In response to Gavin's post, I would like to day that he has made me think again regarding the potential quality of the film concerned. Even so, I share most of his views regarding 20th Century Fox. I would like to add that they are an excellent provider of TV entetainment , in addition to their numerous film ventures. By the way, I like the X-Files too, Gavin. The second website synopsis which you mentioned; reminds me in some ways of that classic novel, "The Lurker at the Threshold". Lastly, a thankyou to devilchicken, for pointing out where a copy of the DVD can be acquired. But in view of what Gavin has found out about this film, I'm not 100% convinced that it would be worth buying. Thanks for reading my comments.

Julian L Hawksworth

Dagon was directed by Stuart Gordon, who also wrote and directed Re-Animator and From Beyond, all three based on the writings of HPL. I enjoyed all three movies, but they are very violent and very graphic. In Dagon there is a scene of an evil priest, a knife in each hand, disemboweling an elderly man... very graphic. Of the three, I would choose Dagon as my favorite. It has a darker, more eerie atmosphere than the other two, with less but more successful attempts at humor.

I found an interview with Dagon's director. Some of the pictures, like one of a woman with the lower body of an octopus, are very Lovecraftian.
[www.esplatter.com]

I still say its worth a look - the protagonist of the movie is little more than a poor man's Bruce Campbell wearing a "Miskatonic University" sweatshirt, but its played almost totally straight. For a low budget straight to DVD movie its actually very well done.

"Dagon" is one of the best Lovecraft adaptations, although, despite the title, it is really based on "The Shadow Over Innsmouth". Personally I find the gore unnecessary, but it seems to be an expected part of the genre. At least Stuart Gordon seems to have a genuine appreciation of Lovecraft, rather than just using his name to gain some credibility.

As to the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society's silent "Call of Cthulhu" - there's a real "low budget" movie, to be recommended without reservations!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 14 May 06 | 04:27PM by Mikey_C.

Mikey C, have you seen "Castle Freak"?. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this film was also based on an HP Lovecraft story (called "The Outsider" and not one of my favourites by the way). I do not share your view that Stuart Gordon always shows "a genuine appreciation of Lovecraft". His take on "Re-animator" was too humorous and graphic to resemble any material which Lovecraft would have been proud of. However, I do like Stuart Gordon's interpretation of "From Beyond". He seems to have created an updated version of this clasic story, don't you think?

Julian L Hawksworth

"From Beyond" is a case in point, really. Gordon picks up the idea and runs with it, but chooses to include another Lovecraftian element to flesh it out, i.e. a shoggoth. As for "Herbert West", I understand that HPL regarded this as a piece of hackwork himself, so it was an opportunity for self-parody. So, SG's take on it isn't entirely inappropriate. I haven't seen "Castle Freak" yet, so can't comment - but the Lovecraft connection seems a bit looser: I wasn't aware it was based on "The Outsider".

Lovecraft cinema can be fun, but, for me, it can never substitute for the written page. The imagination conjures up worse terrors than can be made of latex.

Castle Freak is a peculiar and interesting film, worth seeing, but I didn't even realize that it was loosely based on one of Lovecraft's stories -- the film certainly doesn't have a Lovecraftian atmosphere. If it was Stuart Gordon's meaning to be such, then I'm afraid that his own vision of the story does not carry the philosophy of HPL, or, is so far removed to be something of SG's own.

from http://www.comingsoon.net/news/indietopnews.php?id=15354:
Exclusive: William H. Macy is Edmond
Source: Edward Douglas July 12, 2006


Edmond is not an easy movie by any stretch of the imagination.

Based on the stageplay by David Mamet and directed by Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator), it may be the role of a lifetime for William H. Macy, who has been friends with Mamet since before the play was first performed in 1982. Macy plays the movie's title character, who one day decides to leave his wife, sending him spiraling down a dark path, a night immersed in sex and violence. If you thought that Macy was amazing in the Coen Brothers' Fargo or Wayne Kramer's The Cooler, than you haven't really seen Macy let loose like he does in this film.

http://www.indiewire.com/people/2006/07/indiewire_inter_7.html:
indieWIRE INTERVIEW: "Edmond" director Stuart Gordon
indieWIRE (July 13, 2006)
Starring William H. Macy and Julia Stiles, director Stuart Gordon's ("Re-Animator") "Edmond" is the story of a successful businessman who abandons his wife and family after a fateful visit to a fortune-teller. Following her musings, he leaves on a voyage to New York's seedy underworld in a quest for self-discovery. Along the way though, he kills a pimp and a wannabe actress, and ends up in jail. "Edmond," written by David Mamet, based on his play, opens in limited release by First Independent Pictures Friday. Gordon answered questions from indieWIRE about his film and his early yearnings to make the Mamet play into a film.


Please share a bit about your background...

I'm 58 years old. Was born in Chicago. Co-founded the Organic Theater in Chicago in 1970 and was artistic director for 15 years. Joe Mantegna ("The Godfather" Trilogy) and Dennis Franz (TV's "NYPD Blue") among the actors in the ensemble. I produced and directed the first professional production of David Mamet's play, "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" in 1974.


In 1985 I directed my first feature film "Re-Animator" which won a Critics' Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Based on its success I was offered a three-picture deal and moved to Los Angeles where I now reside....






Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 24 Jul 06 | 04:45PM by Boyd.