NECRONOMICON (1993)

 

(a.k.a. NECRONOMICON: BOOK OF THE DEAD and H.P. LOVECRAFT’S NECRONOMICON; directors: Christophe Gans, Shûsuke Kaneko, and Brian Yuzna. Screenwriters: Brent V. Friedman, Christopher Gans and Kazunori Itô)

 

Review

Plot: This four-part anthology film, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s “fiction” (says one librarian monk), revolves around Lovecraft visiting a library of rare books, a grieving man who inherits a house with supernatural issues, a murder-beat reporter interviewing a strange woman in freezing circumstances, and a serial killer whose crimes are the tip of a cosmic iceberg.

 

In “The Library” (NECRONOMICON ‘s frame story), set in America in the 1920s, a plotting H.P. Lovecraft enters an arcane library maintained by secretive monks─a place where he’s a regular visitor. When he goes into an off-limits area, he unwittingly(?) courts cataclysmic events.

Jeffrey Combs (HOLIDAY HELL, 2019) played a nervous, thrilled Lovecraft.  Tony Azito (THE ADDAMS FAMILY, 1991) played a “Librarian.” Juan Fernández (THE COLLECTOR, 2009) played an “Attendant.” “Library” director Brian Yuzna played Lovecraft’s “Cabbie.” Brent V. Friedman (TICKS, 1993) wrote “Library”’s screenplay.

 

“The Drowned” centers around Edward De Lapoer, a grieving widower, who inherits his family’s empty oceanside hotel, a business with a supernatural history─one that threatens his immediate, housebound circumstances.

Bruce Payne (HOWLING VI: THE FREAKS, 1991) played Edward Da Lapoer. Richard Lynch (HALLOWEEN, 2007) played Jethro Da Lapoer. Belinda Bauer (SERVANTS OF TWILIGHT, 1991) played Nancy Gallmore. Maria Ford (SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE III, 1990) played Clara Lapoer, Edward’s dead wife. Denice D. Lewis (END OF DAYS, 1999) played Emma Da Lapoer, Edward’s ancestor. An uncredited Vincent Hammond (THE RELIC, 1997) played “Darkman,” a seaborne creature who brings Edward a horrifying gift.

Christophe Gans (SILENT HILL, 2006) directed “Drowned,” and co-authored it with author Brent V. Friedman.

For those inclined toward reading, “Drowned” sports elements seen in Lovecraft’s real-life 1923 story “The Rats in the Walls.”

 

In “The Cold,” based on Lovecraft’s 1926 story “Cool Air,” a Boston-based reporter (Dale Porkel) interviews a young woman in a gelid apartment while she tells him about a former occupant (Emily Osterman) whose meeting with the strange but seemingly harmless Dr. Madden radically changes her life.

Shûsuke Kaneko (DEATH NOTE, 2006) helmed “Cold,” co-penning it with writers Kazunori Itô (GHOST IN THE SHELL, 1995) and Brent V. Friedman.

Dennis Christopher (FADE TO BLACK, 1980) played Dale Porkel. Bess Meyer (HEATHERS, 1988) played Emily Osterman. David Warner (THE OMEN, 1976) played Dr. Richard Madden. Millie Perkins (THE WITCH WHO CAME FROM THE SEA, 1976) played Lena, Dr. Madden’s intense, longtime assistant.

 

“Whispers” concerns a pregnant police officer, Sarah (Signy Coleman) and fellow officer Paul investigating a series of murders committed by the media-dubbed “Butcher,” a task made more difficult when a car crash in a bad warehouse area opens them to more brutal, occult terrors.

Obba Babatundé (THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, 1991) played Paul, Sarah’s frustrated partner in love and cop-work. Judith Drake (HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES, 2003) played Mrs. Benedict. Don Calfa (THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, 1985) played Mr. Benedict.

“Whispers,” inspired by Lovecraft’s 1930 novella The Whisperer in the Darkness, was directed by Brian Yuzna, who co-wrote it with (again) Brent V. Friedman.

 

NECRONOMICON is a standout portmanteau film, from its excellent actors (putting in genre-true, often over-the-top performances), wow-worthy gore FX (provided by Tom Savini, Screaming Mad George and others), its all-around behind-the-scenes talent, and mostly solid pacing (the last two segments run a scoche long). As a Lovecraft-based work, it’s one of the better adaptations, NECRONOMICON is worth checking out, if you’re looking for a great-talent-creating-a-B-movie flick, and don’t expect it to reinvent the horrifying anthology subgenre.