10.
      
      
  • The Unnamable (1988)
    
    

    Director:	Jean-Paul Ouelette
    Time:	87 minutes
    Cast:	Mark Kinsey Stephenson (Randolph Carter), Charles King (Howard Damon), Alexandra Durrell (Tanya Heller)

    
    
    • Once again, nobody can agree as to its sticking to the original story, and as to whether or not it is “good” or “Lovecraftian.”
    • “The first movie opens well, expanding the premise of the short piece into a toungue in cheek look at modern student life in Arkham. Alas, it quickly degenerates into a ‘hack\slash\naked bimbo’ flick. The ending almost redeems the premise. In essence, the ancient wizard who shut up his mutant offspring (the unnamable of the title) cast a spell to keep it in that’s wearing off. But Randolph Carter can save the day. Silly movie, on the whole.” - Christopher Wade Skinner
    • “Synopsis: This is one of the weaker HPL adaptions. The director allows Carter to speak in ‘Lovecraftese’ - certainly not an accurate barameter of modern parlance. Thus, the Carter character puts the film at odds with most viewers inside of five minutes. Lovecrafts’s original story, basically a discource on literary definitions is ignored in favor of the standard haunted house spook show, laced with periodic gobs of gore and with a monster that is most definately identifiable. To be fair, the creature is quite well done, but it’s a far cry from Lovecraft’s gelatinous being that was ‘everywhere at once.’” - Rory Millard
    • Internet Movie Database: 5.7/10
      
      
  • The Unnamable II: The Statement of Randolph Carter (1993)
    
    

    Director:	Jean-Paul Ouelette
    Time:	104 minutes
    Cast:	Mark Kinsey Stephenson (Randolph Carter), David Warner (Chancellor Thayer), John Rhys-Davies (Professor Warren), Charles Klausmeyer (Eliot Damon Howard)

    
    
    • Rated higher than the first movie by everyone who sent in a review of this film. One reviewer even went so far as to call it the best Lovecraft or Mythos movie made yet. This may be due only to Maria Ford appearing nude throughout the film...
    • “This is a little better than the first one. Taking the second half of its title from another minor Lovecraft story, Part II brings back the creature from the first film, along with Carter (Stephenson again). The cast also includes a slumming David Warner (who receives top billing for a single scene) and John Rys-Davies as Carter’s companion Dr. Warren, who uses the spell from the Necronomicon to untangle the beast from its human host” - Rory Millard
    • Internet Movie Database: 7.2/10.
      
      
  • Witch Hunt (1994)
    
    

    Producer:	Gale Anne Hurd
    Director:	Paul Schrader
    Company:	HBO
    Music:	Angelo Badalamenti
    Time:	100 minutes
    Cast:	Dennis Hopper (Detective H. Phillip Lovecraft), Julian Sands (Finn Macha), Eric Bogosian (Larson Crockett), Penelope Ann Miller (Kim Hudson), Debi Mazar (The Manicurist), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Hypolita Kropotkin)

    
    
    • This follow-up to “Cast a Deadly Spell” stars Dennis Hopper (instead of Fred Ward) in the role of H. Phillip Lovecraft.
    • This film contains no Lovecraftian elements or references at all, and is only mentioned because it is a sequel to “Cast a Deadly Spell.”
    • The music for “Witch Hunt” was done by Angelo Badalamenti, of “Twin Peaks” fame.
    • Internet Movie Database: 7.1/10.
      
      
• Q: What television shows (not including made-for-tv movies) have had Lovecraft or the Mythos involved?
  
  A: Several episodes of various television shows have been based on Lovecraft tales.
  
  
  • A&E Special? - Possibly there was a special on A&E dedicated to Lovecraft, in which he was accused of being a Satanist (strange, since The Church of Satan wasn’t founded ’til the 1960’s...oh, there I go again, bringing up technicalities and semantics), who expressed his beliefs in his stories by saying such things as that Azathoth (aka “evil”) was growing. The source of this obscure tidbit is dubious... Can anyone back it up that this show ever existed?
    
    
  • “Babylon 5”
    
    
    • “Deathwalker”: Courtroom scene in which the leader of the League of Non-aligned Worlds (an alien woman with some sort of aquatic ridge along her head) escorts a shrouded alien to its seat. A little bit later, you get a really good glimpse of what is hidden within the shroud—an alien with an octopus-like head, complete with face tentacles. This race, the Pak’ma’ra, have since appeared in several other episodes.
      
      
    • “Passing Through Gethsemane”: This episode has a character known as Brother “Edward”/“Charles Dexter”; a reference to Lovecraft’s The Case of Charles Dexter Ward.
    
    
  • “Monsters” - One episode was based on the Frank Belknap Long story “The Space Eaters.”
    
    
  • “Night Gallery”
    
    
    • “Cool Air”
      
      
    • “Pickman’s Model”: Starring Bradford Dillman (Richard Pickman) and Louise Sorrel.
      
      
    • “Professor Peabody’s Last Lecture”: Written by Jack Laird. Starring Carl Reiner as a college professor lecturing on cults of the world. Includes references to Cthulhu, Hastur, Nyarlathotep, Arkham, Derleth, Lovecraft, the Necronomicon, and Miskatonic University.
      
      
    • “Return of the Sorcerer”
    
    
  • “The Real Ghostbusters” cartoon - There were 2 episodes which had some form of the Mythos involved:
    
    
    • Episode: “Collect Call of Cthulhu” - The investigators wore something like squids on their heads. “Cthulhu makes Gozer look like little Mary Sunshine.” Dr. Alice Derleth, from Arkham, helps the Ghostbusters out.
      - From: Eric Cheung: “Basically, what’s happened is...
      1. The Necronomicon (the actual mythical book that’s supposed to be full of stuff ‘Man was not meant to know’) is stolen by a strange tentacled beast. So the Ghostbusters are brought in because of the mystical/magical nature of the crime.
      2. They meet up with this babe who dabbles in magic/ancient spell casting who also happens to be an expert on old Cthulian legends.
      3. Ray Stantz goes to old friend who has a wild collection of old pulp magazines and books from the 1920’s and 1930’s... including all the old books and articles by Lovecraft (incidentally, it was theorized that these articles contained enough facts and stuff that some of the stuff was true... including theories on how to defeat Cthulu)
      4. A cult of Cthulu followers actually bring about summoning the old god from his sleep in the ocean and Cthulu begins his reign of destruction.
      5. The ’busters manage to lure Cthulu into an amusement park where they do some weird psuedo-science thing with their proton- packs and the ionization of the materials in a steel roller coaster... the result... fried calimari and Cthulu’s physical shell is destroyed (for now).
         
      I think it was implied that they actually managed to destroy Cthulu with their actions... but I REALLY have trouble believing that such an action is possible by mortal beings.”
      
      
    • Episode: “Russian About” - Peter: “*Whew* Why on earth would anyone make all these four foot high terraces?” Egon: “They’re not terraces, Peter. They’re steps...” This episode was written by J. Michael Straczynski, who is the creator of “Babylon 5.”
      - From: (ez041349@JUDY.UCDAVIS.EDU): The story takes the Ghostbusters to Russia for some lecture (during which a scientist claims that the Titanic really crashed because it ran into Elvis). The GBs eventually are called to action when a book (can’t remember what it was called, but it was obviously supposed to be the Necronomicon) is stolen. The book is eventually used by a cult (again) to summon one (or several, I can’t remember) of the Old Ones. The Old One(s) start emerging from a deep pit, but the GBs set their packs on overload and blow them up.
      
      
• Q: What publications have detailed descriptions of Lovecraft (et al) movies (besides the short 1-2 paragraphs in general video/movie anthologies)?
  
  A: Not only are there articles about Lovecraft films in many horror-related magazines, but a few books refer to them as well.
  
  
  • Books:
    
    
    • The Ghouls by Peter Haining. Stein and Day, New York, 1971. This is a great collection of 18 of the best horror movies from 1896 to 1970. The Lovecraft entry is for Monster of Terror/Die, Monster, Die. That entry is 27 pages long, but is just a re-print of the story “The Colour Out of Space.” Still, the 1st page gives lots of details about the movie itself. I’d recommend this book to hardcore horror movie buffs just because of its information about old, old films.
      
      
    • Horror by Leonard Wolf. Bills itself as “A Conoisseur’s Guide to Literature and Film” in the genre of horror. Includes reviews of some Lovecraft films and stories.
      
      
    • Reanimator by Jeff Rovin. The novelization of the movie (which was, in turn, based on Lovecraft’s “Herbert West: Re-animator”). Published by Pocket Books in May, 1987 (223 pp). Has a photo of Jeffrey Combs on the cover.
    
    
  • Magazines:
    
    
    • Cinefex - Mostly a special effects magazine.
      
      
      • #48 - Article on “Cast A Deadly Spell.”
      
      
    • Fangoria (Starlog Press)
      
      
      • #27 - Evil Dead FX.
        
        
      • #46 - Reanimator Photos.
        
        
      • #50 - Reanimator Photos.
        
        
      • #56 - A set visit to “From Beyond.”
        
        
      • #58 - Ken Foree on “Dawn” and “From Beyond.”
        
        
      • #59 - Stuart Gordon, director of “From Beyond,” speaks out.
        
        
      • #61 - Jeffrey Combs on “Reanimator” and “From Beyond.”
        
        
      • #104 - “Bride of Reanimator” FX Part 1.
        
        
      • #105 - “Bride of Reanimator” FX Part 2.
        
        
      • #106 - Special H.P. Lovecraft edition. Contains articles on “The Resurrected,” “Cast a Deadly Spell,” “Cthulhu Mansion” plus an H.P. Lovecraft film retrospective and comics.
        
        
      • #112 - Dan O’Bannon on “The Resurrected.”
        
        
      • #117 - “The Unnamable.”
      
      
    • Imagi-Movies
      
      
      • Spring 1994 (H.R. Giger on cover): Three articles about Lovecraft’s work, and its transference to the big screen:
        
        p. 8-11 - Filming “Necronomicon” by Dennis Fischer and Steve Biodrowski. “A trilogy of terror, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos”
        p. 26-29 - Jeffrey Combs Re-Animator, by Bruse Hallenbeck. “The actor who brought Herbert West to life describes being a modern horror star”
        p. 50-53 - Cthul-who? by Randy Palmer. “A look at how Hollywood’s treatment of Lovecraft fails to reveal a mythos to the madness”
        
        This magazine may be ordered from them by calling 1-800-798-6515. Ask for Volume 1, Number 3 of Imagi-Movies.
      
      
    • Scarlet Street (Winter 1994): Contains one article concerning the Lovecraft and Mythos movies
      
      
    • The Scream Factory (Deadline Press)—Covers horror/sci-fi movies, etc.
      
      
    • The Unspeakable Oath (Pagan Publishing)
      
      
      • #11 (Fall, 1994)—“HPL on Film,” by Kevin A. Ross: Reviews 30 films that are anything from soundly to vaguely Lovecraftian.
        
        
    • The World Of Fandom (issue?) - Review of ‘The Necronomicon’.
      
      

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End of Part 4 of the alt.horror.cthulhu FAQ, “Movies and Television.”